Watched Home Alone (1990) with my 8 year old grandson a few days ago. Afterwards I listened to the DVD commentary with director Chris Columbus and star Macaulay Culkin. The duo did a nice job explaining the shooting of the film and I came away with a few impressions:
1) Chris Columbus is the All-American film director, a family man with four kids of his own. Doesn't have a mean bone in his body, based on the what we can glean about him discussing his hit film.
2) Columbus never brags about his role as film director. He speaks generously and warmly about writer John Hughes, star John Candy, and the importance of Macaulay Culkin to the film's success. The audience, Columbus noticed, had almost no interest in the other kids in the film. Hughes noticed audience attention wandered during any kid scenes without Macaulay. Clucking stole the show, was the show and carried the film at the tender age of 9 years.
3) Culkin also has a decent streak. He spoke warmly of his colleagues. He knew the actors in the cast and commented on the work done by the lesser known performers in this and other films.
4) Columbus and Culkin commented on the amount of enjoyment and laughter involved in the making of the film.
5) Columbus credited Joe Pesci with great improvisational comedic skills. Pesci, he said, seemed unsure of what he was doing in the middle of a family comedy.
6) Columbus heaped lavish praise on Daniel Stern, the actor playing Pesci's bumbling partner in crime. Stern had a great feel for the part and replaced an actor who was not finding the right vibe for that character.
7) Many critics, including Ebert and Siskel who gave two thumbs down to Home Alone, missed the boat on Home Alone. So much for the critics.
8) John Candy shot every scene in an intense 24 hour period, working right through the night. Makes you wonder whether that kind of ferocious Hollywood work schedule contributed to the demise of Candy's health. I know he was overweight. Candy loved to perform-- explained the director. But still....
9) The film had an 18 million dollar budget. I'd say they got the money up on the screen.
10) Catherine O'Hara, looking beautiful, does a nice turn at the mom-- a nuanced performance from and never going overboard for laughs. My grandson must have accepted her as the loving mom-- he got a little verklempt when she returns home to reunite with Macaulay.
Chris Columbus, nice guy modesty and all, has had a great Hollywood career.
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