I Finally Watched...It's A Wonderful Life

Today I finally watched Frank Capra's 1946 classic 'It's A Wonderful Life'.  I know these posts usually start off with how I was first introduced to the movie that I chose for this, but to be fully honest I can't quite pinpoint the first time I heard about 'It's A Wonderful Life'.  I know that I kept hearing about it around this time of year and how it's such a great movie, and that's about all I got for this section.  I know that it's plot has influenced many other movies ('Shrek Forever After' and 'The Santa Clause 3:  The Escape Clause' deal with similar plot elements as this movie).

And then these posts go straight into my previous attempts to watch this movie.  Honestly....I never really made much of an effort to watch this movie.  Until now... 

Well that went quicker than I thought.  So the plot of the movie.  Businessman George Bailey (James Stewart) is usually compassionate but now is in despair and is suicidal.  Up in Heaven, three angels review George's entire life until one of them is sent to Earth to stop George from committing suicide and show him what life would have been like if he never existed.

When it was released it was a flop, barely making back half of it's budget in it's first run.  Initially when it premiered it received mixed reviews.  Despite mixed reception it still went on to earning five Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (James Stewart), Best Director (Frank Capra), Best Sound Recording, and Best Film Editing.  It won none of them, losing Best Picture to 'The Best Days of Our Lives', which I have never heard of.  Also nominated were 'Henry V', 'The Razor's Edge' and 'The Yearling'...none of which I've seen or even remotely heard of.  Despite the initial failure of it's theatrical run and not winning any Academy Awards, over time 'It's A Wonderful Life' has become one of the most acclaimed films of all time.  In 1990 it was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress.  The American Film Institute declared it as the third best film in the fantasy genre and the 11th greatest movie of all time, and Britain's Channel 4 declared it as the seventh greatest movie ever made. 

Honestly....for the most part as I watched it I just kept thinking to myself:  this is it?  Apart from the final 30 minutes of the movie, nothing ever really grabbed at me.  The actor's all do a fine job and eventually James Stewart's performance does stand out.  Really that's all I think I can comment about it without getting into spoilers.  Sure I shouldn't have to worry about spoilers over a movie that's 67 years old, but I try and stay spoiler free as best as I can.  I think it's an all right movie with a great third act but I don't entirely think that it's a great movie.  I might have to watch this again at some point and see if it gets better with repeat viewings. 

So that's some thoughts and words about 'It's A Wonderful Life'.  I know usually these posts go on and on and on and on but what can I say other than I didn't exactly have a whole lot to say about this movie.  The next movie, long considered to be one of the worst movies ever made, I'm sure I'll have a little bit more to say.