This week, our holiday episode is about an obscure little offbeat Christmas film that means a lot to us personally, A Midwinter's Tale - or In the Bleak Midwinter, if you're outside the US. Kenneth Branagh wrote and directed (but uncharacteristically, did not act in) this film about Joe Harper, an out-of-work actor who decides that an independent Christmas production of Hamlet is just the thing to somehow pull him out of his depression and get back on track. Fortunately, the magic of Shakespeare and live performance do come around in the end to remind Joe what life is all about. We discuss the unique relationships formed when working in theater (especially broke indie theater), the high emotions that occur when a group of actors are trapped together for long periods of time, how rehearsal and character work often beget psychological introspection, and this film's place as an unsung Christmas classic that harkens back to better known holiday fare like It's A Wonderful Life. This episode is for the entertainers--the people who are often out there working through the holidays, often for little more than the love of performing, creating family when they can't be with their own. Come tread the boards with us!

We're kicking off a month of non-traditional holiday films with Bridget Jones's Diary, welcoming back guests Kate Duffy and Danny Zeliger to discuss this Sex and the City meets Pride and Prejudice chick flick classic. We talk about the scandal of casting Texas-born Renee Zellweger as a definitively British character, Colin Firth's re-envisioning of his BBC Mr. Darcy as the modern Mark Darcy, Hugh Grant's pitch-perfect though (at the time) against-type portrayal of sleazy Daniel Cleaver, Helen Fielding's brilliant choice to re-imagine Jane Austen in the contemporary era, the movie's perfect balance of humor and romance, John's personal adventures in cooking blue soup, the importance of someone liking you just as you are, and how all four of us see this film as a perfect watch for the Christmas-to-New Year holiday timeframe. Throw on your best reindeer jumper, fill your plate with turkey curry, and give us a listen!

To cap off our Friendsgiving month, we welcome back Christina and Mac from World of Horror Podcast to talk about a feel-good family film that is as sweet as a delicious piece of pecan pie a la mode -- Paddington 2! We discuss the movie's heartfelt themes of family, being yourself, and building community; how Paddington's perspective as an immigrant makes his contributions to society even more unique and valuable; the brilliant use of CGI and visual storytelling that enhances the film rather than replacing the work of artists; the amazing performances from Hugh Grant, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, and Ben Whishaw, who brings real humanity to a little bear; and how Christina uses Paddington to teach ethics in the classroom. This film is like a warm hug from a relative you've missed for a long time, and we can't think of a better movie to discuss for Thanksgiving! We are grateful for all our guests this month, and we are grateful to you, our listeners, for giving us a chance to talk movies with you year-round. Have a safe, happy, and comfort-filled Thanksgiving!