10 Not-So-Traditional Christmas Flicks

3. Brazil (1985)

On the surface, Terry Gilliam's fever dream dystopian science-fiction comedy would seem like it has nothing to do with Christmas. Until you watch the opening scene of a father being abducted in front of his family with a Christmas tree happily blinking in the background and you realize that Gilliam is using the holiday trappings to rip into consumerism and the disguising of exploitation as tradition. It's the very definition of "subversive" and it works like gangbusters. There's a group of people carrying a banner proclaiming "Consumers for Christ" that just nails the cynical nature of the film on the head. It doesn't hurt that the film is brimming with masterfully comedic performances by the likes of Bob Hoskins and Robert DeNiro. If you like a little 1984 with your Christmas ham, Brazil is the side dish for you.