Branagh's 2022 black and white film **BELFAST** is considered his most personal film. I offer that his 1995 black and white film **IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER** is equally autobiographical. And I guess that we will see a third black and white film in the future that would showcase the twilight of his career to close out the Branagh Trilogy. (_Cross your fingers_.) **IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER** is also the first film that Branagh does not appear. It is arguably the least popular film in his oeuvre, partially because of the release in the United States under the name **A MIDWINTER'S TALE**. For ease of understanding, this review will refer to it as **MIDWINTER**. The storyline is brief, almost a British **WAITING FOR GUFFMAN** as a small group of theatrical performers are mounting an overly ambitious, _underly_ funded production of that old Christmas classic, **HAMLET**. Yes the _everyone's dead at the end_ **HAMLET**. It even results in a powerful movie producer attending opening night in an environment not typical to great theatre. The screenplay is filled with great characters and very funny circumstances. Although not on screen, Branagh's voice is loud and clear. In fact, by this sixth film of his, we are able to see a bit of critical weakness. Branagh's films are lacking in quiet moments - usually wall to wall dialogue mixed with Patrick Doyle's regal musical scoring. This film is the first to subtly address that. In fact, it ends with many payoffs that the heart understands oh so well. **MIDWINTER** is a very good film, but will likely remain his most forgettable work... Until my _dream Branagh Trilogy_ Box Set exists!
Manhattan explores how the life of a middle-aged television writer dating a teenage girl is further complicated when he falls in love with his best friend's mistress.
Miss Marple believes she's seen a murder in a passing-by train, yet when the police find no evidence she decides to investigate it on her own.
Miss Marple and Mr. Stringer are witnesses to the death by heart attack of elderly, rich Mr. Enderby. Yet they have their doubts about what happened. The police don't believe them, thus leading Miss Marple to yet again investigate by herself.
A murderer is brought to court and only Miss Marple is unconvinced of his innocence. Once again she begins her own investigation.
During an annual board of trustees meeting, one of the trustees dies. Miss Marple thinks he’s been poisoned after finding a chemical on him. She sets off to investigate at the ship where he had just come from. The fourth and final film from the Miss Marple series starring Margaret Rutherford as the quirky amateur detective.
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. When thieves try to break into his home, he puts up a fight like no other.
Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad's credit card—despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, the Wet Bandits, he's determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve.
It's a dreary Christmas 1944 for the American POWs in Stalag 17 and the men in Barracks 4, all sergeants, have to deal with a grave problem—there seems to be a security leak.
Elmer, an elf child, steals Santa's sleigh and goes out to the real world, pretending to be a real boy.
Single mother Ryan has just about given up on dating after her divorce, happily accepting her young son as the most important man in her life. That all changes when Ryan's brother Owen, also feeling unlucky in love after a bad breakup, swaps his home in their small North Carolina town with New York City adman Sean.