Christmas Eve In Miller’s Point- Feels Like If IFC Started Making Christmas Movies
Quick Take: I’ve actually seen this movie twice. And I’m just now getting around to putting those thoughts here. Originally, I was given a screener that did not have audio description, and later, i watched it with audio description, because I’d rather put out a review reflecting the actual worth of a movie, and not the lack of accessibility for that film. this Christmas movie feels like the most indie Christmas film. There really isn’t a lead character, or even an obvious plot. It just is a family gathering at Christmas. In the video, I mused on how this could make for a fun VR experience. i know some people watch movies with those headsets on, and I’d recommend this for that. If you are alone next Christmas, and want the feeling of large familial chaos, this is your movie.
Without audio description, this movie wasn’t much fun. Not every character has a name said aloud, and the movie jumps from different little conversations. Eventually, as the night progresses, you see the teens out having their own fun, while the adults are slightly tipsy, and dealing with their own holiday harmony. If critics watched more than just the obvious releases, or followed the most mainstream campaigns, something like this would end up in a Best Ensemble category, because this feels like your family. I don’t even have this big of a family, and have never been at a family gathering quite like this, but even I felt like these were my people.
the audio description also stays through the credits which give each one of the family members a chance to wave goodbye to the audience, like a see ya real soon moment. If I had been asked to go on the tomatometer record with one viewing, and that viewing was without audio description, my review would have leaned rotten. this movie gained essentially a full letter grade bump once the audio description was able to support the creative narrative choice. For more, check out my video.
