Mention movies with scenes set on New Year’s Eve, and most people will think of When Harry Met Sally or Bridget Jones’ Diary. Film buffs might come up with Strange Days or 200 Cigarettes. But, there are plenty of other movies that will make good viewing this holiday weekend for those who want to steer clear of noisy, rowdy crowds. To avoid the obvious, I thought I would focus my selection of New Year’s Eve movies on classic films that are often overlooked in such lists. There is still time to race to Facets to check out some of these films, or to browse through Netflix to see if they are available for streaming.
1. THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972). My all-time favorite New Year’s Eve movie is this classic disaster flick in which an ocean liner is turned over by a tidal wave. A handful of passengers led by a charismatic priest, played by young Gene Hackman, work their way from through the bowels of the overturned vessel to reach the bottom—which is now topside—in hopes of being rescued. Each member of the group undergoes a change as the result of their experiences. In other words, their personal lives are literally and figuratively turned upside down during the course of the film, and they work their way through it to a new phase in life. The New Year’s Eve setting is perfect for the idea of redemption, renewal, and rebirth. Some find disaster movies hokey, but I like their emphasis on the values, ideals, redemption, and sacrifice—even if I don’t quite believe that humans are capable of these things in real life. If you are feeling “adventurous,” the Music Box if showing The Poseidon Adventure this New Year’s Eve, complete with interactive moments and a party atmosphere.(Available to rent on VHS from Facets)
2. OCEAN’S 11 (1960). My second favorite New Year’s film is the original version of Ocean’s 11, in which Danny Ocean and his cohorts rob several Las Vegas casinos on New Year’s Eve. While I liked Steven Soderbergh’s remake with George Clooney, no contemporary star can match the coolness of Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The caper doesn’t turn out the way the boys meticulously plan it, but night owls, gamblers, mavericks, and other nonconformists already know that, well, that’s life. “E-O-11.”(Available to rent on DVD from Facets)
3. THE GOLD RUSH (1925). Chaplin’s feature-length masterpiece includes the well-known table dance, in which he sticks forks in two dinner rolls and makes them twirl and spin like dancers. The bit is an excellent example of two of Chaplin’s strong suits as a comedian: his graceful sense of movement, and the transformation of everyday objects into something completely different and unexpected. The table dance is familiar from many documentaries or programs about silent films, but to really understand Chaplin, you need to see it in context. The dance is part of a sequence in which the Little Tramp hosts several beautiful women for New Year’s Eve, including the girl he loves. But, alas, the party turns out to be only a dream. The guests did not show up, and he is all alone. (Available to rent on DVD from Facets)
4. REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947). Joan Leslie stars in this little-known noir about an actress who shoots her no-account husband on New Year’s Eve. While seeking help from her friends at a party, she wishes she could live 1946 all over again just as the clock strikes midnight. Her wish is granted and she is transported back to the beginning of 1946 with her husband still alive. She attempts to relive the year without making the same mistakes. I like the idea of getting to shoot a no-account spouse, and then reliving the year to prevent it from happening. It's like getting your cake and eating it, too. (Don’t know if this one is available for home viewing.)
5. RADIO DAYS (1987). I cheated a little bit, because this film by Woody Allen is considered contemporary cinema, but it takes place during the Golden Age of Radio. The film is a series of vignettes centered around a working-class family and the way popular radio programs were an integral part of their everyday lives. At the end, the narrator (Allen) delivers an achingly poignant monologue about the nature of popular culture: "I never forgot that New Year's Eve when Aunt Bea awakened me to watch 1944 come in. And I've never forgotten any of those people, or any of the voices we used to hear on the radio. Although the truth is that, with the passing of each New Year's Eve, those voices do seem to grow dimmer and dimmer." (Available to rent on DVD from Facets)
6. HOLIDAY (1938). To me, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn exhibit more chemistry in this class-conscious romantic comedy than in The Philadelphia Story. Hepburn plays a blue-blood socialite, while Grant is the hard-working, down-to-earth fiancé of her sister. But, from their first meeting, it’s clear that Grant and Hepburn belong together. Hepburn wants to throw a simple celebration for the engaged couple, but her rich father spoils it with huge, New Year’s Eve/engagement party. Hepburn, Grant, her younger, nonconformist brother, and two of Grant’s oddball buddies wind up in an old playroom having their own celebration. Grant, who had once been an acrobat, shows off his agility with a few cool stunts. (Available to rent on DVD from Facets)
--Susan Doll
0 comments:
Post a Comment