FFF: New Year Edition

We haven’t had a normal Friday Flick Faceoff for a bit, so I decided to go after the theme of New Year’s Day movies.  That led me to Facebook and Twitter for ideas, and boy do we have options.

I’d love to go all Sunset Boulevard (1950) on yous, but something tells me that Billy Wilder and William Holden aren’t exactly household names these days.  But oh was Gloria Swanson brilliant in an all too close to home role that holds more truth today than ever before.  If you’ve ever thought about vanity and aging or see nothing but glamour in the celebrity lifestyle you need to see that film.

We end up with an interesting hodgepodge of films, the common thread being a celebration around New Year’s Eve.  I’ve at least seen all of these, but one of them I consider far above the rest although I’m not gonna say which.

Strange Days played on the Y2K excitement/fear.  Facebooker Mark pointed out that Entrapment did the same thing, and that is also a good film, but Strange Days looked at the new millenium 5 years early.  “Cyberpunk” as FB Phil says.

200 Cigarettes received a few nominations as well and is pretty popular since the cast includes 436 celebrities or something.  I’m not sure how many of you know About A Boy with Hugh Grant but it’s a really good one.  Rounding out the top 5 are Trading Places (Akroyd, Murphy, Curtis) for that 1980s flavor, and When Harry Met Sally which should need no introduction.

Also receiving nominations were Money Train, Entrapment, The Expendables, and Four Rooms, and The Poseidon Adventure.  I also considered The Hudsucker Proxy, one of the Coen brothers earlier gems.  Thanks to everyone who got my noggin in gear.

I hope you all have a fantastic and safe New Year celebration.  I know I will.  And tomorrow I’ll be starting off 2011 proper by watching my Pittsburgh Penguins do their thang in some sweet outdoor hockey action.  Have a great weekend everyone.

So here’s one of the most diverse polls you’ll ever see.  Have at it my friends.

The Friday Flick Faceoff features films that somehow share a common thread.  Cast your vote anyway you like and don’t worry if you’ve seen the movies or not cause in a true democracy you only need a pulse to participate.  Love to hear why you picked what you picked though.