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Jodie Foster's second directorial effort, Home for the Holidays, an affectionately drawn, multi-generational portrait of an eccentric family, is not more impressive than her 1991 feature debut, Little Man Tate, but it's certainly less ponderous and, on the surface at least, more likable and entertaining.
Based on Billy Hayes' book of the same title, adapted into screenplay by Oliver Stone, Alan Parker's "Midnight Express" divided critic due to its sensationalist elements and uneven (for some distorted) treatment of the real-life case.
Well-written, the film captures the unique ambience that prevails in such work contexts, depicting a group of people whose entire lives revolve around work. Indeed, careers and professional lives have family, social and even sexual aspects for the saga's central trio: Jane Craig (Holly Hunter) as the network news producer, Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks), her bright friend and vet correspondent, and Tom Grunick (William Hurt), the new handsome anchorman.
Two Vietnam War movies competed for the Best Picture Oscar in 1978: “The Deer Hunter,” with 9 nominations, and “Coming Home,” with eight. While “Deer Hunter got the major awards, “Coming Home” received Best Actor for Jon Voight and Best Actress for Jane Fonda.
