Happy New Year

The care of our returning wounded veterans has concerned me for some time. I became interested following my own first-hand observations of the appalling conditions and insufficient (and in many cases) inexperienced staff at some of our country's Veterans' Hospitals. I'd heard some buzz about Lorrell Manning and his film, Happy New Year, so when I knew I'd be in Austin during the festival I decided to see just how authentic a depiction of the treatment of returning veterans Manning's project would present. For me, Happy New Year's portrait of the physical and psychological struggles of a seriously wounded young staff sergeant returning from a tour in Iraq proved painfully accurate and incredibly moving. The bleak, coldness of the hospital served as an all too accurate backdrop for shiningly believable performances by Michael Cuomo and an outstanding group of supporting actors. Let's face it, recognizing and treating PTSD is difficult for the most esteemed and experienced psychiatric professionals. But as this film so successfully reveals, our returning wounded warriors are often left in the care of indifferent, emotionally disconnected medical personnel, who treat these patients like hostages rather than heroes. While Michael Cuomo's performance is clearly stellar in its believability, Wimer Calderone, Monique Curnen, David Fonteno, Jose Yenque, and Tina Sloane are equally convincing. Yes, the subject matter remains intense. The flashbacks to war ravaged fields strewn with burnt and dismembered bodies, the embrace between a heartbroken mother and her totally broken son are chilling and challenging….Challenging because they force the audience …make that defy the audience to realize that wounded or not, no soldier returns from this war whole, no soldier's family remains unaffected and above all, whether one approves of this war or not, these soldiers deserve the care, compassion and respect needed to begin to heal if healing is even a possibility. Though the film has some lighter moments that provide a bit of diversion from the gravity of its message, Happy New Year is a not a movie for those who fear and flee from harsh truths. It is a small movie with a big heart and even bigger message. My gratitude to Manning for having the courage to tell it.

I had the opportunity to see Happy New Year while in Austin for SXSW film festival. I usually do not post reviews but after seeing this film, felt compelled to do so. As a practicing mental health counselor, I was amazed and moved by the accurate depiction of PTSD as portrayed by the actors in the film. I have worked with and continue to counsel those affected by this paralyzing disorder and have not seen the subtleties of the hopelessness and despair, irritability and distress associated with PTSD so poignantly illustrated as it is in this film. From the cinematography to the soundtrack, the film's production was authentic in its attempt to bring the audience into the psyche of those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. The acting was impeccable as well. Mike Cuomo and Wilmer Calderon in particular, were incredibly genuine in their portrayals.

Although this review focuses primarily on the PTSD aspect of the film, I also want to note that the film is also a sad but true statement on the condition of our veteran care here in the United States. These men and women sacrifice their lives and both their physical and mental health to protect our country and our freedoms. It is devastating to see the lack of care and concern many of our soldiers face upon their return from war. I certainly hope this film can help raise awareness of these many issues and bring communities, governments, and caregivers together to work on solutions.

Overall, an amazing film with a powerful message....not to be missed!!

I attended opening night in New York on 12/7, to a full theater. There was a long ovation followed by a talk-back with the star and the director, which everyone stayed for. This is a very intense narrative, that succeeds in:

A)Opening a frank dialogue on the effects of post-traumatic stress/combat trauma on our military veterans and those around them, rising suicide rates, and the lack of preparedness, and from a policy perspective, willingness to commit resources (as evidenced by 2012 Congressional and Senate voting records) to give our troops the care they need.

B)Helping to remove the stigma of veterans coming forward to share their suffering. Do you know a veteran who has been trained to kill, to become that rigid serviceman and protector, only to return to society emotionally unavailable, unable to open up, and no one you should ever sneak up on? I do. It's not a switch you can flip off. And those are the ones who still have all of their physical faculties, unlike the main character, who returns home broken in so many ways. We need to take better care of our men and women, inside and out. They are not disposable.

The film ends with the statistic that about 18 veterans commit suicide each day. That's around 6,500 of our men and women per year who take their own life. But of course that can't be true...because that's only the amount that are reported.

I hope this film will be screened in other cities as well. It may not play as well in the more jingoist regions of the country, but it needs to be seen.

I recently saw this film at the Quad Cinema in New York and I have to say that it moved me to tears. This may not be the first film made about the difficulties of combat and life afterward, but it is the first that I have seen to avoid all of the clichés that have become associated with this subject matter. Happy New Year, while sometimes painful to watch, is true to itself all the way through.

The performances are excellent and create such a realism that you can't help but come away with a fresh take on our post-combat treatment of soldiers. K. Lorrel Manning's direction is precise, uncompromising and never steers toward sentimentality. And you won't be able to stop thinking about it after it's over.

I highly recommend this film, however, viewers should keep in mind, though, that this is not a war movie. It is a movie about what happens after one survives war.

Considering the ending of this flick, the irony of the title is not lost on me. Shame that it's just about the only clever thing about it.

Ripping off a million other movies, ESPECIALLY One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, the word 'derivative' was invented for movies like this. An injured veteran stirs things up in a hospital unit. He treats the patients like humans, unlike the cold, impassive staff. Oh, there is ONE nice nurse, who we know he'll fall in love with from the minute he collides with her trolley, carrying medication.

There's a protest over what DVDs the residents can watch. A visit to a strip club. And some tragic news, followed by a 'heartrending' final decision. Poor Jack Nicholson, having to see his great work insulted by this bland imitation. It's not inspiring in the least, apart from in the notion that copying a classic movie too much can lead to a predictable, flavourless time-waster.

Happy New Year to you all, indeed. Let's hope it's more exciting than this film, anyway... 4/10