Between now and the end of 2010, the Film Savior offices will be closed for a brief vacation far far away. I’ll be taking a quick tour to the ballet and checking out Black Swan. I’m going to visit the midwest to find my inner True Grit. I might check into the sports world and spar with The Fighter. In the end, I’ll come back to L.A. County…and get lost…Somewhere.

As I celebrate the first Christmas with my beautiful baby boy, it’s hard not to reflect on the entire journey in front of him. Cynicism, anger, doubt, fear, and sarcasm are a few traits that have been devoid of his world — and hopefully will never appear.  He lives in a perfect world.  Anything truly is possible.  Looking at the world through the eyes of your child is a remarkable thing. It’s a glimpse to the past as you leap into the future.  That’s also the beauty in the world of film. It can take you back to those carefree days as a child. It can take you to far away places beyond imagination. To see the world through the eyes of a child is the ultimate trick many filmmakers have. Whether it be another Pixar masterpiece or an R-Rated thriller, the mind has to take you beyond your set ways. Rules must be broken and bad traits should be dissolved to create a world for the masses. The world of film is the ultimate art form.  If the greatest artists of our past history lived today, they would be making movies. No doubt about that. Film reflects our innermost thoughts of the moment. It feeds off our cynicism. It thrives off our fears. As we progress, so does the art.

I’m sure you know what films to watch in theaters during this holiday break. Black Swan, The Fighter, and The King’s Speech will all be Oscar front runners in a few months. Don’t let  Blue Valentine or True Grit pass you by, either.

Want to watch some movies at home?

• Check out the really great documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop. DO NOT READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Just watch it, and then plug the title into google after. Many critics have placed this film into their Top 10 of the Year AND it has 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What more do you need? Watch it, and then read about it. If you have Netflix streaming, you can watch it HERE. The only thing you need is the synopsis:

Filmmaker Thierry Guetta had been casually documenting the underground world of street art for years, but when he encounters Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, his project takes a fascinating twist.

• Need something more action packed? Check out The Town. Don’t be fooled by the clef chin of Ben Affleck. Dude can direct. Gone Baby Gone and now this one…The Town is one of the best films of the year.

• Want a modern romantic comedy that will be bearable for everyone? Check out It’s Complicated. Meryl Streep + Alec Baldwin. Period.

• Did you just watch Inception again on Blu-Ray? Still wondering why people are crazy about Tom Hardy? I dare you to watch Bronson. Acting is taken to a whole notha level.

• Are the kids dying to see a film? Check out Toy Story 3 or How to Train Your Dragon if you haven’t already. Want an out-of-the-box kids film? Check out the amazing Spirted Away.

• Do you need some violence in your cinematic life? Battle Royale is just what the blood splattered doctor ordered.

Happy Holidays!

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