Holiday Heart

I've seen lots of movies with Ms Woodard and not knowingly have seen Mr Rhames in his other movies. Pulp Fiction was way too intense for me and Holiday Heart was something that I decided to watch, but these two actors in this movie are AWESOME!!! Ms Woodard is so convincing as a full-blown, out-there-on-that-end drug user, then to see her as a ghost who needs to finish business on earth in Heart and Soul.......this woman is amazing! And Mr Rhames had me thinking he was indeed a drag queen outside of the movies! Dang, he's good!! One of the best scenes is in the drug store for Nikki and that's all I'm saying!! (Unfortunately, there are women who fit Ms Woodard's striking profile of the drug user and though some do end up as Wanda, many do make it through and become clean and go forward. I hope this was so for the lady who had to live the nightmare with her mother. (If this paragraph has to be removed because it's personal, I understand.))

Upon seeing "Holiday Heart" last night, I was left with a heartwarming feeling. A slightly unusual Christmas tale, but very well done. As in any movie, there were certain parts that were less than realistic (Social Services would've been all over this situation) and I would've liked to have seen a little more development of the relationship between all the characters, but as I usually say, I don't watch movies for reality, I watch them for entertainment or escape. I'll watch A&E, Discovery, and The Learning Channel for reality television.

The always-enjoyable Ving Rhames looked a little uncomfortable portraying a drag queen at first, but was impressively camping it up by the end of the film. There was a fine supporting cast as well, especially the exceptional Alfre Woodard as the mother who struggles with her drug addiction. Jesika Reynolds did a fine job in this role as the heartbroken daughter, and Mykelti Williamson was excellent as usual as Silas. Kudos to Robert Townsend for a lovely and slightly surprising story.

All in all, if you have a chance to watch this movie, I highly recommend it! You've got to give Ving Rhames credit for being in full drag on stage lip-synching "Baby love, my baby love..." Showtime delivers another "No Limits" performance.

I rented this movie on the basis of Alfre Woodard,one of the most under-rated actors in the industry, and I was not disappointed. She is absolutely fabulous as the errant mother. The screen play is extremely realistic and the casting is superb. Ving Rhames is tremendous and Jesika Reynolds is a talented force to be reckoned with. We will see her in many movies to come.

It was a feel good movie, but the ghetto scenes (whores, drugs, violence, crack, etc.) are so real. I know it's a little "touched by an angel" ish, but sometimes that kind of movie just feels good. It gets your attention and never lets you go until the end. Sometimes good folks and children win in this world, if not the battle, the war.

Holiday Heart is the tale of Holiday, a talented drag queen and how his life intertwines with the lives of a young girl named Nikki and her mother, who tries to kick a drug habit during the course of the film. Holiday is at first accepted by the mother and child after he saves them from an abusive relationship, only to be rejected by them when a new love enters the mother's life. The new love is a drug dealer, but does not approve of the mother using drugs. She eventually goes back to the drugs and he cuts her loose. After she disappears Holiday has to step back in to help take care of Nikki, which he does, even though he has dreams of getting away to Paris to start a new life since he recently lost the love of his life.

Where do I start with this film? The acting is TOP NOTCH. Ving Rhames, who plays Holiday, gives one of the best performances I have ever seen in my lifetime. Alfre Woodard, who plays the mother, just steals the show though. Her portrayal of an addicted mother is so great that words can do it no justice. It really has to be seen. The child actor turns in an outstanding performance as the child distraught over her mother's problems. I was extremely impressed at how she was so adult in many scenes, due to the fact that such a life will cause a child to grow up very quickly.

I rate this a solid 10 out of 10. One of the greatest films I've ever seen.

I have watched this film numerous times. I have done so because this movie is wonderful, it teaches honesty, love, understanding and forgiveness. It also places emphasis on how to be a friend and open minded in the time of adversity. This movie is heart warming, sad, happy and very much entertaining. Being different only adds to the mystique of being an individual. This movie teaches us that we must be there when needed and that someone will be there we they are needed. DON'T JUDGE...LISTEN TO WHAT THEIR HEART IS SAYING!!! As Holiday says: "Honey, we all have a story to tell"...and we do.

Listen...Understand...Know!!!

Please take the time to enjoy this wonderful movie!