Don’t Pass Donner This Christmas

Okay, so I have a new favorite Christmas movie this year, and it was directed by one of my filmdom favorites, Richard Donner.

Here are a few of my all-time favorite Christmas movies:

It’s a Wonderful LifeDie HardThe Apartment16 BlocksJoyeux NoëlHome AloneThe Sound of Music

I don’t know what magical directorial garments he dons when helming a picture, but Donner seldom makes a cinematic faux pas.

16 Blocks was released to theaters 14 years ago, which was 18 birthdays after Bruce Willis’ big splash in Die Hard, and that breakout star from 1980’s TV classic, Moonlighting, turned fifty-one, 16 days after ‘Blocks’ release.

Bruce Willis with Cybill Shepherd and Allyce Beasley in Moonlighting

There are Mos Def some great supporting players, but the aforementioned absolutely shares top-billing with Willis, as Eddie Bunker, seemingly full of random musings, but actually at least as relevant as his TV namesake counterpart, Edith Bunker, of All in the Family.

Dante Smith aka Mos Def currently known as Yasiin Beym, under which name the artist is doing humanitarian work

Mos’ real name is Yasiin Bey, and he is a multitalented artist who’s been in a number of films I’ve enjoyed, including Be Kind, Rewind and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (although I liked the books more, go figure).

Smooth as Cylk Cozart of the underrated School Daze and hit thriller Conspiracy Theory shines along with lovely Jenna Stern of Hitch, save that Cozart plays a baddie this time out. Cozart is a character actor favorite, and Stern was one of Hitch‘s many standouts. She only had a few lines opposite Will Smith and Adam Arkin, but she really made them count.

Cylk Cozart, Jenna Stern; excellent character actors

I enjoyed watching David Morse for years in St. Elsewhere, and liked him in The Green Mile as well. He also won acclaim as President George Washington in HBO Miniseries, John Adams.

Veteran Character Actor David Morse

As for Mr. Donner, he was 76 when 16 Blocks was released. I love him for pictures such as Superman The Movie, Conspiracy Theory, Ladyhawke, and the Lethal Weapon movies.

Director Richard Donner & wife, Producer Lauren Schuler Donner

So, if you’re looking for a compelling story about two guys from disparate backgrounds, thrown together reluctantly, realizing they are allies and clinging to justice and change, with lots of slam-bang action, 16 Blocks might be right for you.

I particularly liked the DVD’s alternate ending, and while this story is fiction, I feel it has fine acting, great direction, excellent writing and is worth a watch.

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas

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