Reel Corner - December 2024
Holiday Movies
December 2024 Issue
Reel Corner by Donne Paine
Holiday Wishes to All Pink Reel Corner Readers!
Here’s to all the movie mavens out there who make Pink Magazine’s Reel Corner community so special. Whether you are a passionate film enthusiast, or a casual viewer, we appreciate your support and engagement throughout the year. May this holiday season bring you peace, joy, laughter, and a few feel-good flicks. We hope you find time to relax and indulge in your favorite films with a bucket full of warm, buttery popcorn.
Here’s to a new year filled with exciting film releases, memorable moments, and continued adventures in the world of cinema. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we look forward to sharing more cinematic experiences with you in the coming year! Until then, do not miss Conclave; it’s riveting, compelling, and ends with a shocker.
CONCLAVE (PG)
Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow
Directed by Edward Berger
Based on a 2016 novel by Robert Harris, Conclave is a gripping drama that delves into the intricacies of power, faith, and the human condition within the confines of the Vatican. It explores the intense and often secretive process of electing a new pope.
The narrative unfolds with a sense of urgency and tension, as cardinals from around the world gather in Rome to participate in the conclave. The film expertly captures the political maneuvering, alliances, and rivalries that arise among the cardinals, each with their own agendas and visions for the future of the Church. The cinematography beautifully portrays the grandeur of the Vatican, while juxtaposing it with the intimate and often claustrophobic setting of the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave takes place.
Ralph Fiennes’ performance is a standout aspect of Conclave. The seasoned cast, especially Tucci and Rossellini, brings depth and nuance to their roles, portraying characters who are both morally complex and relatable. The film does an excellent job of humanizing these figures, allowing the audience to see their struggles, doubts, and convictions as they grapple with the weight of their decisions.
This story is filled with thought-provoking dialogue that raises questions about faith, leadership, and the nature of authority. While Conclave is primarily a character-driven drama, it does not shy away from addressing broader themes, such as the role of the Church in contemporary society, the challenges of modernity, and the search for spiritual truth in a world fraught with division.
Whether you are a Catholic, or simply intrigued by the complexities of faith and power, Conclave is a film that is worth seeing.
For your viewing convenience, please see below for the listings of many of your favorite holiday movies and shows and where you can stream them.
Prime Video
12 Dates of Christmas (PG-13)
A Christmas Story (PG)
A Cinderella Christmas (G)
A Prince for Christmas (G)
Christmas Crush (PG)
Christmas in Evergreen (G)
Christmas in Mississippi (PG)
Christmas in the Heartland (PG)
Christmas in the Smokies (PG)
Christmas Lodge (G)
Christmas on Holly Lane (G)
Christmas on the Bayou (PG)
Christmas with the Kranks (PG)
Furry Little Christmas (PG)
Holiday Inn (NR)
It's a Wonderful Life (PG)
Surviving Christmas (PG-13)
Hulu
A Christmas Carol (PG)
A Cinderella Christmas (G)
A Country Christmas Story (PG)
All I Want for Christmas (PG)
Elf (PG)
Fred Clause (PG)
Home Alone 3 (PG)
Jack Frost (PG)
Miracle on 34th Street (PG)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (PG-13)
Polar Express (G)
Santa Games (PG)
A Merry Christmas Wish (G)
Disney+
A Christmas Carol (PG)
Beauty and the Beast:
The Enchanted Christmas (G)
Home Alone 1, 2, 3, & 4 (PG)
Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (G)
Mickey (various shows) (G)
Noelle (G)
Prep & Landing 1 & 2 (G)
Santa Clause 2 & 3 (G)
The Nutcracker and the
Four Realms (PG)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG)
The Santa Clause (PG)
The Search for Santa Paws (G)
Netflix
A California Christmas 1 & 2 (PG)
A Christmas Prince 1, 2 & 3 (G)
Christmas Inheritance (PG)
Christmas with a View (G)
Falling for Christmas (PG)
Holidate (R)
Holiday in the Wild (PG)
The Holiday Calendar (PG)
The Princess Switch (PG)
White Christmas (G)
References: www.wikipedia.com, www.imdb.com, www.rottentomatoes.com; www.yourchristmascountdown.com
Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachu-setts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts, especially films, she has traveled to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters, Park Plaza Theater and Northridge. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is a vaccine medicine nurse consultant and also the author of 4 Interview Pillars available on Amazon. See you at the movies!