Chicagoist: A Few Words About the Greatest Movie of the Season

Ward Up

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:26:35 -0600

About Mr. Potter being a "conservative," in the movie Mr. Potter does not behave as a conservative. He is a selfish, sadistic lout who let's his anger influence his business decisions. Potter witholds loans out of contempt rather than on the basis of whether the borrowers can be paid back. A true conservative would MAKE those loans and then make money when they are repaid. Mr. Potter is also a thief and a saboteur of his competition. Rather than compete with George fairly, Potter pockets the money that was lost by Uncle Billy. That's not conservatism. That is crookery.

Rob Christopher

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:12:56 -0600

PumaC: what I was trying to get at is that a movie becomes truly influential when it not only influences other other movies but also affects our day-to-day lives and the culture at large. I think IAWL has done that.

Ingrid

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:04:38 -0600

Well, I can see that there is no chance of the commenters here getting all sloppy and sentimental over this movie :) And I've got to say...never said it out loud before because you can't say these things about such a treasured movie...but you all are right...George really IS a dick for a lot of the movie! I always wondered why Mary put up with that behavior, especially in the beginning when he was at her house when she got back from school. He had no reason at all to be treating her like that and she just took it, like a doormat. For all of its sanctimoniousness, I do enjoy it though.

irishman1

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:26:45 -0600

@Albanypakour...any fan of Die Hard, is a fan of mine! Officer John McClane. He's a cop. He's a good cop! He's a good Irish cop!!

Navin

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:10:05 -0600

It's overtly religious, deals with suicide and alcohol abuse. Not to mention, George Bailey is something of an asshole for most of the film. Not to mention that Mr. Potter's not portrayed as the awesome godly conservative superman he should be. Socialist, bleeding heart liberal, propaganda!

Albanyparkour

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:04:13 -0600

My Christmas hero is Detective John McClaine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KShj0gPAH0g&feature=related NOW I HAVE A MACHINE GUN HO HO HO

Shannon

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:52:10 -0600

i saw this movie for the first time just last year. i was goaded by my sister who, as Albany pointed out, is kind of a dick for the most part. far more enjoyable than i thought it would be, that's for sure.

Albanyparkour

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:41:54 -0600

Funny thing, this movie would be boulderized if it were made today. It's overtly religious, deals with suicide and alcohol abuse. Not to mention, George Bailey is something of an asshole for most of the film. If they made it today it would have Vince Vaughn, Dane Cook as Clarence and some 22 year old playing Donna Reed as a mother of 3

PumaConcolor

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:20:26 -0600

Forget Citizen Kane. Frank Capra's Christmas chestnut is arguably the second-most influential movie of all time, after The Wizard of Oz. Why? Because its world has become our world. Rob, how are you defining influential here? This doesn't make much sense to me.

Stealth

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:57:50 -0600

I was always a Mr. Potter fan. George: "Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter!" Mr. Potter: "Happy New Year to you to.... IN JAIL!" Ah, I love that line...

Albanyparkour

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:56:34 -0600

The SNL "Lost Ending" always kills me. http://www.hulu.com/watch/4267/saturday-night-live-its-a-wonderful-life-lost-ending