Holiday Favorites 2012: Bob Byington, 'Bad Santa'

Welcome to Holiday Favorites, a series in which Slackerwood contributors and our friends talk about the movies we watch during the holiday season, holiday-related or otherwise.

Austin filmmaker Bob Byington brings us today's Holiday Favorites. Byington's unique comedies include Harmony and Me and [RSO] Registered Sex Offender. His most recent film, Somebody Up There Likes Me, premiered at SXSW 2012 (Don's review), will be released in theaters in February 2013 ... we hear it will open in Austin on February 22 at Violet Crown, and will keep you posted. Here's what Byington has to say about his favorite movie at this time of year:

The first time I saw Bad Santa it didn't play for me, and like some of my other favorite movies, the second viewing went really well.

The chemistry between the kid (Brett Kelly) and Billy Bob Thornton is great. And the scene where Billy Bob talks about how hitting a kid gave him the strength to go on living -- there's nothing like that.

Underneath lurks a subtle condemnation of the froth we sometimes whip ourselves into at the idea of getting something for nothing.

I plan on watching this movie at some point in December -- ideally the Alamo will have it around.

Where to watch? Bad Santa and unrated version Badder Santa are available on Blu-ray and DVD, and you can rent the movie from Vulcan and I Luv Video.

The following clip contains some R-rated language. But if you know anything about this movie, you knew that.