Christmas Eve in Miller's Point

Christmas Eve in Miller's Point is a stunning and strange film from Tyler Taormina, an uncompromising young filmmaker.

If you've seen Taormina's previous films, ("Ham on Rye" / "Wild Flies" / the dialogue-less "Happer's Comet") then you might have a sense of what is going to wash over you when you sit down for this, his first effort to see broader distribution.

Taormina's films exist outside of conventional genre and storytelling. They're funny, but they're not comedies, there's drama, but they're not dramas. Characters experience conflict and resolution, but no single thread that must be followed to its end.

Taormina's films offer an experience that feels totally alive, with characters you'll fall in love with, and moments that feel too ordinary to be Hollywood, as well as moments that seem to absurd to be faked.

This is a difficult film to share, because the press materials (accurately) depict a family Christmas movie featuring Michael Cera, but it's not what you'd expect from that at all. When trying to describe the film, it begins to sound "art house" and dry, but it's anything but.

It's a film I strongly recommend to anyone with an open mind and an open heart. Personally, the holidays are not a selling point for me (unless it's "Black Christmas" 1974), but the world Taormina and his excellent cast created was utterly enthralling.

There is no plot. If you wait for a plot to arrive, you will be waiting until after the credits are over. If you are hoping for character development instead, prepare yourself for one dimensional characters some of which just disappear after being introduced never to return. If you want absurd scenarios that have no possible link to remote plausibility, then perhaps this is your show. I cannot understand how this was ever made if the script resembled this final product. And I can't understand what movie the positive reviewers were actually watching. Did we see the same show? First one star review.

Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (2024) is a quirky holiday dramedy directed by Tyler Taormina that has received mixed but intriguing reviews. Set in the mid-2000s, it follows a large family's last Christmas gathering at their longtime home before it's sold, blending nostalgia with hints of realism and sentimentality. The film excels at creating a genuine, lived-in family dynamic, with heartfelt moments balanced by understated humor. Critics have praised the naturalistic performances and the film's ability to avoid overly sentimental holiday tropes, capturing both the warmth and bittersweet realities of family life.

However, some found its structure and tonal shifts uneven. Scenes outside the family home, particularly involving teenagers wandering town, feel less grounded and overly constructed compared to the richer, more nuanced moments within the house. While the film avoids becoming overly cliché, its meandering plot-more a collection of small moments than a cohesive narrative-may leave some viewers wanting more direction.

Overall, Christmas Eve in Miller's Point offers a unique, slightly offbeat holiday experience, appealing to those who enjoy indie films with emotional depth, even if it occasionally feels uneven. If you're looking for something less conventional this holiday season, it's worth considering.

A plotless film... A chaotic masterpiece, perhaps? I felt an immediate sense of belonging amidst the Christmas clamor in this house of diverse personalities.

It's as if you're a fly on the wall, observing every single character, mischievous children, and snippets of conversations lost in the festive din. And I love it.

The soundtrack is rich, the scenes fleeting, yet every frame is a visual delight. The credits reveal the joy that went into crafting this cinematic gem. I especially loved the first hour, after that it's somehow different, since scenes are out of the house.

Count me in for another viewing next year. :)

Christmas Eve at Miller's Point was, unfortunately, one of the most disappointing movies I've ever seen. It lacked a cohesive plot, storyline, or any semblance of character development. The film felt like a collection of random, disjointed conversations, introducing characters only to abandon them moments later without any follow-through.

The strange videography added to the confusion, with awkward close-ups on irrelevant details and unnecessarily long shots of background decor that served no purpose. It felt entirely random and odd, leaving me wondering how this ever became a movie in the first place.

Overall, it was a waste of time that left me frustrated and regretting the experience. This is not a film I would recommend to anyone.