A Melange of Stories: New Year's Eve
New Year’s Eve is a movie which tells several different stories of several couples and persons in New York being tied up in different situations as new year is approaching. The background is a rather typical New Year Eve in a big city where feelings are intense and new beginnings emerge. It is an interesting drama that covers all facets of life, from a woman who feels like she needs to ‘kill’ her list, to a man whose main mission in life is to die, the movie is an ensemble piece that tries to embrace love, life and everything in between. It is entertaining and mostly cheerful, using the possibility of the sentimental journey as well as love and even humor. At the same time, occasionally it seems too tired by melodrama, but still will try to become an optimistic vision of lives, full of unexpected twists, clearly for its New Year setting.
New Year’s Eve has a star studded cast that ranges from Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer and others. Despite this not every character is well developed because of the large number of subplots, however Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron deliver a satisfying performance and add some warmth and genuine emotions into the picture. In this respect, the use of star cast is effective in portraying the movie though not all the plots enjoy the same attention.
The director of New Year’s Eve, Garry Marshall, is seen in the multiple connected stories like in the previous movie ‘Valentine’s Day’. He is able to generate a joyful mood that underlines the film’s storytelling aspect of multiple plots. However, the number of characters might sometimes prevent the audience from witnessing a more profound character analysis, and seem as if they are left unresolved.
Accompanying the film is the song that is upbeat and emotional that makes the audience feel a festive mood. The songs aid in creating a fun pace of the show, in conjunction with the themes of Copaken and Broderick based upon the concept of renewal; thus making the show better in terms of viewing.
Minsky’s choreography depicts the spirit of New York in a spirited manner. Cinematographically, the movie features well enlightened impressive shots of New York City especially the Times Square and other major fascinating scenes that make one feel the New Year around the corner.
The set design effectively captures New Year celebration in New York especially the bustling energy of the Times Square. The interior decor and props are stunning, and their presence offers a lot to the visual sense of the place which completes the story.
The special effects where applied are organic and did not overwhelm the movie. What is evident is the reliance on stories rather than gave and spectacle, though effects are not reduced to a show they are used to good effect.
EDP can be described as fast given the number of narratives; with the transition between the various plots being done in the best way possible. Despite the speed at which the movie advances, the narrative avoids getting complicated linking different stories as spectators would expect. This fast pace helps maintain the viewers’ interest; however, it can at times Rocky sacrifice character development for the need to progress through story quickly.
The language is rather informal, and there is quite a lot of humour; therefore, the movie fits the genre of romantic comedy well. It is rather used to express characters’ dreams and their relationships, although it seems sometimes stereotyped.
Nevertheless, being set in New Year’s Eve, the movie seems too packed and some of the subplots seem rather shallow despite the all-star cast. The movie struggles to maintain balance amongst its many characters, inevitably causing some narratives to feel superficial or unsatisfactory.
The experience of watching New Years Eve is akin to a festive celebration: cute and fun and entertaining and not exceptionally new. It is a warm and heart touching production ideal for anyone who wants to take an emotional ride through the crossing of love and hope just at the start of a new year.
