To my American friends all over the States, I want to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope that you’re all enjoying some time together with family/friends and cherish those moments dearly. To those in other parts of the world, I bid you happy-almost-weekend day 😀
Well, it’s not as if you need a special day to give thanks, right? But just for the sake of being timely, here are 24 random movie miscellanea I’m thankful for this past year:
1. Well I think it’s quite obvious isn’t it, yours truly has fallen under the spell of the beautiful creature that is Gregory Peck. It’s been such a delight to discover his classic films all the way from the early 40s. He’s just so compelling to watch in any genre! The more films of his I watched, the more I appreciate just what a wonderful actor he truly was.
2. Though he’s passed on last February, John Barry’s music lives on… there are so many wonderful movie music he’s left us with, but my favorites shall always be Somewhere in Time and Out of Africa.
3. The casting of Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel
4. Andy Serkis‘ performance as Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes
5. The gorgeous Paris scenery… and Marion Cotillard‘s radiant beauty in Midnight in Paris
6. Tarsem’s visual panache in Immortals
7. Gerry Butler‘s heart-wrenching and fearless performance as Sam Childers in Machine Gun Preacher
8. This wonderful black & white trailer of The Artist, can’t wait to see the actual film!
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9. Discovering Tom Hiddleston from THOR.
10. The fantastic rapport between James McAvoy & Michael Fassbender as Xavier & Magneto in X-Men: First Class… just one of the 40 reasons I LOVE this film!
11. 
Pixar’s BRAVE’s beautiful poster and a very promising trailer!
12. Working on my third pitch this past Summer for Castor‘s Fantasy Draft Pitch blog-a-thon… tentatively titled RESTAURO — starring Viggo Mortensen, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving, directed by Duncan Jones.
13. Finally getting around to seeing Kenneth Branagh’s HAMLET and loving it!
14. Gentleman’s Agreement, one of the most compelling Oscar-winning film with a bold message about a then-controversial and risky topic about antisemitism… more people should see this even today.
15. Having the privilege to interview Anton Yelchin and Drake Doremus in person for Like Crazy during Twin Cities Film Fest… my first ‘official’ press junket 😀
16. Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain’s compelling performance playing the same character in The Debt
17. Going to Comic-Con this past Summer … and meeting Captain America himself, Chris Evans!
18. The exquisite cinematography of The Big Country by William Wyler… and the joy of seeing Moses and David (Charlton Heston & Gregory Peck) beat each other up in an epic fight scene
19. Harry Potter franchise ends with a bang… and seeing the back story of Severus Snape, played brilliantly by Alan Rickman
20. Terrence Malick‘s suddenly prolific streak, reportedly attached to direct two new films Lawless and Knight of Cups, which means we may see up to five Malick films within a few years!
21. Well-designed and iconic movie posters… such as this one:
22. Spellbound‘s surreal dream montage designed by Salvador Dali… and how dreamy Gregory Peck is in this [sigh]
23. The Hobbit‘s video journals (thanks to Claire Packer for posting the updates). Bless Peter Jackson for constantly updating fans with the progress of one of the most anticipated film of next year.
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24. And last but not least… I’m ever so grateful for the joy of blogging and ‘meeting’ fellow movie lovers via the blog and Twitter… thank you everyone who have supported this blog for the past couple of years. Hope you’ll stick around for more 😀
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So what are you thankful for this holiday season?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Have a GREAT Thanksgiving my friend! A good list here! Hooray for mention of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet, Marion Cotillard in Midnight in Paris, Your Comic-Con experience, Interviewing Anton Yelchin, and amazing posters!! 🙂
@ Scarlet – Thanks T, hope you had a nice Thanksgiving yourself. He..he.. well thanks to your encouragement I finally saw Hamlet and yeah, I’m a big fan of miss Marion.
Congrats on the press junket stuff! Thats so cool! Are you watching any football during thanksgiving? When I lived in Kansas thats waht everyone was doing.
Hi Joel, well I’m not a football fan by any means but yeah I think a lot of Americans do watch football during Thanksgiving 😀
Happy Thanksgiving, Ruth and company:
I’m with ScarletSp1der in my congratulations for indulging in Brannagh’s ‘Hamlet’. It is sumptuous, isn’t it?
You’ve had a full and complete year, Ruth! We do need to find another actor for you to crush and obsess on now. Though I’m thrilled to see that you have
come to grips and wonderfully admitted your weakness. I’m the same way with Helen Mirren. 😉
Might I suggest Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas or Jeff Bridges?
Happy Thanksgiving, Jack! Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.
Ha..ha.. well I don’t think I can simply choose who I want to fall for. I like Mitchum and Bridges but after seeing Spartacus, I don’t think I can be a fan of Kirk Douglas. I don’t hate a lot of films but I can frankly say I vehemently dislike that movie, I thought it’s such a far cry from Ben-Hur it’s not even funny. For one I just didn’t buy Douglas in that role at all. Sorry Jack I think I’ll be Gregory’s gal for a long time… perhaps even forever 😀
The only Kubrick film i am not a fan of is 2001, and possibly Lolita
😀 I am thankful for many of these things myself. You’ve had a great year, keep it up!
Thanks for the encouragement, really appreciate it.
Hope you’re having a great Thanksgiving!
I think we share a love for Gregory Peck. I first remember seeing him as a kid in To Kill A Mockingbird, still one of my favorite films of all time. I love his voice too.
I’m following my own Thanksgiving tradition today and watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and hoping to watch a movie later. I’m grateful for being able to share my love of movie/films thanks to your wonderful blog and all the great movie blogs out there!
I am also very grateful for Peter Jackson and his Hobbit Video Blogs!
Thanks Fabo, yeah Gregory’s voice is one of my favorite parts about him that I love. I just seems such a pleasant surprise to hear such a deep, confident voice coming from such a beautiful (then-boyish) face when I saw him in Spellbound. From then on I’ve found other great traits that made me love him more!
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, glad to hear!
I’m just thankful that I live in a world where cinema exists. The fact that people like Peter Jackson, Fincher, Speilberg, Scorcese and the like can have spend their time making films we want to see makes me feel that no matter how bad things get, we’ll always have the movies….
Indeed, Rodney, very well-said man. Thank you!
Really liked #11 and #19. The trailer for Brave does look amazing…and I am so relieved that the end of Harry Potter was well done. My boys grew up with him; one of them has gone on to help create the first ever Quidditch team at his university this year. Not sure what Quidditch Coach will look like on his resume but he’s having fun nevertheless.
Thanks Brenda, yeah I’m really impressed by the HP franchise. I wasn’t that interested at first but decided to give it a shot just before the first part of the final film was released. I’m glad I did.
Have fun in Seattle Ruth and happy Thanksgiving.
I’m thankful that I have a fulltime job, roof over my head, good friends and family. In this tough economy, not many people can say that.
Thanks Ted. I’m thankful for everything you mentioned too, of course, and for having met you over a year a go at work of all places!! I’m definitely grateful for your consistently-awesome posts, keep ’em coming 😀
A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Ruth. I’ll ditto what Ted said. That, and finding the wonderful Flixchatter site and the woman who centers it.
Thank you Michael! Awww… you are so sweet for saying that. I’m glad I’ve discovered your blog too, your wonderful TMT posts is just one that keeps me coming back! Btw, special thanks for the post you gave me for next week, man, I LOVE it!
A very happy Thanksgiving to you, lovely lady! Thanks for the link, I too am very thankful for PJ’s video diaries.
I started doing my top 10 films of 2011 today and there have been some really great cinematic moments this year, like your numbers 4 and 5.
Like Ted, I’m thankful for my family, friends, home and job. Great post, Ruth 😀
Thanks Claire! There are so many great things to be thankful for this year, this list could’ve gone on and on 🙂
What a lovely list Ruth. Everyone seems to be doing one of these, which is nice.
Thanks Tyler!
What a lovely list Ruth. Everyone seems to be doing one of these, which is nice. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Chris Evans, Luke Evans, Tarsem, Brave, Gerry Berry, Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne and Michelle Williams (although unlike you, Flixy, I hated the amateurish poster), Henry Cavill … so many things to be thankful for 🙂
Ha..ha.. yes I’m thankful for those hunky guys as well Dezzy, though lately I’ve been crushing on Gregory so much that I’m thankful for gorgeous classic actors as well 😀
Lots to be thankful for indeed Ruth, we are truly blessed. From a movie standpoint, despite terrible movies like Transformers 3, Twilight etc… this has been a really good year. Just this morning, I saw The Muppets and was looking forward to all the great movies that I have yet to see or are yet to come out 🙂
Have a great thanksgiving weekend everyone!
Yeah, I prefer to overlook the bad movies (and avoid seeing them) as there are lots of good ones this year and it’s not over yet. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Happy thanksgiving and a list of my favourite thanksgiving films or films that could be as for some of us it is always about that time of year for family and dysfunction
1. Pieces of April
2. Home for the Holidays
3. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
4. By the Light of the Silvery Moon
5. What’s Cooking?
6. The Big Chill
7. The Accidental Tourist
8. The Family Stone (not really one but could be)
9. Annie Hall
10. The Ref
Great list, Stella. There are a few I haven’t seen yet but #3 is such a hoot, definitely a classic road movie.
Hey, Ruth, I now own PTandA (another Walmart special), so if you ever want to see it again, let me know. Just watched it again recently and it was as good, if not better than the first time. Heartwarming and hilarious!
Hi Ruth,
Love the trailer for The Artist. I hope it’s silent. That was really cool so of course it’s Canadian (Alliance Releasing).
Also I second your admiration of Andy Serkis in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I hope the Academy is forward thinking enough to recognize him come awards time. Doug Jones (Guillermo del Toro’s films) has been doing great work for years too but Andy’s performance actually moved me. Bravo.
I’m thankful I watched 50/50 tonight. Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg’s movie blew me away. The trailer is way misleading. They pretty much put all the funny parts in the trailer. Definitely a breakout for them not unlike Good Will Hunting was for Ben and Matt. The chemistry between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anna Kendrick was off the charts. Those two just keep getting better with each successive film. Angelica Houston was also great as Gordon-Levitt’s overprotective mom. For those put off by Rogan’s previous raunchy, guy films all I can say is if I had to use one word to describe the film I’d use the word “touching”. And that’s not faint praise coming from me. Highly recommended.
BTW didn’t mean to imply that Seth and Adam wrote the screenplay. They produced it and Rogan starred in it. Their friend Will Reiser,who actually had the cancer, wrote the screenplay.
Hi Dave, glad you enjoyed 50/50. I’m not a fan of Rogen but I must say I thought he was good in this one, he had a great rapport w/ Levitt and you’re right about Levitt and Anna, I like their slow-burn relationship. Anjelica Huston stole scenes as well, she was great!
That’s right, it’s Will Reiser who wrote the screenplay, not Seth.
I hope you had a great day my friend. Thanks to you for just being the nicest gal in the blogging world!!
Likewise matey, it’s YOU who’s the nicest blogger in the blogosphere and your blog is just outstanding!
Happy thanksgiving Ruth 🙂
You know, I just realize that I dont know whether Indonesian Christian celebrate thanksgiving too…I never saw my friends celebrating it. Do they, Ruth?
If I to write this, the apes will also b on the thank you list.
Hi Nov, Thanksgiving is more of an American holiday, Nov, but not a religious one. Indo Christians celebrate Christmas but not Thanksgiving, though of course we don’t need a special occasion to give gratitude 🙂
Ah I see 🙂 all this time,I thought it is something religious
Cool list. Definitely agree with you on First Class and Serkis
As for me, i’m thankful Deborah has finally landed a leading role…even if the movie is listed out as coming out in 2013 😦
Hi Julian, I’m happy for you about Deborah. I hope this will be a breakthrough role for her.
“…yours truly has fallen under the spell of the beautiful creature that is Gregory Peck.” Isn’t it great when you fall under the spell of an old school actor/actress and realize this whole bounty of unknown riches awaits you? That’s totally what happened with me & Joanne Woodward this year. As cinemaphiles I feel like there are fewer feelings that are better.
Great list, Ruth! Hope you had a good day yesterday.
I don’t think I’ve seen a Joanne Woodward film, I really should get on that. She’s Paul Newman’s wife, right? They sure made a great couple.
“As cinemaphiles I feel like there are fewer feelings that are better.” You are so right Nick, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be discovering a plethora of Gregory’s films from various genres and marveling at his performances (not to mention that ridiculously gorgeous face) … it’s such a treat!
hey Ruth…what a great list…you and your blog are definitely something i’m thankful for, i’ve had so much fun, met so many cool people, and learned so much, & you started it all. Hope you had a GREAT holiday doll 🙂
Thank you doll, you are VERY kind! I look forward to more from your blog, too, it’s about time for it, my friend!
It’s been fun spending time w/ family, but stay tuned for great guest posts next week! 😀
That is an excellent list and there must be many more things that could be added. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yeah, I could easily went on, Nostra 😀 Thanks for reading!
I’m grateful to ‘meet you’ and fellow bloggers too 🙂 I agree with some of your points there, like Andy Serkis and Terrence Malick. Happy Thanksgiving, Ruth
Thanks Andina, hope you had a lovely weekend in Indo as well.
I’m thankful for such a good friend who has such an awesome blog and who loans me so many DVD movies! I had a Peck marathon last week; one film a day for each day off. In order of what I liked best: Horatio Hornblower, Mirage, Captain Newman MD, Arabesque. Thanks for the holiday Peck Fest!
Woo hoo!! I’m so jealous, ha..ha.. as you know I’m having a bit of Peck withdrawals (see my email) so I could only sneaked in watching stuff on Youtube. Btw, the 15-movie dvd thing turns out to be a fluke, the quality of the picture is so terrible, but the story of Snows of Kilimanjaro is pretty good so I’m gonna have to buy it on its own dvd at some point.