By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
December 28, 2001
What’re you doing New Year’s Eve?
Let’s take a guess. You don’t have a date for the big night. Or, if you do, the two of you are dreading the thought of dealing with booked restaurants, inebriated revelers and couples trying just a little too hard to prove they’re having the best night of their lives. Then again, who wants to spend $300 for a night on the town when the economy is so iffy?
How about this for a fun, cozy alternative: Order in some late-night supper (sushi, Haagen-Dasz and champagne works wonders for us), light a few candles and snuggle in with your best honey (which, unfortunately, may be yourself) for an all-nighter of great movie watching.
If you’ve got a DVD player, take advantage of it. The picture and sound quality is superior to video, and DVDs usually are loaded with all sorts of behind-the-scenes extras. DVDs also are ideal for pausing at any point during, say, a Brad Pitt movie to get a picture-perfect image of the star to gaze at for however long you wish. We checked (all in the name of scientific research, of course).
We’re not sure what your mood will be this New Year’s Eve, so we’re offering a variety of suggestions that should be appropriate whether you have just been dumped, are celebrating the holiday with a date or are spending the night with the kids, thanks to the ditzy babysitter who canceled at the last minute.
Enjoy!
STAY ALIVE, I WILL FIND YOU
“Last of the Mohicans” (20th Century Fox): A well-muscled Daniel Day Lewis with long, flowing hair and a loin cloth. Need more? The plot’s good, too, full of thrilling action and heartbreaking romance. He promises Madeline Stowe that if she stays alive, he will find her. What a refreshing change of attitude from most men who refuse to drive out of their own zip code for a date.
“Romeo & Juliet” (Paramount): Forget the lame version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. They’re amateurs compared to real-life teenagers Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, who star in Franco Zefferelli’s gorgeous 1968 epic. Sure, we all know how this Shakespeare classic will turn out. But each scene is so beautifully crafted that the result is timeless. There are no great bonuses on this DVD—just some old trailers that aren’t particularly spectacular. But the main attraction is enough to hold the interest of even the biggest grinch
“Road Home” (Columbia): Zhang Ziyi, who made this film before starring in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” is the beautiful lead in this love story that features no lovemaking or kissing. She is the prettiest girl in her village who falls in love with a shy school teacher. They show their affection for each other by sharing meals and exchanging small gifts. Filmmaker Zhang Yimou takes an understated approach, allowing our emotions to find their own way without the aid of dramatic music.
“Moulin Rouge” (20th Century Fox): There is one rule at the Moulin Rouge: Never fall in love. Satine (Nicole Kidman) and Christian (Ewan McGregor) break this rule in a big way. She is the most stunning courtesan of her time. When she performs at the Moulin Rouge, men shower her with diamonds and other jewels. Struggling writer Christian has nothing to offer but his heart. She makes him promise he won’t be jealous of her lovers. He promises, but is unable to control his emotions. The two stars sing better than most of the artists on Billboard’s Top 20 and aren’t too bad at showing off their fancy footwork, either. There are more than 6 hours of glorious extras on the DVD version, including uncut choreography sequences and an interview with Fatboy Slim, who contributed music to the film.
I’M WITH THE BAND
“Almost Famous” (Dreamworks): Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical movie captures the relatively innocent world of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1970’s. Kate Hudson is adorable as the chief band aid. And the made-for-movie band (starring Billy Crudup as the enigmatic guitar player whose charisma overpowers lead singer Jason Lee) isn’t half bad, either. Do we buy Crowe’s presentation that these band aids were muses rather than groupies? Nope. But hey, it’s a movie. We’re willing to go with the flow.
“Shania Twain: The Platinum Collection” (Uni/Mercury): So you didn’t get tickets for a New Year’s Eve concert. Not to worry. There’s plenty of good music you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Twain’s collection of killer music videos are a great way to ring in the new year, especially the vampy “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”.
“Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band—Live in New York City” (Sony/Columbia): This two-DVD set is nothing short of phenomenal, and not just for fans of the Boss. Filmed at his emotional 10-night stint at the Madison Square Garden, the film includes 11 songs (“Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “If I Should Fall Behind,” “Jungleland”) not included in the original HBO broadcast. There’s also a 15-minute featurette of rare interviews and shots of Springsteen and Co. rehearsing.
IT’S NOT ME, IT’S YOU
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” (Disney): Renee Zellweger charmingly portrays the title character—a thirtysomething singleton who doesn’t want to be single in a couples world. Who to choose, though? She has a crush on her rafish boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), but we all know that Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) is the real hottie waiting to emerge from his tweedish world. Not as good as the book, but a delightful film nonetheless. Plus, those of us worrying about working off any excess holiday pounds can take solace in the weight Zellweger gained for this role.
“Legally Blonde” (MGM/UA): Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is a Type A California girl whose life is rocked when her seemingly perfect boyfriend dumps her when he gets admitted into Harvard Law School. Her curvaceous, blonde looks don’t jive with what his girlfriend should look like. Her revenge? Thanks to good grades—as well as a tiny bikini and a video application directed by one of the Coppolas—Elle gets accepted into Harvard, too. Witherspoon’s determined face and comedic timing are perfect for this role. And, oh yeah, she also ends up with the hottest guy on campus, too. You go, Elle! (Save time to view the trivia track, which includes tips for your own Harvard application and also answers how many different hairstyles Elle sports in the picture.)
SWEETIE, DARLING
“The Best of Friends” (Warner): Sure, you can catch the reruns on WGN and TBS. But when you want your “Friends” fix NOW, this will settle your jones. Unlike “Sex and the City” (see below) and the “Sopranos,” which release entire seasons on video and DVD, the creators of “Friends” pick just five episodes per volume, which is kind of a drag. But it’s still a pleasure to see how young the stars looked during the first season in “The One with the Blackout,” where Chandler is stuck in a bank vestibule with Victoria’s Secret model Jill Goodacre.
“Sex and the City” (HBO): Mix up some Cosmopolitans and teeter around in a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo heels to get yourself in the mood. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are the perfect foursome to invite to your own private New Year’s Eve celebration. The producers changed a few things around that diehard “Sex” fans will notice (such as the episode where Samantha is saved from society hell by Leonardo DiCaprio on the rentals—on the HBO series, it was John-John Kennedy who did the honors).
“Absolutely Fabulous” (Warner): Sweetie, darling. If you want to see where “Sex and the City” got its idea, check out this collection. Edina, the constantly dieting, hedonistic mom of a straight-laced teenager notes, “Inside of me there’s a thin woman trying to get out.” Her mother answers, “Are you sure it’s just one, dear?” Edina’s best friend is a former model, Patsy, who likes her wine glass full, men young, and skirts extremely short.
“Queer as Folk” (C1TV): We’re not talking about the American version currently airing on Showtime, but rather the British series on which the U.S. version is based. There’s plenty of gratuitous nudity, sex and drugs in this English gay community to make Edina and Patsy jealous and also a plot that moves it several steps ahead of the usual primetime soap opera fare.
THE BABYSITTER BAILED
“Shrek” (Dreamworks): It’s the biggest-selling DVD ever and and well worth the purchase price. This clever computer animated film tells the fractured fairy tale of an ogre who has to save a group of creatures from eviction from fairy tale land. Though the kiddies may have already seen this film in the theater, the Re-Voice Studio on the DVD-ROM will keep the little ones (ok, and you, too) plenty occupied. Here, fans get to dub their own voices to the character’s scripted words.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (Disney): This 1937 Disney classic still holds up beautifully today. The songs are magical, the animation is perfection and the well-known fairytale is still engaging. Speaking on behalf of all the female viewers out there, this animated film really does makes us believe (for a brief moment or two) that someday our prince really will come.
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (Warner): Oompah-Loompah indeed. Generations of kids have grown up watching this 1971 film, which tells the story of a poor child (Charlie) who, along with four other kids, is invited into a confectionery heaven owned by Willie Wonka. The greedy ones suffer indignities while Charlie fares well, winning the approval of the eccentric Wonka. This film has a slightly dark element to it that may go over some of the kids’ heads, but the morality at play works well in the context of this musical.
