Noah Cassidy’s review published on Letterboxd:
"Is he depressed?"
"No, worse, he's discouraged."
Watched a little later than usual, and I will admit to having a few libations throughout the day to help deal with family for the holiday for lack of a better term, which I am still feeling the effects of as I'm writing this review. Of the various things that keep me committed to wanting to watch this movie on a yearly basis, keeping me loving it as much as I do, one of the top things is the overall sincerity of the feature, especially through the character of George Bailey. Especially with our dear Superman and Clark Kent becoming a character(s) that's back in the social consciousness of the masses, I think it's now more than ever a pretty essential time to remember and honor people who want to help and care for others... just because. That's all anyone really needs to keep being a better person, to support the people they care about, and to even keep learning lessons about the things that challenge them. I especially think of not only when young George is trying to help Mr. Gower in the pain of losing his son and almost killing himself due to drunkenness in grief, but in the final act of the movie where George is praying in pure desperation and hopelessness. It's important to remember that even the best of us are going to struggle in the most trying times of our lives. Our saviors are people too, and just as the best of us can save us in our most desperate moments, these same people can be saved by the people whom they are going out of their way for. It's a beautiful movie that's able to portray such a wonderful life. For what it's also worth, for as much as Frank Capra I'm sure is someone who "believed in America" or whatnot, the Mr. Potter stuff resonates more and more each year as being fundamentally anti-capitalist at least in the nature of someone keeping their wealth to benefit themselves and make the lives of others as miserable as possible for the continued increase of said wealth. Fuck him, and the horse carriage he rode in! We deserve to live in a world where we can sing, smile, and find ourselves in situations where we recognize all the pain and struggle we've been through, and there's those lights and the ringing bells at the end of it all. Attaboy.
10/10
