Beyond the Ball Drop: 11 Films to Reflect on the Year Gone By
As another year draws to a close, many seek solace – or perhaps a darkly humorous reflection – in film. From bittersweet comedies to chilling thrillers, certain movies resonate particularly strongly when viewed on the cusp of a new beginning. Here’s a curated selection of films to accompany your New Year’s Eve, offering everything from hopeful escapes to bracingly honest portrayals of life’s complexities.
A Bleakly Hopeful Start: The Apartment
For many, revisiting Billy Wilder’s 1960 masterpiece, The Apartment, is a New Year’s Eve tradition. The film culminates on the stroke of midnight as Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) chooses the company of the unassuming C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) over a lavish, drunken party. While a conventional “happily ever after” feels unlikely – the characters are “too mismatched and desperate,” according to one critic – the ending offers something more potent: “a sudden sense of hope and freedom,” a clean slate symbolized by packed boxes, a bottle, two glasses, and a deck of cards. As one observer notes, it’s a moment to “shut up and deal” with whatever the new year brings.
Tech-Noir and a Wearied “We Made It”: Strange Days
Kathryn Bigelow’s 1995 film, Strange Days, initially flopped but has since gained a cult following. Starring Angela Bassett as a chauffeur navigating a pre-millennial Los Angeles, the film explores the dangers of virtual reality and societal decay. Increasingly, the film’s final line – Bassett’s exhausted declaration, “we made it” – feels particularly resonant as the clock strikes midnight on January 1st.
A Soviet New Year’s Mishap: The Irony of Fate
While largely unknown in the West, The Irony of Fate is a beloved New Year’s Eve tradition in Russia. This 1976 comedy follows a Moscow doctor who, through a series of drunken mishaps and architectural similarities, ends up celebrating the holiday in Leningrad with the wrong woman. The film’s blend of “screwball swerves” and “Slavic melancholy,” punctuated by Mikael Tariverdiev’s stunning songs, offers a uniquely poignant take on the search for connection.
A Marathon for Reflection: The Lord of the Rings
For those seeking a more immersive experience, a New Year’s Eve tradition for some involves watching Peter Jackson’s extended edition of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The epic scope of Tolkien’s world provides a backdrop for reflection on the year past, and, as one fan points out, “like a good marriage, the flaws are part of what you adore.” It’s a twelve-hour commitment, but one deemed “well spent.”
Hollywood’s Dark Side: Sunset Boulevard
If a more cynical outlook prevails, Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard offers a fittingly bleak accompaniment to the New Year. The film features what is arguably the “bleakest New Year’s Eve party ever,” with a lonely screenwriter finding himself the sole guest at a faded starlet’s mansion, culminating in a dramatic act of desperation. The film serves as a “diamond-cut Hollywood hate letter,” prompting viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of fame and the allure of the past.
Winter’s Grip: The Shining
For those who prefer a dose of horror with their holiday, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a perennial favorite. Its winter setting and escalating sense of dread make it a perfect fit for a cold New Year’s Eve. The film’s enduring appeal means many have seen it multiple times, making it an ideal choice for a low-effort, high-impact viewing experience.
Disaster and Resilience: The Poseidon Adventure
A reminder that things could always be worse, The Poseidon Adventure depicts the harrowing aftermath of a capsized ocean liner. The film’s depiction of survivors battling against impossible odds, led by a “sweaty brave” Gene Hackman, offers a powerful message of resilience. It’s a particularly poignant watch given Hackman’s recent passing, serving as a reminder of his “tough and smart and sardonic” presence on screen.
Nostalgia and Broadcasts: Radio Days
Woody Allen’s Radio Days offers a nostalgic glimpse into 1940s New York, culminating in a beautifully melancholic New Year’s Eve broadcast. The film’s blend of “joy, hope and misery” makes it a uniquely affecting watch, and, according to one enthusiast, should be “as compulsory as Jools Holland’s Hootenanny.”
Rejecting the Rat Race: Holiday
Released in 1938, Holiday is a surprisingly relevant New Year’s Eve rom-com. The film follows a man who decides to take a break from his career and rediscover himself, leading him to a connection with a free-spirited woman. Its message of rejecting societal expectations and prioritizing personal fulfillment feels particularly inspiring as a new year begins.
A French New Year’s Heist: La bonne année
For a touch of international flair, La bonne année (1973) offers a non-linear narrative centered around a convict on parole and a budding romance. The film’s blend of heist flashbacks and charming character interactions, complete with a drag queen performance, provides a uniquely French take on the New Year’s spirit.
Turbulence and Hope: Phantom Thread
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread is a film that works on multiple occasions, but its New Year’s Eve sequence is particularly striking. The scene depicts a tumultuous night for the film’s central couple, ultimately leading to a hopeful flash forward where they are dancing instead of arguing. The film acknowledges that New Year’s Eve is often “a rotten night for most of us,” but still holds onto the naive hope that the next year might be better.
The Timeless Question: When Harry Met Sally…
Finally, When Harry Met Sally… remains a classic for a reason. Its exploration of the complexities of relationships, coupled with Nora Ephron’s sparkling script and Rob Reiner’s masterful direction, makes it a perfect film to watch as the year comes to a close. As one writer notes, it’s a film that will make you “miss them both, but that’s the point.”
