The 5: Thanksgiving Movies

This Week on the 5:  Movies to Watch over Thanksgiving

 

Every holiday has at least a handful of movies associated with it and Thanksgiving is no exception.  Whether you’re going to be with family and looking for something to do once the football games have ended, or you’re spending it alone and want to hang out with your favorite film families, here are five movies to watch this Thanksgiving, and every Thanksgiving.

     

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  • The Last Waltz.  Filmed on Thanksgiving Day, 1976, the farewell concert of the rock group “The Band” is a yearly tradition for us, thanks to Martin Scorsese who directed the film of the final concert.  Without a doubt it’s one of the greatest concert films ever made.  Put it on while you eat, and avoid the annual “so what’s new with you” small talk.
  • Hannah and Her Sisters.  One of director Woody Allen’s best films, the film won two Academy Awards and has an incredible cast including Mia Farrow, Diane Weist, Barbara Hershey, Michael Caine, Carrie Fisher, Max Von Sydow and a long list of memorable extras and cameos.  It opens and closes with two Thanksgiving dinners, making it a perfect Thanksgiving weekend film for the whole family to watch.
  • Planes Trains and Automobiles.  Starring Steve Martin and John Candy.  Directed by John Hughes.  Thanksgiving is the big holiday for getting home, or in this film, trying to get home.  You won’t find a holiday movie with bigger laughs, and somehow, even though you watch it every year,  you never get tired of  watching things go from shit to worse for Dell and Neal.  Watch this one while you’re stuck with old uncle Fred, and babysitting some cousins waiting for everyone else to show up.
  • Home for the Holidays. Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. head up another great cast in this holiday movie directed by Jodie Foster.  The dysfunctional family is the star of this one, and you may want to wait till the relatives all go home before you put this one on, and compare everyone in your family to someone in the movie.
  • A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  It’s not exactly a movie, but you’re more likely to catch this every year than anything else.  A tradition since 1973, the Emmy award winning special is like an old friend that shows up uninvited.  You don’t really like it that much, but you still always end up enjoying the visit.

    

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