Happy New Year!

It is almost time to ring in a new decade.  I will probably be taking the next two days off from my Blog, but I will check in to see any comments that may show up.  Now, what to watch during the holiday weekend?!?

There are more movies that take place, at least in part, during a New Year's Eve party than you would think.  Here are my two suggestions.  Please watch them in this order.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) is first.  From the hey-day of disaster films, and with an all star cast, the movie starts at the New Year's Eve party, and everything goes down from there.  (Sorry!)

Poseidon won the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song.  It also received a special achievement award for visual effects, and it was nominated for seven other Oscars.  Now tell me, how often have you heard the song, The Morning After since 1973?

As far as the cast, where do you start?  Gene Hackman, Shelly Winters, Red Buttons, Ernie Borgnine, Roddy McDowall, Carol Linley, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin and Arthur O'Connell. 

I think all the Bit Actors they hired to make the film died in the first 15 minutes.  At least they got to the party. 

In the Bit Part category, we see Leslie Nielsen as the ship's captain, just a few years before he decided he should be a comedian.  We also see Sheila Allen, wife of producer/director Irwin Allen.  Basically the rest are listed as Man, Woman, or Falling Man in the cast list.

Finish the evening with When Harry Met Sally (1989).  This is Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal at their best.  Carrie Fisher has a good part that can help you get over her Star Wars role as Princess Leia.

The movie winds through the lives of a man and a woman who knew each other in school.  As the years go by they keep getting together and drifting apart, but never as a couple.  Their frank interactions are unconsciously bringing them together, with no topic of discussion off limits for them.  The final scene is at the New Year's Eve party.

Again, there are no Bit Actors that easily stand out in this movie.  When you think about it, that is what a Bit Part is.  It should add to the feel of the movie without taking the attention away from the story or the stars.  There are 35 names below the main characters in the cast list, and I really don't remember most of them in spite of seeing the movie several times. 

I do remember the couples being interviewed about their relationships.  That is a highlight of the movie for me.  They are all veteran actors and you believe they have all been married for a lifetime.  Their professional delivery in those scenes is heartwarming.

The Poseidon Adventure first so you can have a few drinks to help you through the disaster.  Then, try to time When Harry Met Sally so that you ring in the new year at the same time as Meg and Billy.  By that time in the movie, you are ready for a Happy New Year kiss.  And as far as New Year's Resolutions...just try to pay better attention to the Bit Actors!