Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Hollywood have built a legacy as powerful as Joe Pesci. Since the 1990’s, Pesci has become a commemorated icon. Whether it’s cruel gangsters, raging boxing trainers or burglars, Pesci has portrayed many powerful characters. Arguably, Pesci’s strength as an actor has often been his bravery. He’s one of those rare actors that has never been afraid taking on risky roles that are associated with controversy. Pesci has built an image of being an actor which thrives at playing hot-headed characters with rage. Through his abilities to turn hot-headed gangsters into sympathetic people audiences can easily relate to, Pesci has become a beloved actor audiences value. Shining a bright light in darkness, Pesci has become one of the most renowned actors in the entertainment business. Through ability to portray larger than life characters which are compelling, Pesci has built a legacy which is lasting.
I’m a huge fan of Pesci and adore all the films he has made throughout his career. However, “Home Alone” is definitely my favourite. Since its release in 1990, Pesci’s movie has stood a test of time as a classic. Packed with strong production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best films about Christmas ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Joe Pesci, who embodies a frightening burglar seeking to plan robberies. Ultimately, what makes “Home Alone” a coming of age classic is its message. The film delivers a meaningful message about home burglaries which would resonate among everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about children enduring home burglaries, there are several strong reasons why “Home Alone” is a film worth seeing.
Set during Christmas, “Home Alone” tells the story of a child left alone during the holidays with consequences that are severe. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, a young child with a tendency to misbehave. Kevin shares a complicated relationship with his family. Kevin doesn’t always get along well with his parents that disapprove of his behaviour. Kevin’s life drastically changes when he is left alone home when his parents leave for a holiday. Left with the whole house to himself, Kevin is excited by the prospects of independence. However, his dreams of success are threatened by thieves invading the home. When burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) invade Kevin’s house, his life is put in grave danger. Forced to deal with a troublesome situation, Kevin faces tension. Faced with a dilemma, Kevin seeks to defend his precious home from burglars which cause trauma.
Chris Columbus is fascinated with the stories of children in danger. Known for his work on the Harry Potter franchise, Columbus often adores telling stories about children enduring dangerous situations. With “Home Alone”, however, the filmmaker created his first ever burglary movie. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the tensions experienced by children left home alone, but he pulled it off successfully. Using gorgeous cinematography, Columbus captures a child stuck home alone facing burglaries. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes as precious as homes that thieves seeking to burglarize. Columbus successfully uses montages to capture a child seeking to defend his home from burglars which prove to be terrifying. For instance, montages elevate the home alone scene. During this memorable scene, Kevin is excited to find himself at home alone without any parents. Through montages, Columbus captures the hardships that kids at home alone go through. Montages are tricky to use in films. As Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” suggested, montages elevate classic mobster movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Using spellbinding visuals, Columbus captures the tensions faced by children stuck at home that are challenging.
Another admirable aspect of “Home Alone” worth praising is the production design. The film is extremely well made from a technical perspective. Columbus has always excelled choosing sets for his films, and his strengths come through in “Home Alone”. Columbus effectively uses the set-design of a house to capture a child seeking to fight burglars that cause his life to decline. Throughout the film, the house plays a pivotal role in capturing the tensions faced by burglars. For instance, the set-design of the house elevates the house burglary scene. During this hilarious scene, Kevin organizes a fake Christmas party in his house to deceive burglars. One appreciates the set-design of the house capturing tense hardships that children left home alone often go through. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Williams’ magical musical score is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burden that children left home alone bear. Through phenomenal production-design, Columbus captures lives of children facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Home Alone” is a classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses humour to capture the life of a child that is stuck home alone facing danger. Columbus’ screenwriting strength is capturing the tension faced by child that are home alone through the use of humour. Throughout the film, Columbus effectively uses humour to capture a child that is left home alone facing danger. For instance, humour enhances the house burglary scene. During this unforgettable scene, Kevin seeks to defend his home from burglars which pose a threat that are terrifying. One admires subtle humour capturing children stuck home alone facing circumstances that are dire. Humour is a tricky technique to use in movies capturing burglaries. As David Fincher’s “Panic Room” suggested, movies about burglaries are often serious in tone. Nevertheless, it works very well in this movie. Through a superb screenplay, Columbus captures children stuck home alone facing a price to pay.
One admires astonishing performances.
Joe Pesci delivers one of his greatest career performances as Harry. Pesci first achieved appreciation for playing hot-headed criminal gangsters. With “Home Alone”, however, the actor took on his most comical role. It isn’t simple to portray a burglar committing scary robberies but he succeeded immensely. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to showcase a comedic side to himself audiences hadn’t seen before. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and mischievous nature of a mischievous burglar with intelligence committing robberies. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors today.
Macaulay Culkin is magnificent as a child that faces tension struggling to cope with a home invasion. In his first ever leading role, Culkin emerged as a breakthrough child actor with a bright future. It isn’t easy to portray a child defending his home from burglaries but he succeeded immensely. As Kevin, Culkin effectively used body language to capture a child seeking to defend his precious home from a catastrophe. Whether he’s preparing his home for a burglary or excited when he’s left alone by parents, Culkin effectively uses his body language to capture a child defending his home from invasions. It’s a phenomenal performance that launched the successful career of one of the most commemorated child actors working today.
Finally, “Home Alone” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing home burglaries. Unlike most comedies made during the 1990’s, it tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. The film tackles strong themes including identity, family and relationships which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to have faced home invasions to appreciate it. It delivers a universal message about home invasions that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Home Alone” is one of those rare movies everyone would adore.
Fans of Joe Pesci will definitely appreciate “Home Alone” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A captivating classic about home burglaries, it honours an actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about children left alone during the Christmas holidays without parents experiencing home invasions which are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that gained a huge following earning worldwide recognition for his abilities to portray hot-headed characters that are compelling whose engaging movies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 