Main Cast: Maggie Jakobson, Gwen Welles, Melanie Winter, Henry Jaglom, David Duchovny, Milos Forman
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Filmmaker Henry Jaglom plays the leading male role in his characteristically gabby New Year's Day. Jaglom is a writer who insists upon asking disturbing and intrusive questions to the revellers at a New Year's Eve party. His inclusion in the story is explained by having him sublet a California apartment where the previous attendants show no signs of leaving. The crazy-quilt Dramatis Personae include lesbian PR-agent Gwen Welles, erstwhile actress/activist Maggie Jakobson, and lustful fashion-photographer Melanie Winter. Periodically interrupting the steady stream of spontaneous-sounding conversation between these three is Jakobson's randy boyfriend David Duchovny and famed Czech director Milos Forman as a janitor (!). As always, Henry Jaglom is a matter of taste, but you'll very likely want to see New Year's Day for a glimpse at a pre X-Files David Duchovny. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
It goes without saying that a Henry Jaglom film is not for everyone, and New Year's Day is no exception. Those who find Jaglom long winded and obsessively egocentric will find nothing in Day to disabuse them of this belief; it is also true that, unlike in Jaglom's better work, Day lacks a sense of perspective -- that Jaglom and/or his characters have some knowledge of the fact that they may just be whining a bit too much about matters that are not of the greatest consequence. Day also will not win over anyone who thinks that Jaglom simply doesn't know how to pace his films for any kind of pay-off or how to allow a scene to build in a manner that is cinematically gratifying. All that said, however, Day does have a certain structural looseness that is somehow appealing, and if Jaglom's pacing is bizarre, it's also undeniably his own and feels right in the context of his films. Even the self-obsessed nature of his characters -- and especially of Jaglom's own -- has a certain appeal for those that are willing to give in to his worldview. Day also features a lovely, winning performance by Maggie Jakobson, a very amusing bit by Michael Emil, a surprising turn form Milos Forman and a full-frontally nude David Duchovny. Not for all tastes, Day will be welcomed by the small but dedicated Jaglom cult. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Michael Emil - Dr. Stadthagen; Donna Germain - Dr. Stadthagen's Friend; Tracy Reiner - Marjorie; Harvey Miller - Lucy's Father; Irene Moore - Lucy's Mother; James de Preist - Lucy's Shrink
Credit
Henry Jaglom - Director, Hanania Baer - Cinematographer, Nesya Blue - Cinematographer, Joey Forsyte - Cinematographer, Judith Wolinsky - Producer, Henry Jaglom - Screenwriter
The film follows two teenagers, Jake (Potts) and Steve (Barry) as they cope with life after being the sole survivors of an avalanche. Their teacher also survives the accident, but remains comatose and dies soon after the start of the film. The two boys make a suicide pact agreeing that on the one year anniversary of the avalanche, they will kill themselves. The two spend their last year living life to the fullest. This takes the form of a list of "tasks", which they both must fulfill before dying.
The movie's screenplay is written by Brown, and the movie deals with themes such as the generation gap, the conflicts that surround today's youngsters, and how they are effected by a tragedy.
