Pop Culture Movies and More: The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

Thursday, December 8, 2022

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

In 1843, celebrated British novelist Charles Dickens is at a low point in his career with three flops behind him and family expenses piling up at home. Determined to recover, he decides to write a Christmas story and self-publish it in less than two months. As Dickens labours writing on such short notice, his estranged father and mother come to visit. Still haunted by painful memories of his father ruining his childhood by his financial irresponsibility, Dickens develops a seemingly unsolvable writer's block. Dickens must face his demons through his characters, especially in his imagined conversations with Mr Scrooge. With a looming deadline, Dickens struggles for inspiration against his frustrations and his characters' opinions in a literary challenge creating a classic tale that would define the essential soul of modern Christmas. The story of A Christmas Carol is one we are all familiar with and one that has received countless adaptations over the years, each adding something new or different to the others. This one is unique as it shows us the actual creation of the story in a biography approach where we see it come to life before our very eyes, with Dickens having conversations with these fictional characters. Of course, this movie is simply based on the true story since no one would be able to accurately account for what happened. Although, I am sure some facts remain very true to what really happened. One thing I loved that they showed was how Dickens gathered his inspiration. Seeing him take note of people around him taking their unusual names, conversations, characteristics and appearances to create his novels. From friends and family to people he meets, each inspires him in some way for this book and even some future ones. My favourite aspect of this film was seeing all of Charles Dicken's (played by Dan Stevens) interactions with his characters represented in his imagination, yet we see them as if they were truly there. Each one shares the face with somebody he knows or has met, whether it be a housemaid or a waiter who served him, they look like the people who inspired him. We spend most of our time with Dickens and Scrooge (played by Christopher Plummer), who work great off of one another. Stevens is perfect as the brilliant but tempered Dickens but Plummer steals the show as Scrooge in a performance that had me craving a version of the classic story with him at the helm. The two share some great comedic quips and banter but also, emotional, heartfelt moments. The same can be said about Charles' friend John Forster who helps him through his hardships and works with him to get the book finished on time. Another sequence I enjoyed was when Charles goes to get the illustrations done for the book where we see some of the iconic pictures being crafted first-hand. We also delve further into the history and life of Charles Dickens from his life as a child sent to the workhouse, to the challenges of writing by a deadline with overwhelming financial stress and mental blockages. Those scenes of his childhood are certainly the most tragic with being forced to work in the horrifying workhouse because of his father's mistakes. It is a personal conflict that unfolds before us through Dicken's dreams leading to a climactic scene that sees him come to terms with his memories and final construction of the end for the book. I was blown away by the world-building and visuals of this film. They captured the look and aesthetic of the Victorian Era perfectly through the luxurious clothing, lamp-lit streets and housing to the shops and markets. I felt completely immersed in the world as the characters wandered the crowded streets, parks and alleys, feeling as if I were there. It was phenomenally done and, in my opinion, it all came down to the tremendous lighting. Overall, I loved The Man Who Invented Christmas as it shows the incredible mind of the craftsman of one of the world's most iconic Christmas novels ever made. It is a heartwarming story with a whole wave of emotions that mirrors the book, equally showing its creation, whilst in a way, telling the tale through Dicken's life. Certainly one of the most unique Christmas Carols out there.