The Pen in Hand's Guide to the Movies: Ringing in the New Year

(Originally posted in December, 2020)

By Geoff Carter

We’re almost there. We only have one more day of 2023 to endure. It’s been a year of firsts. Some we would like to celebrate, others not so much.

But New Year’s Eve is a time to look forward to fresh starts and renewed aspirations. It’s a time of hope and rebirth, a time to reimagine ourselves, yet tough times are ahead. Our democratic system of government has—so far—withstood the Republican onslaught on voter rights and election integrity, but experts fear that lasting damage has been done to citizens’ faith in the American electoral system. Nevertheless, the battle to maintain the integrity of our democracy continues.

The Pen in Hand thinks it may be helpful to examine some past New Year’s Eves, some joyous, some poignant, and some just plain frightening, in the hope that these might help us gain insights into our own dreams and anxieties about our future.

Here’s hoping for a Happy–and a healthy–New Year!!

The Couch Potato’s Top Ten New Year’s Eve Films

English: “Copyright © 1960 – United Artists Corporation”., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Apartment: Ambitious corporate lackey C.C. Baxter hopes to accelerate his rise to the top by lending out his apartment to upper management for their amorous adventures. He grows fond of a co-worker who has turned up as a guest of his boss’ at the apartment. After she attempts suicide, Baxter nurses her back to health and she begins to fall for him. At a New Year’s celebration during the final scenes, she makes her choice between Baxter and the boss. Notable for Jack Lemmon’s performance and Billy Wilder’s sharp dialogue.

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, and Ray Walston. Written and directed by Billy Wilder

The Poseidon Adventure: A New Year’s celebration aboard a cruise ship turns deadly when a giant tsunami capsizes the ship, turning it completely over. Led by a fiery preacher, a motley group of passengers including a cop, his ex-hooker wife, an elderly couple, a lonely bachelor, and (of course) a cute kid, struggle to make their way to bottom (top) of the boat and attain their freedom. Notable for one of Gene Hackman’s least notable performances.

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelly Winters, Jack Albertson, Red Buttons, and Carol Lynley. Written by Stirling Silliphant. Directed by Ronald Neame.

The Godfather, Part II: In the acclaimed sequel to the original Corleone family saga, Michael seeks to expand his criminal empire into the Cuban tourism industry. During the consummation of the deal during a 1951 New Year’s celebration, he learns that his brother Fredo has betrayed him. In a memorable scene, Michael tells Fred he knows. As rebels led by Fidel Castro march into the capitol, Michael is forced to flee, leaving his plans—and his brother—behind.

Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Robert DeNiro, Lee Strasberg, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire. Written by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Four Rooms: An unfortunate bellhop encounters four very strange groups of guests during his first night of work in a decrepit hotel on New Years’ Eve. He survives a group of witches, a duo of severely misbehaving children, a couple engaged in fantasy role-playing, and is forced to participate in a deadly bet. Notable for the team direction of Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Allison Anders, and Alexandra Rockwell.

Starring: Tim Roth, Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Beals, Sammi Davis, David Proval, Ione Sky, Lili Taylor, and Marisa Tomei. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Allison Anders, and Alexandra Rockwell.

MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

After the Thin Man: The second in The Thin Man detective series that takes place on New Year’s Eve in Nick and Nora Charles’ hometown of San Francisco. As the story unfolds, the urbane and sophisticated Nick is drawn by his wife Nora’s family into investigating the disappearance of a missing cousin who eventually gets himself shot. Nick, while engaging in witty repartee with his gorgeous wife, reveals the murderer. Notable for the supporting performance of a very young James Stewart.

Starring: Dick Powell, Myrna Loy, Elissa Landi, Alan Marshall, Teddy Hart, and James Stewart. Written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke.

Diner: A coming of age story about a group of teen friends entering various stages of adulthood in 1950s Baltimore. Most of their post-partying time is spent in a local diner. One of the boys, Eddie, has planned a New Year’s Eve wedding provided his bride-to-be can pass a quiz about the Baltimore Colts. “If she doesn’t pass, the wedding is off.” Notable for its stellar cast of up-and-coming actors including Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, and Ellen Barkin.

Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, Tim Daly, Daniel Stern, and Paul Reiser. Written and directed by Barry Levinson

Boogie Nights: The rise and fall of a young porn star is punctuated by a series of New Year’s Eve parties at the home of his idealistic producer Jack Horner. Young Eddie Adams (who eventually takes the stage name Dirk Diggler) is assisted in his meteoric rise in porno by Horner and supported by fellow actor Amber Waves. Diggler eventually becomes consumed by megalomania and falls fast and hard before hitting bottom. Loosely based on the life of John Holmes. Notable for Burt Reynold’s outstanding performance as Jack Horner.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, John C. Reilly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Luis Guzman, and Heather Graham. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

While You Were Sleeping: Lucy, a young transit worker left alone in the world after the death of her father, sees a man mugged and thrown on the train tracks. She pulls him off and, while he is in a coma—and because of a series of misunderstandings—the man’s family believes she is his fiancée. Lucy accepts the invitation to celebrate Christmas at their home and begins to hope she is not alone in the world anymore. She is confronted about her lie at a New Year’s Eve party with hilarious consequences. Notable for Sandra Bullock’s breakout comic performance.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Jack Warden, Peter Boyle, Peter Gallagher, and Ozzie Davis. Written by Daniel G. Sullivan. Directed by Jon Turtletaub.

English: Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Oceans 11: In this charming caper film, Danny Ocean reunites a group of war buddies to pull off the ultimate Las Vegas heist at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. The movie was mostly a showcase for Frank Sinatra and his Las Vegas “rat pack”, starring Sinatra and Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Angie Dickinson. Besides being an engaging crime flick, the film exudes the ultimate sixties cool.

Starring: Frank Sinatra, Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, Akim Tamiroff, Richard Conte, Cesar Romero, and Peter Lawford. Written by Harry Brown and Charles Lederer. Directed by Lewis Milestone.

Trading Places: In this comic masterpiece, two arrogant traders conspire to switch the identities of a stuffy investor and a street hustler. When the two discover they’ve been played, they conspire (with the help of a hooker who has the cliched heart of gold) to turn the tables on the devious traders. Their power play comes to fruition during a crazy New Year’s Eve Party on an Amtrack train. Notable for brilliant performances by Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd.

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Dan Ackroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, and Paul Gleason. Written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod. Directed by John Landis.