Christmas Crime Story (2016) User Reviews

Response to BLATANT SHILL REVIEW...

[mariusar · 4/10 · 27 October 2017]

Once again, the blatant shill reviews are in force on IMDb. Unlike what the obviously questionable matthewsstone user would have you believe, this film is the farthest thing from "amazing".

I don't know what's more pathetic - what the so-called filmmakers were trying to do here or the ludicrous post from the aforementioned matthewsstone.

Actually, I do. At least the filmmakers were probably trying to make something decent and I usually try to avoid slagging honest, hard-working cinema efforts.

Sadly, this film is simply a mess. It's a poor man's Memento copy in terms of the completely non-linear storytelling all while mashed up with every single evening, multi-POV film ever made. Yes, the results are as unspectacular as you would imagine.

Insipid writing. Blatantly unbelievable and hackneyed characters.

I like Adrian Paul. But let's just say that he will likely want to purge the bad taste in his mouth left from this film ASAP.

Shill reviewer matthewsstone claims he likes "suspense and action" and that "life is too short for boring movies". If this movie is his shill reviewer idea of an exciting, suspenseful action film, he needs to sell his TV and spend all of his remaining years watching paint dry.

+1 from my minimum grade of 3 for seeing Adrian Paul on screen again, though his character was awful.

Long and pointless; no thrills in this "thriller"

[imdb-2920 · 4/10 · 14 January 2018]

Too many actors plod their way through this interminable wannabe ripoff of Magnolia. I don't blame them--the acting was adequate (aside from the imaginary friend, who was obviously getting paid by the expression), but every scene dragged in this drama wankfest of clichés.

The entire film could have been cut by 25% without losing anything. Did the actors not sense the lack of chemistry of the scenes? Was the director playing video games on his phone while the dialog clomped along to the inevitable?

The "surprise" endings were as implausible as a homicide detective bothering to pull over a speeder or a client threatening a hitman to negotiate a price. Ugh.

Fair ideas, overcooked rendition

[I_Ailurophile · 5/10 · 19 December 2021]

'Christmas crime story' tries to be that type of film that tells a story, by way of a fractured timeline mostly in reverse, of several individuals and the unexpected ways their jumbled lives intersect. In that intent it does succeed, and each story as it unfolds is sufficiently intriguing to grab our attention to one extent or another. There are degrees of success, though, and try as it may, I think this effort is perhaps best described as "adequate."

Sordid though they generally are, some of the characters are very sympathetic, especially as themes present in their story threads. On the other hand, there's so much drama herein that it feels maudlin at points, to say nothing of specific scenes or lines of dialogue that are overdone as they present. While each scene is executed fairly well as it presents, it's hard not to feel like the end result is a little overbearing: an overabundance of tragedy and sorrow, with almost no counterbalance. And that above all may be the greatest downfall here. I've seen no few movies that were terribly depressing, but in at least one if not many other ways they were very well made, and very worthwhile. Here, however, the performances are of varying quality, story beats get our attention but hold it to varying fruition, and each "segment" is so straightforward in its presentation that there's not much to "write home about" in terms of technical craft.

It's not outright bad. I want to like it more than I do - and also wonder if I'm being too generous. The picture that we get isn't engrossing so much as it is bleak, and nihilistic, without any meaningful thrills, heart, or emotional payoff to offset the preponderance of cruelty and degradation. It's like an extra down-beat Christmas variant of the "tragic horror" RPG Ten Candles, built on an despair and definite bad endings at every turn, yet with no effective hooks to keep us engaged. The end sequence tries to offer recompense, but it feels like a non sequitur, and too little too late. Unable to achieve any equalization as it is, 'Christmas crime story' is relegated to at best a very average quality - not terrible, but not necessary, either. There are some good ideas, but a rough, barbarous, indelicate hand rends them atwain. There are worse ways to spend 96 minutes, true, but there are also many far better cinematic experiences deserving of your time.

Oh well.

Stupid, boring movie

[jackson-50170 · 1/10 · 14 May 2021]

The characters do absolutely nothing but sit in a restaurant and talk! None of them orders any food! So very boring! I have seen this too many times in too many movies. The idiot director doesn't seem to know what to do with the characters. All these people do is hang around in restaurants! In real life, NO restaurant allows people to come in there and not order any food! You can't just come in there and sit down and talk! Why would anyone make such a ridiculous film??? I was so bored, I couldn't even watch it!

Terrible Christmas Movie

[aquarius-79011 · 1/10 · 20 December 2020]

This is possibly the worse movie I have ever seen. The acting is terrible. Lines are delivered somewhere between Dragnet and Woody Allen--just flat. The title doesn't have a thing to do with Christmas except for costumes. Murder, violence, disrespect of each other. The predictable ending doesn't forgive the beginning and middle. Peacock ought to be ashamed to put this on their platform.

There is an hour and a half I will never get back again

[strohman-17136 · 3/10 · 26 May 2022]

Pointless film piece that resembles a high school disaster. Aside from the two Santa suits and a fake tree, there was nothing Christmas related about this film. Redundantly,replaying the same scenes over and over again does nothing to improve this film other than to milk more film reel space. Could have been shown in a half hour span and still get the point across.

A Different Kind of Christmas Story

[stefstars · 10/10 · 23 December 2020]

If you come to this film expecting snowmen, Santa, or Bing Crosby then you're in for a rude awakening. I enjoyed this film. Christmas is not always holly and sparkles for everyone and this film shows that. It follows different individuals having their own crumby christmases but it shows you how the state of their Christmases is based on their own choices. Which is life, everything comes down to our own choices. The ending was great because you also get to see the flip side of the coin had things gone better. I can't believe these reviews upset at the film for not being THEIR idea of Christmas. Stick to Hallmark if this kind of film upsets you. I highly recommend this indie gem if you'd like a break from Frosty and Rudolph.

Clever story, Excellent acting, LOVED IT!!

[feev · 9/10 · 25 December 2019]

My goodness this was just great!! SO well done..... Definitely had to take a lot of work to put the entire thing together and have it all mashup so nicely... BRAVO!!

Wonderful film

[webmastervince21 · 10/10 · 29 October 2017]

This film is a different take on Christmas. It's all about the choices we make. I enjoyed this film it's a poor man version of "Crash meets It's a Wonderful Life! The dialogue is pretty overall it has a decent flow to it. So sit back and relax let this film take you for a ride. Plenty of super hero movies out there why not watch something about real people.

Creative and underrated

[rcollins20 · 10/10 · 25 December 2021]

I watched "Christmas Crime Story" on Christmas Eve and I must say that I really enjoyed this film. The movie is directed by Richard Friedman and follows the stories of several people whose lives not only intersect but are seriously affected by crime on Christmas Eve. Adrian Paul is fantastic as photographer and jilted lover David Carlisle, while Aaron Perilo and Vince Lozano also put forth great performances. This film is moody, artistic and understated and serves as a great reminder that crime is always present, even during Christmas time.

Fun Movie

[nillsley · 10/10 · 30 November 2017]

Overall this was a really fun movie with solid performances. The storyline is told in a non-linear fashion, so it plays like a puzzle that we're putting together as we go. Every time a new character is introduced or we see a new storyline, we're given a new piece of the puzzle, and it's really fun to see how things play out.

Indie movies are always hit or miss, especially ones that go straight to video, but this really was a solid watch. Nice performances, solid writing, great direction, and you can just tell the actors and crew are having fun making the film. This might be a small film, but it's a damn good one.

Christmas with a bang!

[matthewsstone-34320 · 10/10 · 26 October 2017]

Just simply said, a great story with a great plot. The acting is amazing! A film to watch over and over! If you get a chance, you should check this movie out. What are you waiting for? Buy this movie on Amazon or iTunes Tell all your friends! Sit by the fire, drink a glass of.... and sit back and enjoy the ride! Life is to short for boring movies. I want suspense and action.