The end of 2020 has arrived. This year will be remembered for the rest of our lives for all the losses and deprivations, but obviously, we would all like to delete it. On the other hand, it is inevitable and fundamental to renew our hopes for the coming year, to try to put our projects and resolutions into practice for a new year that will have the mission of reconstructing all the damage caused by 2020.
To help you renew your beliefs and emanate positive energy to get rid of everything bad we have passed through, why do not watch movies relate to New Year on New Year’s Eve? It would be a good start. There are plenty of good films that explore this plot with a positive vibration. See below my recommendation:
A Long way down (2014)
On New Year’s Eve in London, four strangers find themselves on the roof of a building known for suicides. Martin is a famous talk show host just out of jail, Maureen is a lonely single mother, Jess is young, reckless and heartbroken, and JJ is an American realising the failures in his life. Through mutual pain and humour, this unlikely group take the long way down and figure out what will keep them alive until Valentine’s Day, one step at a time.
The movie is based on the novel by Nick Hornby, one of my favourite contemporary writer. The major roles are played by Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots and Aaron Paul.
200 Cigarettes (1999)
New Year’s Eve, 1981, the Lower East Side. Monica’s having a party, but as late as 9, no one’s there. She stews (and drinks). Folks are on their way, all looking for love, sex, or both. En route, paths cross, gambits misfire a performance artist, her boyfriend until today and his long-time pal Lucy, two Long Island high-school girls, two punk rockers, a bartender, a Scottish painter who’s lousy in bed, a pretty face named Jack who runs when women say they love him, his cute but clumsy date Cindy, two trendy vamps, a loquacious cabby, the man-crazed Hillary, and Elvis Costello. Nearly everybody smokes, and nearly everybody scores. And all get who and what they deserve.
The movie produced by MTV has a stellar cast as Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Dave Chapelle, Elvis Costello, Courtney Love, Paul Rudd, Christina Ricci and Martha Plimpton.
New Year’s Eve (2011)
Set during New Year’s Eve in New York City, this movie follows several people and how the day affects them. Kim is a single mother who still thinks of her daughter, Hailey as a child who wants to go out with a boy so that she could kiss him at midnight. Claire, who is in charge of the city’s annual tradition, the ball drop on Times Square. When something goes wrong she has to ask an electrician, who was fired, to come and fix it. Laura, a chef who is cooking the New year’s Eve party for a record company who runs into Jensen, her ex who’s a singer and performing at the party. While he tries to apologize for how things ended, she refuses to accept it. Ingrid, a woman who works at the record company, after having a near-death experience, decides to quit her job and asks a young messenger, Paul to help her fulfil her resolutions. And at a hospital, Stan, a man who is in the final stages of cancer, only wishes to see the ball drop. Also, Griffin and Tess, a couple who are expecting, want to be the ones who give birth first after New Year because of the available cash prize; but another couple is also about to give birth. Randy a man who’s not exactly fond of the holiday because of something that happened, finds himself trapped in an elevator with a singer who is one of Jensen’s back up singers when he performs at Times Square. And Sam, son of the owner of the record company, who is out of town and is trying to get back to the city so that he could give a speech at the party, but when he has an accident and since it’s a holiday, his car can’t be fixed so he hitches a ride with some people going to the city. But it seems he has another reason why he needs to get back.
Stars: Michelle Pfeifer , Robert de Niro, Zac Efron, Ashton Kurtcher, Sofía Vergara, Sarah Jessika Parker, Katherine Heigl, Hilary Swank.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year’s Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget’s band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance into whom Bridget cannot seem to stop running or help to find quietly attractive.
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant.
Last Night (2014)
Last Night (Portuguese original title: A noite da virada) is a Brazilian comedy movie that tells the story of Ana that all she wanted was to host a great New Year’s party, with lots of friends, drinks and good music. But during the event, the bathroom becomes the main stage, where all the gossip and controversy occurs. It is where Duda, Ana’s husband, confesses that he will leave her, just before the celebration begins. The bathroom is also where Ana discovers that the real reason for the separation is neighbour Rosa, who, in turn, leads a very monotonous wedding with Mario. It is also in the bathroom that Alê tells Ana about her sexual adventures with her boyfriend (João Vicente de Castro), and where a guest, a drug dealer, does his business. On New Year’s Eve, anything can happen. And it happens.
Stars: Júlia Rabello, Paulo Tiefenthaler, Luana Piovani, Marcos Palmeira, Luana Martau, João Vicente de Castro and Taumaturgo Ferreira.
Sex and the City – the movie (2008)
Four years after the end of HBO’s Sex and the City, the franchise returned with a film, following all four New York women—Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes—in the span of the year. Each woman is experiencing her own hardships, but at the end of the day, they each know they can rely on their girlfriends, no matter what happens. A snowy New Year’s Eve is featured in an important scene between Carrie, Miranda and what it’s like to be single in New York.
Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon.
When Harry met Sally (1989)
Harry Burns and Sally Albright are old college friends whose friendship ends after Sally accuses Harry of making a pass at her. Five years later, the two find each other in New York and restart their friendship, despite disagreeing on whether men and women can be friends. At a New Year’s Eve party, the characters find themselves attracted to each other. But it isn’t until New Year’s Day that they take their friendship to the next level.
Stars: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.
Ghostbusters II
It’s New Year’s Eve and the ball is about to drop in Time’s Square when a river of slime created by ancient evil named Vigo the Carpathian takes over New York City. Thankfully, the ghostbusters are here to help. Featuring an important scene featuring the song “Auld Lang Syne,” this sequel is about exciting and entertaining a the first.
Stars: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis.