Ringing in the New Year
With 2014 right around the corner, the time has come to reflect on the past twelve months and plan for the upcoming year. Between making your resolutions and partaking in the New Year’s Eve festivities, be sure to give yourself some downtime to enjoy some of these New Year’s themed films here on Film Fresh.
Based on the 1973 French film LA BONNE ANNÉE, HAPPY NEW YEAR (1987) is a fun and clever caper starring Peter Falk as aging jewel thief Nick looking for a final score before he retires with his partner Charlie. As they plan their elaborate heist of a Harry Winston jewelry store, Nick falls for a sophisticated woman who runs an antique shop next to the jewelry store. Nominated for an Academy Award for best makeup in 1988, this comical film features masterful masquerades, a sweet love story, and lots of fun for the whole family.
Nora Ephron’s romantic comedy SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993) tells the story of a grieving widower Sam, played by Tom Hanks, whose young son calls in to a radio talk show and persuades Sam to talk about how much he misses his wife. As a result, hundreds of women are touched by his story and write to him. One of the women who hears the broadcast is Annie, played by Meg Ryan, who is a reporter in Baltimore. Annie and Sam navigate their lives until fate finally brings them together in this story full of heart and laughter. Nominated for two Academy Awards in 1994, the film was described by Roger Ebert, “as ephemeral as a talk show, as contrived as a late show, and yet so warm and gentle I smiled the whole way through.”
Next is THE HUDSUCKER PROXY starring Tim Robbins as Norville Barnes, a naïve small town guy with big ambitions, who wrangles a job at the massive Hudsucker Industries. Starting off in the mailroom, he hopes to show his idea for a new children’s toy to the top executives, but when company president Waring Hudsucker leaps to his death, corporate executive Sidney J. Mussberger (Paul Newman) concocts a devious plan to make Norville president of the company as a part of a stock scam. The only problem is that the Norville’s new product, the Hula-Hoop, turns out to be a huge success, and Norville turns out to harder to manipulate than Sidney anticipated. A stylish screwball comedic amalgam of Frank Capra and Howard Hawks, the film is a fun tale of one man’s rise, fall, and ultimate redemption.
A luxurious New Year’s Eve party on an ocean liner in the Atlantic spells disaster for the attendees when a hundred foot rogue wave slams into the ship in POSEIDON (2006). With the ship capsized, a group of survivors must face perils at every turn as they try to climb up their way to the surface before the vessel sinks entirely. Starring Josh Lucas, Jacinda Barrett, Emma Rosum and Kurt Russell, this thrilling film is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
New York City is a dazzling place to be on the crest of a new year, and in Garry Marshall’s NEW YEAR’S EVE, the city takes center stage as the story follows the intertwined lives of the large star-studded ensemble of characters. The uplifting story celebrates love, loss, fresh starts and second chances all under the magical city lights.
We wish you a very happy New Year from all of us at Film Fresh! Hit us up on Facebook to let us know which movies you liked best!
