Just A Little Bit Random

Classic, Modern And Alternative Christmas Eve Films – BBC Radio Somerset

A special extended Christmas Eve conversation with BBC Radio Somerset’s Daytime presenter Simon Parkin about a selection of Christmas films – classic, modern and alternative. All with the idea of showing a variety of possible Christmas Eve viewing. I had a good deal of fun with this one, so hopefully it makes for a good listen. Listen to the audio via the YouTube link below!

This conversation was broadcast live on the station on Wednesday 24th December 2025.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Larceny Inc

While The Grinch is the most famous example, from Hans Gruber to Willie Soke each year we return to stories of characters trying to steal Christmas. Amongst shopping busyness or ‘Closed for Christmas’ signs the season seems to be an ideal time to pull off a heist, or upfront robbery. So, this year’s Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar looks at a series of less-mentioned attempts at festive thefts.

Christmas sees a boost in sales for many shops, and that’s just the problem that ‘Pressure’ Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson) experiences when the luggage shop that he’s bought after being released from prison sees a mass upswing in sales. With the shop always busy it means that he and his partners-in-crime (Roderick Crawford, Edward Brosphy) have little time to dig the tunnel from the shop basement into the bank next door.

All this stems after Maxwell is released from prison and decides to go straight. Wanting to get a loan from the bank to buy a dog track. However, when the bank rejects his application he buys the luggage shop from the reluctant yet kind-hearted, elderly owner (Harry Davenport) with the intention of robbing it – a plan created by his intended business partner Leo (Anthony Quinn).

But, as snow starts to spread across the streets outside and decorations go up the shop is more of a bustling success than it has been in years. Somehow the group manage to triple, if not more, its value and are constantly distracted from the plans for their heist, which ‘Pressure’ is rarely fully on-board with; especially as he wants to turn into an honest businessman for his adopted daughter Denny (Jane Wyman). However, the life of crime still beckons to some of his colleagues, especially with the bank so close. With Christmas Eve seeming like the date things will be carried out on the heist could act as an early present for the group. But, will it be gratefully received?

While starting off in generally straightforward style the more Larceny Inc goes on the more it starts to feel like a general Christmas film. Perhaps its because of the snow or the various mentions of the holiday, but there’s something simply rather festive about the film once Christmas is first mentioned and the big day (whether viewed as the heist or Christmas itself) gets nearer. Whatever it is it successfully captures the Christmas spirit in the actions and attitudes of the central characters, largely Robinson’s Maxwell, as the heist and events around it play out. Leaning in to the Christmas setting that surrounds the luggage shop and starts to leak its way inside each time the busy door swings open.

To see where you can watch Larceny Inc, whether you wish to buy, rent or simply stream it (or you might be able to find a physical copy somewhere if you don’t have one already) then JustWatch is worth checking out

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – The Silent Partner

When robbing a bank at Christmas what disguise are you going to go for? Of course, Santa seems like the most tongue-in-cheek option. And it’s just that which Christopher Plummer goes for when holding up the bank that Elliott Gould’s Miles Cullen works at. Having ditched the ‘give to charity’ sign he was walking around the mall with moments before he’s switched to a gun and scribbled-on bank notes with demands to empty all the cash in the till and hand it over to him.

However, after having pieced together the possible robbery from a mislaid note not long before Miles has been storing the till cash elsewhere, although not mentioning this to anyone. After seeing a report of just how much was stolen Plummer’s Harry Reikle tracks Miles down, threatening to frame him as involved in the robbery – a silent partner. A worried feud starts to quietly play out between the two, almost as if seeing who will get arrested first and spend Christmas Day in a jail cell, with the hope of avoiding that fate themselves.

Christmas is very quickly pushed to the back of Miles’ mind as his fear of being implicated, and followed by Reikle, grows. The only thing it means for him is that the bank is almost at its busiest time of year, meaning more money was stolen and his sentence, if things aren’t dealt with, could be worse than it already is for someone who’s innocent.

Plummer’s character lies in the background of each scene for Gould, especially as he threatens revenge with threatening notes from unknown locations – like the dollar note he found on the day of the robbery where he was threatened by Santa. A ruined Christmas and number of months after play out in the wake of those events, darkly haunting Miles as he finds himself unable to move on while the threat still hangs over him. Perhaps not quite what Slade meant when they sang “look to the future now, it’s only just begun!”

To see where you can buy, rent or stream The Silent Partner, if you don’t have a physical copy lying around anywhere, JustWatch should be able to tell you where you can find it in whichever country you find yourself in.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Mr Soft Touch

At the heart of Mr Soft Touch is a story all about giving back, albeit through the lens of taking back. Joe Miracle (Glenn Ford) returns from fighting in World War II to settle back into his life running a nightclub. However, he soon finds out that the club has been taken over and his co-owner brother presumed killed. With a ticket to sail out on Christmas Eve, Joe plans to take $100,000 (worth roughly over $1.3 million today) from the club’s safe, hide for a few days and then properly flee.

With the mob after him his temporary place of safety is a settlement house, provided by social worker Jenny Jones (Evelyn Keyes), who believes she’s one of Joe’s friends. The place is scattered with some loose decorations to celebrate Christmas, largely collected in one room, circled around the tree. It’s around this that a number of the key events in the final stages will pan out as Joe tries to blend in with a selection of Santas charitably giving out gifts to children as part of a fundraiser. Although, in this case the tone is quite different to slightly similar actions in previous Calendar entry The Lemon Drop Kid.

For Joe the charity displayed by Jenny and the settlement home extend far beyond what he would expect, and perhaps is usual, as he enters a back-and-forth of sorts with those now in charge of the club. And, as you might expect from a film set against the backdrop of the festive season, Joe’s intentions for the money start to shift towards more generous uses.

Yes, redemption arcs and the different guises they have may happen often outside of Christmas films, but there’s something about the festive season – perhaps because of classic stories such as A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life – that brings us into them more, and simply pushes what they’re getting across. Mr Soft Touch may not do it in the most conventional of senses, with its mob basis and noir tones, and it’s not entirely pitched as a ‘redemption arc’ in style, or at least push. But, it’s certainly there with the backing of charity and giving, particularly giving back, at this time of year.

Mr Soft Touch can be watched on YouTube.
To find other places where the film is available, especially in different countries, check out its page on JustWatch.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Stealing Christmas

Stealing Christmas is bookended with attempts at stealing Christmas. Jack Clayton (Tony Danza) is going through a routine heist when a security guard suspects his wrongdoing. After a hasty, multi-mile escape Jack finds himself, now disguised in a Santa costume, stumbling into a small town that’s both waiting for a Santa to appear at the local Christmas tree shop and has a convenient bank that could make for a big payday whilst the town is at the local church on Christmas Eve.

Whilst waiting for partner-in-crime Harry (David Parker) to arrive, Jack takes on the role of the expected Santa amongst the Christmas trees sold by Lea Thompson’s Sarah. His attitude is far from jolly, and could see him thrown out of town before both the previous heist has cooled down and, more importantly, the new one can even start to be planned. Thus, we see him getting slightly more into the spirit of the role with a push from both Sarah and other members of the local community who start to embrace the new-in-town stranger who they largely just know as Santa – with Jack seen more in the costume than his own clothing.

This is certainly the case for Betty White’s antique store owner who perhaps welcomes Jack in the most, especially with the fascination he shows to a train that she has on display. It’s White’s character who agrees that it would be a wonderful idea to have the church bells ring on Christmas Eve, not knowing it would disguise the sound of the bank being broken into. Yet, even at this point it seems as if Jack is having second thoughts, largely from the kindness and welcoming he’s experienced from the random town he’s stumbled into. One that, like with Trapped In Paradise a couple of days ago in this year’s Calendar, fully embraces the spirit of the festive season, and almost appears to all year long. Leading it to rub off on Jack, even if initially just through attraction to Sarah.

Stealing Christmas has somewhat found a mild place with reruns on American cable TV networks every now and then. With its Hallmark-adjacent leanings, although not entirely style, it ticks a number of festive boxes and makes for light, likable viewing that may provide just what you’re looking for from an amusing less-mainstream watch this year. Even if it does focus on two attempts at stealing Christmas.

Stealing Christmas can be watched in the following places:
YouTube
To see where else you can buy, rent or stream the film, including in various places around the world, JustWatch is always helpful to have a look at.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – The Unholy Three (1930)

Perhaps the fact that 1930’s The Unholy Three is a slightly less festive remake of an already alternative Christmas film makes it even more fitting of a place on this calendar. Yet, while less festive than the silent 1925 film of the same name the heist in question pans out over the Christmas season, with Christmas Eve itself acting as the day of the big job.

Three former carnival acts (Ivan Linow, Harry Earles and Lon Chaney in his first, and only, speaking role – the tagline for the film was ‘Lon Chaney TALKS’) leave the demeaning sideshow circuit and use a pet shop to attract wealthy customers who they subsequently steal from. Over time they welcome in pickpocket Rosie (Lila Lee) who Chaney’s ventriloquist Echo falls for, although her attentions are turned to the pet shop’s only proper employee, Hector (Elliott Nugent), who in turn has feelings for Rosie.

The not-quite love triangle starts to play out against the backdrop of growing Christmas decorations. Hector brings a tree for Mrs O’Grady (the disguise Chaney’s ventriloquist character uses in the shop) and her family (wrestler-turned-actor Linow’s strongman, Hercules, plays son-in-law while Earles’ Tweedledee takes on more-than-disgruntled grandson) which shines brightly with decorations in the corner of the black-and-white scenery, pushing the gloom of the Unholy Three’s plans and actions. They’ve pushed Christmas to the side and have little care for the season, it’s another day of the year, although one that could interfere with their plans and creates unnecessary clutter in their apartment.

But, those relationships themselves play out as something of a backdrop to the Christmas Eve heist and the different changing views towards it from the titular trio. Some slightly more in the spirit of the season than others, especially when it comes to eventual decisions and events post-robbery. Some living up to the unholy name the group gives themselves, others looking more at forgiving and redemptive actions fitting of this time of year – a favourite theme of many Christmas films.

The Unholy Three can be watched in the following places:
YouTube
You can see where else the film is available to buy, stream or rent, especially in your country, on JustWatch.

Avatar: Fire And Ash – Review

Cert – 12, Run-time – 3 hours 17 minutes, Director – James Cameron

The Sully family are separated whilst trying to get adopted human Spider (Jack Champion) to a place of safety, each hunted by a tribe of fire Na’vi helping humans cull Pandora’s Tulkun species.

Although this is only the second sequel it feels slightly odd to have another Avatar film so soon after 2022’s The Way Of Water. Made back-to-back with that film it shares a lot of the same DNA, including a third act which feels as if it could be almost identical. For those who have claimed that the first two films were derivative of many films that came before it, including notably Dances With Wolves, then Fire And Ash won’t do anything to change their minds, especially with its similarities to its own previous entries.

Spectacle in this third outing to Pandora, revisiting the water and jungle lands before venturing to burnt forestry belonging to the new fire Na’vi tribe introduced as antagonists alongside returning Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and co, is certainly still present. The design of the world and the creatures in it are still engaging, but there doesn’t seem to be that same sense of wonder or full immersion from them alone. A shame as Cameron spends much of the first hour, and many individual scenes in-between, almost always broken by the sudden re-arrival of the enemy, indulging in the visuals and workings of the planet. Moments contributing to the feeling that a good hour could comfortably be cut from the run-time.

Once things start to very gradually come together the Sully family are separated whilst journeying to get adopted human Spider (Jack Champion) to a place of safety – with Quaritch and the human army still seeking him, and Jake (Sam Worthington). On the way the family are attacked by Varang (Oona Chaplin), who doesn’t seem to be named until around two-thirds into the film, and her tribe – who bring a layer of darkness with their rituals, merciless outlooks and how their seeming isolation has differed them from the other Na’vi we’ve seen so far. While Varang may not have a lot of detail she still manages to get one or two moments where she feels like a real threat, while Quaritch who was once a traditional, albeit slightly clichéd, boo-hiss bad guy has been relegated to an outline. Downgrades are scattered throughout Fire And Ash as even Zoe Saldaña’s has gone from playing Neytiri to a character who may as well be credited as ‘sad wife’.

All meaning that emotional engagement is held back on with the many characters we see in this film. While the action can sometimes feel repetitive, and look like it’s been pulled from a video game, it manages to find a spark when feeling most abrupt and leaning into the actual threat at hand rather than a visual aspect, or jumping around between characters, most of whom I still probably couldn’t name. If the film had a stronger narrative to fill its near 3-and-a-half-hour run-time then it would perhaps flow better and the explosive action, even when underwater, would likely have more of an impact. For what there is here it’s effective, and certainly the film as a whole picks up pace the more it feels as if it’s properly brought things together after a very slow build-up. The second half feels more active with the backing that it has from the scattered events of the first.

Especially when playing out in the human-built city, looking like the Arrakeen palace in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune has been placed in Blade Runner’s LA, on Pandora. Battles unfolding here feel more fluid and as if all happening as one, due to the closeness and combined force from each character in that particular sequence. There’s a better sense of connectedness to everything at play here, and the design of the location pays off, especially as an expansive yet still somehow confined area.

Yet, James Cameron has so many individual ideas at play in terms of visuals, from years of collecting them and constructing Pandora alongside production designers and visual effects artists, that the film can often feel like it’s trying to show these off more than move the story along. Yes, there’s still a visually impressive nature, but the marks show here of an overlong film that needs more narrative emphasis.

Cameron has spoken about the individual and overarching stories at play here, the latter which is meant to continue in two more sequels which will explore more parts of Pandora. While these may bring new visually stunning locations they hopefully will offer new details for the plot that plays out in them. As it stands with Fire And Ash, there’s certainly threat, when leaning into upfront character and exploring new points; and, as expected, strong visuals, if feeling slightly retrodden. The flame is certainly not burnt out, but it’s missing a spark or two to properly give it power.

The visuals are still engaging, but not always impressive as they’re sometimes put at the fore over a thin, drawn-out narrative in Avatar: Fire And Ash. Needing to push its characters that bit more, as when it puts them at the the fore the threat and action are stronger and more fluid in this very familiar sequel.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Trapped In Paradise

Nicolas Cage has starred in a handful of festive and festive-adjacent films in his wide filmography yet it’s taken seven years for one to appear as part of the Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar. While he’s starred as Jacob Marley in a 2001 take on A Christmas Carol and The Family Man may be a more notable Christmas title 1994’s Trapped In Paradise seems to have slipped more into the background than these.

The Firpo brothers, Bill (Cage), Dave (Jon Lovitz) and Alvin (Dana Carvey) arrive in a small Pennsylvania town on Christmas Eve. They plan to get in quickly, steal the $275,000 in the vault (with Dave and Alvin claiming it’s for a fellow inmate (Vic Manni) from when they were in prison while Bill managed a restaurant having avoided a life of crime) and get out just as fast. However, a series of events in the quiet town of Paradise, where it seems everyone knows everyone, and a failed getaway leave them stuck there over Christmas, with the main roads out blocked by snow.

While desperate to leave, the trio are welcomed by the residents and treated to an array of festive treats and traditions. Trading in the coldness of their home apartment for the warmth of festivities and knitted jumpers (or a bundle of multiple layers). Paradise is a place of community and generosity, even shown in the responses of those caught in the bank during the initial robbery as they tell the masked criminals holding them at gunpoint that the manager is on his lunchbreak. It’s the people of Paradise that bring about the good tidings of the season, and in some ways push the central characters as they try to get out of the snowy confines with the stolen money, especially before they’re caught up with by either police or henchmen from the man they stole their plan from.

Much of this largely gone through by Cage’s character as the straight man to the frantic comedic turns of Lovtiz and Carvey – both not long after their respective SNL runs. It’s him who experiences the conventional Christmas film angles of Paradise and its residents. All ready for a cosy Christmas Day by the fire., and more than happy to welcome the three stranded, if slightly odd, strangers that have turned up on Christmas Eve after the escape of those bank robbers. Because, giving and helping those around us is what Christmas is all about in Paradise.

You can watch Trapped In Paradise via:
Amazon
iTunes
To find other places where you can buy, rent or steam the film, in whichever part of the world you might find yourself in, JustWatch is worth having a look at.

Alternative Christmas Film Advent Calendar 2025 – Fitzwilly

With the news of him having just turned 100 it seems fitting to start this year’s Calendar with a film led by Dick Van Dyke. Mary Poppins, which acts as festive-feeling viewing for many at this time of year, may have seen him tackling jobs such as street painter, chimney sweep and one-man band just three years later in Fitzwilly he’d take on the double duty of butler and heist mastermind. Keeping his employer, Victoria Woodworth (Edith Evans), in her life of luxury. With he and the other staff living comfortably, too.

However, as their plans come close to being foiled Fitzwilly and co find themselves needing to pull off a major heist in order to bring in the money they’ve missed out on due to the presence of Barbara Feldon’s Juliet, helping Miss Vicki to write a special dictionary. With Buddy The Elf not yet monitoring festive cheer throughout Gimbels, the department store is the target to steal $75,000 (in 1967 – today the value would be around $720,000). With a difficult-to-move-through sea of customers darting from one counter to the next in each department Fitzwilly and co go almost unseen as their organised plan plays out amongst the festive chaos.

Over time we see a rom-com style relationship that grows less and less performative/ scheme-based form between Fitzwilly and Juliet, slotting right into a familiar vein in Christmas viewing. Set against the backdrop of a house that starts to see a scattering of decorations amongst the stolen trinkets, silverware and piano – all obtained by the title character in various different guises and accents, with a slight wink to camera as he very briefly reprises his infamous Poppins accent.

Unlike most examples of festive robberies where we’re largely rooting for Christmas to not be stolen, there’s an enjoyment in Fitzwilly to seeing the heists in action, and in most cases pulled off. Perhaps because the season largely seems to be a backdrop than a full driving force, although it of course helps with the need for a bigger scheme. Alongside the lightness with which the thefts are played out in the comedic tones of the film, and relationships at play in the unit of criminals trying to maintain both their lifestyle and that of their employer, some of whom have served for generations. All in a bid to make sure that everyone continues to get what they want for a more-than-comfortable Christmas.

To see where you can buy, rent or stream Fitzwilly, JustWatch is always worth checking out.

LFF 2025: The Blue Trail – Review

Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 26 minutes, Director – Gabriel Mascaro

In the near-future the aging population are sent to remote, controlled living spaces. Not wanting this to be her fate, Tereza (Denise Weinberg) flees through the Amazon rainforest in the hope of achieving her dream to fly in a plane.

There’s a truly degrading set of images as we see elderly figures queued up and pushed onto buses as they make their apparently inevitable journey to the remote ‘community’ where all Brazilian citizens are sent at age 77. Up until this point there have been only a scattering of near-future elements in The Blue Trail, but this sequence highlights something truly dystopian in tone and imaging. Elderly citizens are seen as a burden on society, stopping the country and younger members of society from being properly productive. Thus, they must be sent to a growing village where they won’t cause trouble to anyone but themselves.

The shots come in contrast to the open spaces of the Amazon, and other locations seen throughout protagonist Tereza’s (Denise Weinberg) journey. Fleeing the clutches of her life being taken away from her she pursues her dream of flying in a plane by first travelling through the rainforest – with the help of boat captain Cadu (Rodrigo Santoro). As the boat sets off the initial stages of the pair’s journey is a calm and gentle one. Cruising along, taking in the scenery and the freedoms of the outside world which Tereza may be slightly overwhelmed by, although trying not to show it, and drinking it all in with a hint of determination.

It’s a tone that’s struck throughout and proves to be quietly engaging. Holding interest for the 86-minute run-time which grows the bond between the two leads, and Tereza’s independence along with it. All done in a largely calm manner that makes the more dystopian elements stand out and land a tense impact when the coldness of the attitude and environment are glimpsed up close. A sudden change from the sense of wonder that’s captured in the characters as they look with new eyes at their natural surroundings.

In some ways the best way I could describe The Blue Trail is as a film that I simply enjoyed being in the company of. A calm, likable piece of work that captures two characters making the most of their freedom and independence by exploring the world around them with different backgrounds. Yet, the push is very much with Tereza. The heart is in her journey to the end. Which is perhaps why when the final stages seem uncertain as to where they’re going to go the end manages to stick the landing.

A calm and gentle journey where the heart is consistently with the main character, there’s brief cold dystopia to contrast with the freedom and independence of the rainforest journey which quietly holds attention throughout The Blue Trail.