Observer Editor Chris Willmott tells why he can’t choose a favourite Christmas film:
I have three favourite Christmas films – none of them are as manly or grown-up as I would prefer to admit in the pages of the paper, but hey ho ho, it’s Christmas.
They are, in no particular order:
The Holiday starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz.
Watching The Holiday in our household is as important as the Christmas Lights switch-on for getting the festive season started.
And the main reason is that half of the film is set in a snowy, festive Cotswold scene – at Christmas time – our favourite place to be at Christmas time.
The film itself sees jilted journo Kate Winslet do a house-swap with also-jilted Hollwyood film trailer maker Cameron Diaz which leads them into the paths of possible love interests Jack Black and Jude Law.
It’s a charming film – with a standout performance from legendary American actor Eli Wallach – and snowy scenes to make you reach for your Christmas jumper and a glass of something tasty.
Next up is Santa Paws 2. Set in a typical small American town and jam-packed with seasonal good cheer, snowy scenes, Golden retriever puppies and a heart-warming story.
The film is corny, but it’s my five-year-old daughter’s favourite and gets watched at least ten times over the festive season – so we all love it – but what’s not to love?
Obvious Christmas classics aside – including Miracle on 34th Street, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Santa Clause trilogy, Love Actually is another film that makes Christmas Christmas in our household.
This one needs no introduction or explanation, but is a guaranteed festive feel-good movie you simply must watch if you haven’t.
