What do you know, a DVD review and a movie review at the same time. Well, sort of… Noel is getting somewhat of an odd release as it will be getting a limited release on November 12th, a Flexplay DVD release on November 17th and then a one night showing on TNT on November 28th, either way The Convex Group wants you to see this movie, and for good reason… it is quite a good holiday film.
Honestly I am surprised Noel is getting the release treatment it is considering it is a rather good film, boasting a large cast of names including Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker and Robin Williams and is directed by Chazz Palminteri, in what really should be considered is debut directorial bout despite directing a made-for-TV movie and one episode of HBO’s “Oz” back in ’97.
The story concerns five New Yorkers whose lives become indirectly entangled only to reveal a Christmas miracle.
Rose (Sarandon) has taken charge caring for her fragile mother, who has become more-or-less incapacitated and has lost almost all ability of interaction. Mike (Walker) is engaged to Nina (Cruz) and experiences a disturbing chance meeting with Artie (Arkin) who lets Mike in on quite a disturbing revelation. At the same time Mike’s relationship with Nina hits the skids when his jealousy goes overboard causing Nina to walk out on him on Christmas Eve.
Initially, totally unrelated, to everything else that is going on Jules (Thomas) resorts to extreme measures in order to relive the only happy Christmas he can remember.
Through desperation and despair each character goes on to live their own Christmas miracle in a heart-warming story that was much better than I could have expected.
Chazz Palminteri is able to get some real acting out of Paul Walker, whose surfer slang way of speaking still remains and his Fast and the Furious attitude still shows through, but it is confined to reveal some level of acting ability, which was a real comfort.
As for Sarandon, Cruz and Williams they each deliver their to-be-expected performances giving the movie credibility and the emotion needed to carry out a story of this fashion.
If you are curious about the Flexplay DVD option, this is a new type of DVD that allows you 48 hours to watch the movie after you have opened the package and is an excellent option for studios to release smaller independent films, giving them much more exposure. After 48 hours the disc becomes unplayable, to learn more about Flexplay DVDs head on over to Flexplay.com, and after that head over to Amazon.com to order your own copy or be sure to tune in to TNT on the 28th to catch the only television showing of the film.
