Noel

I watch every Christmas,and will watch it again next Christmas. The movie is both happy and sad, and I think most people will enjoy it.

I ran across this movie the other night while looking for something Christmassy. I'd just put up my tree and I was in a festive mood. This one was for free on Demand. I watched it and then bought a copy on Amazon. And though it made me cry like crazy I'll revisit it every Christmas from here on out. The cast was unbelievable. Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Robin Williams, and Alan Arkin. First of all, if what you like are Hallmark Christmas movies, this ain't it. It's an adult themed Christmas film, about real people with real problems. The language at times is salty, and Santa doesn't make a single appearance. Nevertheless, it's far more emotional and religious than anything you'll find on that network. The main plot is like a lot of Christmas movies, however. Intersecting storylines and all that. But that's where the similarities end, and the real emotion begins. Susan Sarandon is the main protagonist and all plot lines revolve around her character, Rose. She's a lonely 50 something book editor whose mother is in the hospital with Alzheimer's. She's visiting mom on Christmas eve when she wanders into the room across from them, where a very sad and lonely man resides all by himself. No one ever seems to visit, and Rose puts up a Christmas Angel in his room. When she turns around, the patient isn't alone after all. It's Charlie Boyd, played by Robin Williams, sitting in the corner. And well, here's where the movie becomes even more deeply moving than it already was. There's simply no way to separate the character Robin Williams plays and the man himself. The deeply held hurts and sadness he felt in his real life, and the battle with depression he lost in the end. Tears poured down my face and I prayed for this wonderful human being who gave so much of himself to the world, but in the end was unable to help himself. It made the movie that much more poignant. In the end its about this community we call the human race and how we're all here to help one another. Whether are not you're a follower of Jesus Christ, I think we can all agree with His central message of Peace on earth, and good will to all women and men. God bless you this Christmas season, and God bless Robin Williams.

This is a unique movie and may be too gritty for some but I love it. Note there are no cookies baked nor syrup infused plots. I can watch it any day of the year even though the story is set at Christmas. I find it fascinating that this story shows how we are all interconnected and what an impact individuals have on people that cross our paths even though we do not know them well. Great performances by Paul Walker and Robin Williams who we have sadly lost. Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Marcus Thomas, and Alan Arkin are exceptional in their portrayals of very human and vulnerable people. Love this movie; it is truly special.

Anybody viewing this flick unaware be forewarned. This film, though not taking a hardline against Christmas, examines those who approach the holiday with a sense of dread and grateful when the hoopla is over. After the film was over I went outside for a cigarette. I came back inside my wife was beside herself with tears letting the menu screen run over and over without shutting it off. I've seen her react emotionally to other movies, Nicholas Sparks type stuff, but never to this extreme. This is not to suggest "Noel" is a bad movie. It's a very good one but one has to look past the Hallmark Channel packaging the disc comes in. The film's positives have to be the assured hand of first time director Chazz Palminteri who juggles multiple, sometime overlapping, storylines beautifully. I can honestly say I've never seen Susan Sarandon better. She plays a woman who life serves a series of curveballs, most recently coping with an aged mother hospitalized with Alzheimer's disease, yet somehow perserveres. The highlight here for me is the look of moral victory on her face after she wins a pathetic miniature artificial tree after dredging up the saddest Christmas story at a lonely bar on Christmas Eve. I would have given this film the full five star treatment but that would indicate that I love this movie when the case is I strongly admire it.

One of the best story and movie out there!!Very rare movie thar you can watch hundreds of times over and over again and it feels like a first time everytime!!Amazing play of every single actors and actresses and everyone who were involved in creating this movie!!!

This movie is extremely deep, and is set in NY city around Christmas time. This movie has split stories of a few people and their troubles during Christmas. Not only is it so incredibly deeply moving, it is such a "different type" of Christmas movie. Robin Williams and Alan Arkin were amazing in this movie. This movie goes to show you, a simple act of kindness can be so powerful and mean so much to someone, and you truly never know what demons someone is battling inside. It also shows you fate, and how people come into our lives at certain times for certain reasons.If you're looking for the traditional Christmas movie, this is not it. What you will get with this is a wonderful movie filled with a powerful message, an all star cast with amazing chemistry, and a movie which truly portrays what the meaning of Christmas is supposed to be. I watch this several times a year. It truly is one of my favorite Christmas movies.

This is one of THE best Christmas films I have seen. It's basically 4 / 5 stories based around a central character. Fascinating and completely grabs you. Lots of great names appearing in it and well done indeed. Definitely warms the cockles of the heart and filled me with a little cheer.It has slight religious connotations, only in terms that not until the end, do you realise the characters are speaking with each other in a 'spiritual' way. Great little twist at the end, which I did not seen coming. I would pitch this film for a slightly older market and would probably not show it to younger children, only as I don't think they would understand it really.

Saw this film on Channnel 5 one afternoon a few years ago and it has always stuck in my mind. Finally found out what it was called and bought the dvd. Stars Susan Sarandon but there are many cameo appearances from the likes of Robin Williams and Alan Arkin. A lovely Christmas feel good film.

This film has become a bit of a hidden gem. I have seen it many times now & love how festive it feels. It's a film about people, emotions, family, caring & loss. It also has an uncredited role by Robin Williams. The rest of the cast is full of brilliant actors & thoughtful story lines, set in New York city. I am just happy to have a copy to watch now, as it rarely appears on the TV schedules.

I first watched this film on t.v.and loved it, I've looked on Amazon loads of time's but never found it till now and at under £2-00 ordered it straight away, it came the next day even though it's a Christmas movie I'd watch it any time, it's a tear jerker and stars the very sadly missed Robin Williams, great movie.

I'm a Robin William's fan and thought this was a change from the type of comedy he usually does.The film its self was nothing spectacular, but had a nice Christmassy feel about it, not too sweet and I liked the fact that the main character knew that her Christmas was going to be spent at the hospital as usual with her Mother, who had Alzheimers.It was the case of a woman, who basically was at the end of her tether, and who was 'rescued' from herself, by an 'Angel' in the form of a dying patient, but you dont discover this until towards the end of the film. Its nice in the fact, that she discovers that there is some hope for her personal life, as the film comes to a close..