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It’s a Wonderful Life is a masterpiece. Being able to see this film in theaters, my love for it has only grown stronger. I’ve seen thousands of films, throughout the rest of my life I’ll inevitably see thousands of more, but out of every film I’ve seen as of today it’s been difficult to find a motion picture that holds the same positive emotional impact as this Frank Capra classic. I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it once again, this film contains flawless storytelling in every sense of the phrase- projecting the excellently detailed, investing life of George Bailey up until a perfectly executed supernatural third act that leaves the film off with the greatest ending in film history. The atmosphere of encapsulating Bedford Falls and all its loveable inhabitants (except Mr. Potter, of course) is outstandingly engaging for several reason- arguably one of the biggest being in how a heartfelt sense of small town harmony is brilliantly balanced with a grounded understanding of how harsh the world can be. Take the bank rush scene for example, an exceptional scene in which we watch as the employees of the building and loan attempt to keep their customers satisfied in the face of a rapid stock crash that’s soon to cripple the nation.

The weight and seriousness of the situation is held substantive, with the scene concluding as George & crew celebrate keeping the building and loan open- even if it was the expense of his overseas honeymoon. Upon meeting up with his wife later that night, he’s introduced to a house of their own and a magically rainy night for them to share. For every missed opportunity or crushed dream that’s thrown at George, there’s a silver lining and reason to keep going- if that doesn’t reflect a story balanced in it’s realistic substance and joyful emotional appeal I don’t know what does. It’s precisely directed & written films such as these that leave unforgettably profound impacts on the medium of filmmaking & storytelling in general, it certainly helps with this one in particular that millions of people revisit it each year. Off the top of my head, I really can’t think of any narrative or technical issue this film contains- no film is objectively perfect but in my book this one comes about as close as a film can get. Between the undeniable excellence of this film and my very strong personal love for it, after this rewatch I’ve finally decided to give it a solidified placement in my top ten favorite films of all time. Also, I think I’m finally ready to call Jimmy Stewart’s performance in this film the best male performance I’ve ever seen- he’s beyond amazing in the role and energetically brings to life what might just be my most favorite film character as well. Overall each year It’s a Wonderful Life never looses its magic and I doubt it ever will, it’s a wonderful film indeed. 

🔙Bottle Rocket (1993) 
🔜Elf♻️