Bad Santa (2003)

Director: Terry Zwigoff

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton as Willie, Tony Cox as Marcus, Brett Kelly as The Kid, Lauren Graham as Sue, Lauren Tom as Lois, Bernie Mac as Gin, John Ritter as Bob Chipeska, Ajay Naidu as Hindustani Troublemaker, Lorna Scott as Milwaukee Mother, Harrison Bieker as Milwaukee Boy, Alex Borstein as Milwaukee Mom with Photo, Alexandra Korhan as Girl on Santa's Lap, Dylan Charles as Milwaukee Bratty Boy, Billy Gardell as Milwaukee Security Guard, Lisa Ross as Milwaukee Bartender

When I first saw the trailer for this film I thought that it was basically
just gonna be a funny little dark comedy that would be a nice distraction
from the annoying family movies that are being dumped into theaters around
this time. However, leaving the theater after watching this, I discovered
how much more it was than what I was expecting. Instead a good movie, I got
a great one, with good direction and a wonderful script and, best of all,
the performance of Billy Bob Thornton, who makes the film what it is. His
foulmouthed, cynical, suicidal character might look two-dimensional on paper
and, had another actor taken a stab at this role, come off as forced and
tiresome, but Thornton finds just the right blend of humor and reality. The
film is touching, but not on the surface. Many viewers will not get it;
they'll see this film as a vulgar assault on the Christmas spirit, and, in a
way, it is, but deeper than that there is a story here about a man who has
lost all faith in the human race and has now been restored. Without being
sappy, unlike almost any other film I've ever seen, "Bad Santa" is able to
make this an emotional journey for a contemptable character, get us to like
him, and disguise it behind dark, sick humor. It's a masterpiece of dark
comedy and the best holiday film of the last 5 years. **** out of ****