Forgot To Remember To Forget
It’ll be midnight in Paris in about two hours, so I guess it’s time to post my usual “the hell with New Year’s Eve” sentiments. 2010 was a very good year movie-wise, and a fairly terrible one politically. But I have few complaints, and I hope that others are feeling as good these days, or are feeling at peace. This is the best era of my life. It’s a good time to be happy. Raise a glass, hug someone, smile, etc.
That said, there’s nothing fills me with such spiritual satisfaction as my annual naysaying of this idiotic celebration of absolutely nothing.
I love clinking glasses with cool people at cool parties, but celebrating renewal by way of the hands of a clock and especially in the company of party animals making a big whoop-dee-doo has always felt like a huge humiliation to me. Only idiots believe in the idea of a of a midnight renewal. Renewal is a constant. Every morning…hell, every minute marks the potential start of something beautiful and cleansing, and perhaps even transforming. So why hang back and celebrate a rite that denies this 24/7 theology, and in a kind of idiot-monkey way with party hats and noisemakers?
I would feel differently if I was in Paris or Prague or Rome. It’s another thing over there. Three years ago I wrote that “my all-time best New Year’s Eve happened in Paris on the 1999-into-2000 Millenium year — standing about two city blocks in front of the Eiffel Tower and watching the greatest fireworks display in human history.
“And then walking all the way back to Montmartre with thousands on the streets after the civil servants shut the subway down at 1 a.m.” That couldn’t have happened eleven years ago. Must be a mistake.
Well, uh, cheers, I guess. Speaking for many who post here–I hope–we’re glad you’re here and cranky as ever.
Who’s cranky? I just think New Year’s Eve is empty bullshit, that’s all.
I agree with Jeff – I have never given a damn about New Year’s Eve. Will spend a quiet night at home with family, and wouldn’t dare be out on the road with all the amateurs.
Yup, no celebrating here either. I’ve never really “got” New Year’s exactly. Why not go crazy over each new month while you’re at it? Bah.
the only holiday that makes sense.
I will be spending it as I do every New Year, even I had a girlfriend… Sitting at home alone more sober than usual, watching Fergie get felt up by a roomful of bullshit rappers in between Ashlee Simpson numbers while Will.I.Am yells into the lens, wondering how EIGHT MILLION motherfuckers can descend a single locale because it’s a party spot and HAVE A GOOD TIME, when I’d surely be there standing alone not speaking to anyone and just disgusted than anyone could get that excited about some bullshit that’s as meaningless as Tuesday turning into Wednesday, which nobody fucking celebrates.
Amateur-hour bullshit holiday.
In other words, I wish somebody had invited me to a party where I might get laid.
There’s a cool party in Edinburgh, Scotland if you ever feel the need Jeff. Not much bullshit here, just good people, laughs and drinks. Here’s to another year of Hollywood Elsewhere. Cheers guys.
Jeff I was in Paris for that exact same New Year’s (on the Pont des Arts) and it was the best.
Am I the only one who is very conscious of the first movie I watch every year? A corny hands-of-the-clock tradition/thought, but I do it nonetheless. I believe I’ll opt for The American on Blu-ray this year.
I’ll be spending it with family, enjoying each other’s company, keeping merry in our hearts. Psychologists will tell you humans are hard-wired for tradition and ritual. We require them for contentment, and the greater a following of a tradition or ritual, the greater our sense of belonging or fulfillment.
I’m also usually aware of what the first movie I see every year is. I think this year it was Daybreakers. Meh.
“Psychologists will tell you humans are hard-wired for tradition and ritual.”
Yeah, well, I’m not. Though I consider “ever being happy ever” or “having friends” to be two signs of a weak mind.
Did Mad Max need to party and spend time with family? Did Snake Plissken? The Man With No Name?
Roll solo or roll weak. The only human interacting anyone ever needs is sex. All other relationships are total bullshit.
I hate this day. Though 2010 wasn’t anywhere near as awful as 2009 or 2010. But, as with every calendar year since 1997, I didn’t have sex with a Caucasian woman.
That made no fucking sense… 2009 or 2008. Which ought to be universally recognized as the most depressing two years of societal lameness and popcultural vacancy since 1993, or 1987.
1987 being the absolute worst year of movies, music, or BEING IN EIGHT GRADE GETTING YOUR ASS KICKED in the history of the world.
Fucking Winger and Dokken and Secret of My Success and big hair and worst of all, CHICKS WEARING JELLY SHOES.
1987 FTW as the worst year of the last 2000.
God Bless you for telling it like it is. I’ve always hated New Year’s for the infectious anxiety it creates to be at the best party, best place, or with the best people. No matter what you do, you are always filled with doubt that you could do better and once midnight hits, you think “what the fuck? that’s it?” and then everyone visibly deflates and wonder what the hell the full was about. Then another drink is consumed to dull the awareness of how empty the evening is and you sleep through the next day of supposed renewal.
Happy New Year friends. At least we have Tree of Life to look forward to in 2011.
“Who’s cranky? I just think New Year’s Eve is empty bullshit, that’s all.”
As opposed to all the Hollywood parties that you frequent, which are, what? Full and spiritual endeavors?
Happy 2011, everyone.
Happy New Year, Jeff. May 2011 be free of Hispanics, Republicans, Hispanic Republicans, men showing their feet in public, Hispanic Republican men showing their feet in public, Peter Jackson movies, Jeff Bridges ass kissing and David Poland being right about anything.
Cheers, I guess.
I hate the holiday too.
And we have to hear the most depressing fucking song in the world. No thanks
There’s a cool party in Edinburgh, Scotland if you ever feel the need Jeff. Not much bullshit here, just good people, laughs and drinks. Here’s to another year of Hollywood Elsewhere. Cheers guys.
Such weird, predictably mean-spirited hypocrisy. What made it different for you in Paris that it was somehow “okay” over there, anyway? Is it an anti-American sentiment or something? Honest question, because you shit all over your little “fuck New Years” thesis by getting all gooey once again about your 2000 experience with the French. I was under the ball in Times Square for 1999/2000. I remember walking back, through the streets, with the people. Why is that somehow different?
And I say that as someone who buys into the 24/7 breed of “change should be constant,” by the way.
And CitizenKaned4Life FTW.
Happy New Year everyone one hour late. Fireworks going on outside, wine going on inside. I always stay home on NYE but Jeff, interesting and expanding comment on a renewal every day. That sound downright optimistic. Regarinding NYE in Paris – so you stayed in Montmartre? Next time in Paris I hope to stay by Sacre Coeur – it’s years away.
P.S. First movie of the year: The Pelican Brief. One of my favorite Denzel’s, Julia and he play off each other well and I always love stories of government conspiracies because they’re so close to being true they just might be.
and I won’t be feeling peaceful with the way politics are brewing these days. Also Michigan’s football team, but thanks for the good wishes.
Jeff, I hope you’re right about no real Repulbican contenders for 2012. But but… There was a landslide nationwide and especially here in Michigan where we now have everything controlled by the Reds.
Forgive the spelling errors in the two posts. As I mentioned – wine going on the inside.
Republican..obviously Freudian Slip there.
Well for many years now I haven’t ” celebrated ” New Years. To me it’s just another day. I can give Christmas, 4th Of July and Easter a break, those holidays have legit purpose. But New Years ? To be honest, it brings out the whacko pyros like the goofball next door to me as I write this getting drunk and blowing off m-80′s and freaking my animals out. What’s that have to do with a year changing ? It’s just another year.
Oh and Lex, 1987 was my zenith time and Dokken could beat Winger’s ass. George Lynch is and has always been a great guitar player. May not dig the band but Lynch is highly respected among all types of guitar players. Just throwing my 1987 two cents in. As for fashion and hair styles, I agree one of the worst. I stick up for my ax men though
“1987 being the absolute worst year of movies”
Lex, that’s crazy talk.
ROBOCOP
RAISING ARIZONA
EVIL DEAD II
FULL METAL JACKET
ANGEL HEART
Five classics right there, plus you had PREDATOR, THE HIDDEN, LETHAL WEAPON, EXTREME PREJUDICE, NEAR DARK. Maybe WINGS OF DESIRE isn’t a Lex fave, but surely PRINCE OF DARKNESS is?
You forgot WALL STREET, THE UNTOUCHABLES, EMPIRE OF THE SUN, THE LAST EMPEROR, RADIO DAYS, TIN MEN, SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME…
As far as “classics” go, SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME (why are we capitalizing titles again?) is about as synonymous to 1987 as BABY’S DAY OUT is to 1994.
You forgot BROADCAST NEWS, MOONSTRUCK, PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, SPACEBALLS….
And FATAL ATTRACTION, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, ROXANNE…
And FATAL ATTRACTION, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, ROXANNE…
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