Hidden Gems - The Nativity Story (2006)

There are a lot of films that people consider “Christmas Classics,” the broad category that consists of any film that people like to watch every December. With this as the definition, one of my favorite Christmas films, certainly one of my favorite Christmas films of the 21st century, is The Nativity Story, released in 2006, as is the one I always watch first, after the Thanksgiving/Christmas hybrid Miracle on 34th Street. As the title suggests, the movie is a full-length telling of the Nativity Story, from Zechariah hearing from the angel that Elizabeth would have a child to Mary and Joseph’s escape to Egypt. It’s an overall faithful telling. Because of the challenges of adaptation, a lot of events are condensed, such as searching for an inn and the timing of the arrival of the Magi (which probably did not happen the same night as the shepherds’ visit). The movie also leaves out some key details as well. For instance, the angel’s appearance to the shepherds is very condensed, yet the film also makes up for it by having them visiting Jesus have much more emotional payoff, a scene which is not as heavily quoted or mentioned in readings of the story. One of the strengths of The Nativity Story comes in highlighting portions of the story that are often overlooked. These include the shame that Mary’s virgin pregnancy received and the difficulties of the journey of Mary and Joseph and the Magi, as well as the depths of oppression that the Jews faced at that time. With the strong exception of Mary, the cast is phenomenal. Nine years, before his break-out role in Inside Llewyn Davis, Oscar Issac delivers one of his best performances as Joseph. Ciarán Hinds is excellent as King Herod, making for a menacing, paranoid villain that adds the sinister layers that aren’t normally explored in tellings of the Nativity. The rest of the cast includes Hiam Abbass (Blade Runner 2049), Shohreh Aghdashloo (Star Trek Beyond), and Shaun Toub (Iron Man), and they all are wonderful in their roles. The screenplay is pretty good, adding some humor that’s surprisingly funny, especially with the Magi. The production design is excellent and that, along with the color grading and (sometimes obvious, but not painfully so) CGI, adds a unique feel to the film. The cinematography has such a unique quality that makes the film look distinct. The score is wonderful, being mostly original, but features some carols in the music, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Sing We Now of Christmas,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Silent Night.” Overall, I highly recommend watching The Nativity Story, especially if you are a Christian. Even if you aren’t, it’s possible that you will enjoy it as while it does include the religious elements of the story, it is not preachy in its message. I do not recommend it for young children since it is rated PG for some violent content, but it should be fine for most children once they reach around age 10 or 11 (I was twelve when I first saw it in theaters). All in all, I think The Nativity Story is possibly the most underrated Christmas movie of all time.