Jake Gonzalez’s review published on Letterboxd:
Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life did a fantastic job at offering a valuable message/moral and developing an original story that was ahead of it’s time. I can now say I’ve watched this film on Christmas! Throughout It’s a Wonderful Life we experience the happiness and sadness of our very loved character. Which after a while you realize he’s clearly the heart and soul of the whole film. This film is simply and noticeably a slow burned experience with an amazing unforgettable payoff. And along with James Stewart’s acting, the ending is even more legendary. The antagonist had a certain spark that just made his character so hatable and evil, that’s just a great example of experienced directing, acting, and writing. The best most memorable and respectable part of the whole entire film is the story telling. Every sequence isn’t wasted, everything is meant to build up and add up for the end, and even though It’s a Wonderful Life features the longest first act in a film I’ve ever seen… it’s still worth your time. There’s something about it that’s just necessary and joyful.
I could totally understand how someone could not enjoy the first 1h 45m but the ending is just ahead of it’s time and charming. A few powerful words (or phrases) I would use to describe this film is legendary, “good at bringing an era to life, and “easily likable.” It’s kind of hard to rate a film that has so much to offer. I really don’t know how to put my thoughts on the film into words. I just really enjoyed this film. It’s gonna grow on me, it’ll definitely be a must watch every Christmas, and it just feels kinda magical in a way.
A-
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