Eye For Film >> Movies >> New Year's Eve (2002) Film Review
New Year's Eve
Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray
Turning an excrutiating party into a fun zone is not an easy task. Can it be done in 16 minutes?
The production values of Colin Spector's film are terrific, matched by his acerbic script and pin-sharp performances. The problem, if indeed it is a problem, remains the party itself. Sane men would certify themselves rather than stay another minute.
Upper-class boys are chatting up debutante types with the ease of natural cads. The smoothy's dim friend is being sincere and shy, a fresh approach you might think, while the sexy girl in the other room waits to be swept off her feet.
The minicab driver gatecrashes and you know what he's thinking; you're thinking the same yourself. Eventually, the smoothy, having dabbled with the sexy girl, simply as a tease, is flung out for making a pass at the hostess's 15-year-old daughter. It's all a jolly good wheeze, except it's not, because the innate arrogance of these lads knows no bounds.
The film captures the frivolity, boredom and self-involvement of a social cattle market extremely well. Trouble is, if you don't have an embossed invitation card, you won't see the point.
showing April 1. 21:30, Sky Movies Max
Reviewed on: 29 Mar 2003