What a wonderful film!*sigh*

Last week I had a wonderful 2 hours odd when I got to see It’s A Wonderful Life for the first time. I’ve seen it twice after that, and am going to watch it for the fourth time again tomorrow.

I’ve spoken about the old MGM Musicals and about some ‘perfect’ movies (Casablanca and The Apartment). Well, they are marvelous indeed, but I’m still going to place It’s A Wonderful Life on a different league altogether.

My IMDB account shows 1022 titles I’ve voted for (as of May 15th 2008), and I can confidently say It’s A Wonderful Life is all my all-time favourite movie, and I don’t really see any other movie taking it’s spot.

A perfect movie, just like scores of others, It’s A Wonderful Life has just about everything right – the acting, the music, the story and screenplay, the make-up, the cinematography and Frank Capra’s subtle touches and attention to detail is well, simply put, quite wonderful.

Now I’m not going to give the plot away and this is the first review I’m ever writing, so please forgive me if you find this post boring (just as you would find my other ones).

Released in 1946, this film very well stands the test of time. Often you come across magnificent movies, but movies that carry a message and touch your soul are the ones that really deserve a mention. Seeing some tough guys mellow down and not afraid to shed a tear or two in front of others, I think this movie has the potential to connect with just about everybody in this planet.

Now don’t get me wrong, this movie is not depressing, nor does it end as a tragedy. And that makes the ending more special, because when you actually get emotional, get goose bumps all over and get teary all over on a joyous moment, you know you’ve honestly enjoyed the movie.

If I were to speak about the various departments of this movie, I really wouldn’t know where to begin. Just about everything in this movie is flawless.

The dialogues and the screenplay is just so perfect, you’ll definitely realize it later in the movie. Just about every line spoken or every action in this movie is there for a purpose. Nothing is just fitted in to add a few minutes into the movie.

Donna Reed is so fantastic you’ll find it hard to believe it’s her first film. And James Stewart! Well, James Stewart, as usual, proves why he’s such an iconic figure, as he once again carries the entire film on his shoulders. Seriously, even if everything in this movie were to go wrong, you would still love it as you would find good ol’ Jimmy in almost every frame. Thankfully, nothing goes wrong though.

There are several characters in this film, but each character is so well written, you can imagine how hard Frank Capra and the other writers have worked for this film. Even the four children, who hardly have a minute individually, stand out.

The costumes for Stewart (even though they are the usual costumes of the 40s – the hat, the coat, the formals) and the make-up are so incredible you’ll actually believe you have seen Jimmy grow 8 years in the film, from a young guy to a working man and finally as a married man with four children.

Even the way in Capra narrates the film in flashback deserves mention, demonstrating in what unique a manner the flashback technique can be used; a style none of us could have imagined. The ‘alternate world’ makes you wonder as to how essential detailing really is to a film.

One of those rare movies, which gets better on repeated viewings, It’s A Wonderful Life stands out in it’s ability to offer you something new each time you see it.

Well, to put it simply, along with To Kill A Mockingbird, this film is probably THE most important and influential films ever made. A film everyone deserves to see, and quite 'frankly', a film everyone SHOULD see!

Watch this movie and you’ll never love life the way you have loved it hitherto. Nobody’s life can be perfectly smooth and without any troubles, but what is the single most important thing you really have? What is the single most important thing you should never try to get rid off? What is the single most important thing you should be thankful for? What is the single most important thing never to be taken for granted in life? The answer is very evident once you’ve watched this movie.

A feel-good movie, It’s A Wonderful Life is just as wonderful as it gets. Watch the movie when you are in a good mood, watch the movie when there are festivities all around and I must say this – PLEASE watch this movie especially when you are depressed.

Watch this movie and you’ll realize you’ve led a more wonderful life than you think.