Review: The Chicago Philharmonic Brings the Holiday Spirit Accompanying Love Actually

What makes a movie a Christmas movie? It could have a precocious kid left behind at Christmas while the family goes on a deluxe vacation—twice. It could have Bruce Willis crashing his estranged wife's Christmas office party to combat a terrorist cell led by Alan Rickman. My new definition of a Christmas movie is accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic playing live, with Alan Rickman as a bonus. The Auditorium Theatre screened Love Actually on December 7 to start their holiday season and as the last in the Auditorium Philms Concert Series for 2024.

The Philharmonic was in fine form, led by guest conductor Susie Benchasil-Seiter. It was a thrill to see a woman leading the Philharmonic. She got the audience ready with a humorous explanation of how the magic is made with her earpiece and synced sheet music. To the audience's delight, the Philharmonic played the film's theme music. The score was written by Craig Armstrong, who has worked with Baz Luhrmann on Moulin Rouge! (2001) and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1996). Armstrong's score is contemporary and treacle-free, with some hits mixed in, like "All I Want for Christmas is You."

Richard Curtis wrote and directed Love Actually. He is the reigning king of witty British comedies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), and Notting Hill (1999). Curtis is responsible for Hugh Grant's rise as a leading man and Colin Firth's portrayals as the perennially brooding and heartbroken man who finds love with the most unlikely person.

It is a beautifully done ensemble comedy with great dialogue from Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and Emma Thompson. Laura Linney is heartbreaking as a lovelorn woman with family responsibilities that keep her from connecting with a man she loves. My absolute favorite was Liam Neeson as Daniel, a widower left with his stepson Sam (Thomas Sangster). Daniel is nursing a broken heart, and Sam is hopelessly in love with Joanna (Olivia Olson), the American girl in his class. Daniel lets him take up the drums to impress Joanna, and a love story also blossoms for him.

There are some neat cameos from Rowan Atkinson, who plays an overly solicitous store clerk. Everyone said, "Mr. Bean!) when he appeared on the screen. I also recognized Colin (Kris Marshall) from PBS' Death in Paradise as the optimistic guy going to America to impress women with his English accent. He lands in Milwaukee and proves his roommate Tony (Abdul Salis) wrong by getting in with a posse of women impressed by his English accent.

Bill Nighy is hysterical as the booze-addled rock star Billy Nack who puts out a crappy record remake of "Love is All Around" with Christmas added to the lyrics. His love story is about his true friendship with his beleaguered manager, Joe (Gregor Fisher), who has stood by him through heroin addiction and embarrassing tabloid fodder antics. Nighy plays a character against type in this movie. He also played a detective in another version of Death in Paradise and other taciturn characters.

This was a great night at the movies with the Chicago Philharmonic. The live soundtrack elevates any movie, but it is extra special with Love Actually on the big screen. Speaking of big screens, I hear that a larger screen is coming to accommodate the action films and epic movies scheduled for 2025. That is what I call an immersive experience. My holiday spirit is in high gear! Three and a half stars.

I highly recommend getting tickets for the Concert Philms Series in 2025. The schedule includes Black Panther (2018) and The Terminator (1984). The Concert Philms Series plays at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive.

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Kathy D. Hey

Kathy D. Hey writes creative non-fiction essays. A lifelong Chicagoan, she is enjoying life with her husband, daughter and three dogs in the wilds of Edgewater. When she isn’t at her computer, she is in her garden growing vegetables and herbs for kitchen witchery.