It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

George Bailey is a man with big dreams who continually puts his plans on hold due to the unforeseen circumstances of life, while he prioritizes everyone else's needs ahead of his own, until he finally reaches the end of his rope.

Frank Capra's masterpiece about the guardian angel who watches him and steps in to interfere actually reveals a grand love story at its center. There are multiple ways you can interpret this film; the most obvious one being that you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. George is imbued with a lot of thorny character traits, and he can be a bit of an asshole at times. It's Mary who's the real saint for putting up with all his crap. And Mr. Potter may be the villain of the piece, but he's also the one who ends up all alone at the end.

Anyway, it's the kind of sentimental holiday classic that will either put a fire in your heart or leave you feeling miserable and cold, but you have to admit, it's a great example of cinema. Of course, it's all fantastical bullshit; but then again, isn't that why we escape to the movies?

5 bells rung out of 5

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU [1938]

Actors Jean Arthur, Jimmy Stewart & Lionel Barrymore make their first film together with director Frank Capra's cinematic adaption of George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart's stageplay, You Can't Take It With You.
Stewart plays a man from a family of snotty money-hungry rich folk who gets engaged to a young woman from a less-than-rich family of free-spirited oddballs, which eventually leads to all sorts of problems.  It teeters on the brink of The Great Depression and World War II so much will be lost on modern viewers but much should be taken in as well.  The values and lessons taught are done in such a light-hearted and humorous manner one can't help but feel great by the time it reaches it's final reel.  The performances are all wonderful (particularly Barrymore), the direction is busy yet simple and it's funny enough to feel fine leaving your worries at the door.

4 fireworks out of 5