Best movie of this year hands down!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I like a good sentimental holiday movie, but this one dragged on and did not interest anyone in the room. The rest of the family asked why I recorded it. Characters were hollow and poorly developed. While many cast members were great actors, the material left them with little to work with and their acting talent was not evident from this film. Plot lines were forced and incomplete. It felt like they just ran out of time and ended things. What was the deal with the guy in the ER? Did his resolution get edited out? When the movie was finally done we were left with the feeling of "what just happened her?" Was the angel figure theme supposed to mean anything? Just confusing. Does this want to be Love Actually? It's not.With so many holiday movies to choose from, I'd recommend moving on to another one. Want a sappy holiday movie - try Remember the Night or Christmas in Connecticut.

Noel is directed by (writer & actor) Chazz Palminteri. It stars Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin and a cameo by Robin Williams. It centres on five strangers who are linked together by a series of events that take place on Christmas Eve in New York.Susan Sarandon is a middle aged woman coping with caring for her hospitalised mother who has Alzheimer's. Penélope Cruz and Paul Walker are a couple in a troubled relationship because of his insane jealousy. Alan Arkin is a café owner who is in search of his wife's forgiveness and thinks that Walker is his wife re-incarnated. Marcus Thomas is a young man who self harms so he can attend a Christmas party in the emergency room as it brings back happy childhood memories.Robin Williams is a former priest who lost his faith and befriends Sarandon.The film has an off centre and slightly surreal, even a supernatural edge but it really does not amount to much. There are four Oscar winning actors in this film so its an all star cast but the interlinking stories are not strong enough. It does not have feel-good edge that many other Christmas films have.

This is one of my favorites and a very underrated Christmas movie. Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, and other very distinguished actors do a great job.There are four interconnected stories. Sarandon is a divorcée in her forties dealing with a mother who has Alzheimer's. Another guy wants to relive the happiest Christmas of his life when he was 14 and spent the day in the hospital. A young policeman is unreasonably jealous of his beautiful fiancée which is destroying their relationship. A older man lives with the guilt that he has falsely accused his wife of being unfaithful.These stories are beautifully told. The music is nice too.Rent "Noel." You won't be disappointed.

This film is about how a group of seemingly unconnected people spend their Christmas Eve in New York."Noel" may look like a romantic comedy set around Christmas time, but it is much more than that. It excels at portraying their feelings and emotions, and therefore it is particularly engaging. Their live stories are real and down to earth, these events could happen to anyone. It helps viewers to connect with the characters. I find Arty's story particularly touching. The parallel between Arty and Mike, although a little contrived, is also nice as it leads to a happy ending."Noel" is a heartwarming film. It makes you care and feel for the characters. It might even make you feel for the people around you too.