20th Anniversary TLDR: Love Actually (2003)

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.

Plot: Follows seemingly unrelated people as their lives begin to intertwine while they fall in – and out – of love. Affections languish and develop as Christmas draws near.

Direction & Screenplay: Richard Curtis is known for making sweet movies like this. The guy behind Notting Hill and Bridget Jones's Diary only directed two more movies: The Boat That Rocked (or, as I remember it, Pirate Radio) and About Time, (He also wrote the screenplay for Yesterday, of which I'm an apologist.) With all of the converging storylines, it would be impossible to really go through them all, so here's my ranking:

     9. Laura Linney: I love Laura Linney - who doesn't? But I always forget she's in this movie. 364 days out of the year, I could not tell you what the ninth story is. It's not the worst one, but I have to be honest in admitting how forgettable it is. 

     8. The adult performer stand-ins: Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against adult film actors or that industry. But this feels so shoe-horned in to be edgy and cool. "If we're getting an R rating anyway, we might as well screw!" is a weird attitude to have. It sticks out. 

     7. The guy who goes to America to bang: Hahahaha! *eye roll*

     6. Billy Mack and his Christmas tune: The story isn't great, but the song is.

     5. The guy in love with Keira Knightley: I think it's cute! If it hadn't been parodied to death, I think the cue-cards moment would work a lot better. I would also spend hours writing on poster board for one smooch from Keira Knightley. 

     4. Colin Firth and his Portuguese housekeeper: It works because of Colin Firth. 

     3. Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman: It works because of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman.

     2. Hugh Grant's Prime Minister: It works because of Hugh Grant.

     1. Liam Neeson and the little boy: It works because it's perfect. 

Performances: There are too many to name, so here's my top three: 

     3. Bill Nighy: A stand-in for a table read, he crushed it so hard that they cast him from that. The ABC special The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later shows everyone surprised at how funny he was without any prep. Are you kidding me! He was a stage veteran, he knew how to play to a crowd. 

     2. Hugh Grant: It works because he's Hugh Grant.

     1. Emma Thompson: She's the heart of the whole piece! This movie would not be taken seriously if it wasn't for her!

Music: A classic case of a soundtrack making a movie. Here are my favorite songs:

     Runner-up, “Both Sides, Now” by Joni Mitchell: I'm sorry! It gets a shout-out because it has to be here, but Joni Mitchell just isn't for me. Duh!

     3. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" performed at the talent show: It's adorable! And that little boy can play the drums!

     2. "Christmas Is All Around” by Billy Mack: This is a very catchy song that gets stuck in my head every year. I feel it in my fingers...I feel it in my toes...

     1. "Jump" by Girls Aloud, as danced to by Hugh Grant: It works because he's Hugh Grant.

Best Moment: It's the saddest moment as well, but damn Emma kills it when she says, "You've...made a fool out of me and you've made the life I lead foolish, too!"

Fun Fact: This is the second-best Christmas movie from 2003 featuring Billy Bob Thornton. 

Imaginary Accolade: Winner: Best Boy (Under 18) Performance in a 2003 Christmas Movie: Thomas Brodie-Sangster in Love Actually (Second Place: Brett Kelly in Bad Santa, Third Place: Daniel Tay in Elf)

2003 Christmas Movie Personal Ranking: Bad Santa, Elf, Love Actually

Was 2003 the last great year for holiday cinema? Yes. 

Everything is too long! Is it too long? It's about as full as 136 minutes can get. I never check my watch, there's too much happening!

Rating: It might come in third place in the 2003 Christmas Movie Showdown, but it's still an annual staple in my household. 

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Credit: Plot synopsis from Letterboxd via TMDb.