The Fitzgerald Family Christmas

Writer, director, actor, truly talented and focused are just some of what defines Ed Burns. He has delivered another tremendous film wearing his usual three hats of writing, directing and acting with “The Fitzgerald Family Christmas.” The film opens in selected markets tomorrow. Mr. Burns also was highly entertaining, informative and truly pleasant during and after a “Q and A” with the fine film critic, Marshall Fine at a screening of “The Fitzgerald Family Christmas,” recently held at Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, New York.

The movie about a family with seven children, whose history is dominated by their father’s departure from home, resonates with laughter, interesting characters, and deep, realistic emotions.

The entire cast was excellent. Burns plays Gerry, who helped raise his younger siblings when his father departed. In the question/answer session Burns talked of the different “takes” on parenting from the older and younger siblings as fertile ground for his writing. Again the entire cast excelled and among the children, I will cite Michael McGlone, a veteran of previous Burns films, “The Brothers Mc Mullen” and “She’s the One,” by name, for his role as the middle brother. There are four girls and three boys in the Fitzgerald clan.

Finally, it was great seeing some familiar faces from days past as Anita Gillette, of game show fame, played Rose Fitzgerald and Ed Lauter was the estranged father. Add Joyce Van Patten as a friend in a key scene with Gillette, as all three gave inspired performances.

I highly recommend that people go see “The Fitzgerald Family Christmas.”

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thefitzgeraldfamilychristmas/