Plot
While out on parole, Dennis reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy Rene in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she's always wanted.
Release Year: 2013
Rating: 5.3/10 (604 voted)
Director:Phil Morrison
Storyline
Two French Canadian ne'er-do-wells travel to New York City with a scheme to get rich quick selling Christmas trees. Easygoing charmer Rene (Paul Rudd) clashes with misanthropic ex-con Dennis (Paul Giamatti), whose wife Rene just stole. Still, this odd couple must make an honest go of it in this fresh buddy comedy co-starring Sally Hawkins, by the director of the indie breakout hit Junebug.
Taglines:
All is busted. All is broke. All is bitter. All is BRIGHT.
Release Date:
Filming Locations: Tupper Lake, New York, USA
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 7/10
Phil Morrison blazed onto the scene with Junebug (2005) and managed to
introduce the cinematic world to the blissful abilities with Oscar-
nominated actress Amy Adams. With a near eight year stretch, he has
finally taken his directorial chair yet again to bring the whimsical
and fascinating Almost Christmas with Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd.
The film opens up with Dennis (Giamatti), a recently released
ex-convict that learns that his now ex-wife has told their daughter
that he died in prison. To make matters worse, his partner-in-crime
Rene is now dating her with intentions of marriage. With no job, home,
or any real place to go, Rene's guilt partners with Dennis'
opportunities and the two French Canadians embark on a trip to New York
City to sell Christmas trees just before the holidays. During the daily
antics and struggle to sell, eat, and sleep out of a wooden trailer, a
dentist's wife (Sally Hawkins) presents a possible opportunity for them
to learn more than just the meaning of the holidays.
Paul Giamatti continues to elevate himself to one of the greatest
working actors today. As Dennis, he's utterly believable and encounters
a new side of himself as an actor that is both funny and completely
genuine. Giamatti's dedication to the craft allows him to continue to
do what he normally achieves with all of his off-beat characters that
are dreadful on the inside with a kind core that the audience can
easily access.
As Rene, Paul Rudd continues his attempt at off-beat comedies on the
independent circuit and presents himself as a very capable and gifted
actor. His performance, which naturally brings many of the film's
biggest laughs, is one of the Rudd's most surprising portrayals to
date. Rudd shows vulnerability, skill, and a promise of a very
endearing and powerful performance somewhere in his future. While the
role is not a full-out home-run for the actor, he is more than average
and presents some of the film's beautiful highlights.
Written by Melissa James Gibson, Almost Christmas is an incredibly
original concept with a slight twist on a genre you may feel like
you've seen before. The actions and story temperature are unhurried and
at times cold, but ultimately is what makes the film succeed. There are
some off-beat choices in character behaviors and an unrelated qualm
about how someone should act in firm situations, but for a first-time
screenwriter, it's a great plateau for her to step off. Gibson has only
been credited as a writer on the show, "The Americans." She constructs
authentic characterizations and gives them all an identity for the
actor's to latch onto.
Golden Globe Winner Sally Hawkins is amazingly charming and wondrous in
her role. With her delightful and appealing accent partnered with her
cutely delivered monologue about "Fortune of Wheel," it's another
strong turn from the gifted actress that has yet to take off in the big
Hollywood manner as of yet. Hawkins is absolutely hilarious.
Phil Morrison's direction and choices aren't as bold or as inventive as
his styles in Junebug. The story doesn't lend itself to those traits
that made him a quiet sensation in the mid-2000s. He lends himself to a
more defined genre of filmmaking that doesn't go for the big moments or
audience reactions. It's a undemanding yet solid directorial work. The
film's narrative is paced at a leisured speed, which may take some out
of the story. It does take a minute to lift off but when it gets going,
Almost Christmas has you hooked. It's a fine film event for movie-goers
and a possible contender for year-end citations by independent groups.
Oscar CHANCES: Lead Actor for Paul Giamatti, Supporting Actress for
Sally Hawkins, Original Screenplay for Melissa James Gibson
Read More @ The Awards Circuit (http://www.awardscircuit.com
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