‘Midnight in Paris’ Re-energizes the Silverscreen

Ok, I know I’ve been out of commission for a bit, things have been busy, but I’m back and ready for some blogging! I went to Tulsa a couple weeks ago to visit Josh. While I was there we saw this great new movie by Woody Allen that I highly recommend! Might I add, it was refreshing to know that you could see a good indie flick SOMEWHERE in Oklahoma…but I won’t even get started on that rant. Any way, it was fun, witty, refreshing and a great reminder that there is still a bit of culture to be found in the movies.

With an all-star cast and a stellar script, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris reinvigorates the movie scene. Big name actors such as Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Marion Cotillard take to the screen in the story of an American writer suffering from a severe case of artistic nostalgia.

Owen Wilson plays Gill, a screenwriter turned novelist vacationing in Paris with his fiancé, played by McAdams, and her parents. Gill, who considers his life as a screenwriter that of a hack, is struggling to write his first novel about a man who owns a nostalgia shop. Gill struggles from nostalgia himself and dreams of being in Paris in the 1920’s, an era he considers the “golden age” of literature and art.

One night as Gill drunkenly wanders Paris, he is ushered in to an old-fashioned looking car right at the stroke of midnight. The next thing he knows he finds himself in 1920s Paris in the company of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, and other great artists from the era. The movie follows Gill’s trips back and forth between time as he enlists Hemingway’s help in critiquing his novel.

Along the way Gill comes to learn that nostalgia is a dangerous thing to get caught up in. His encounters with the great historical figures make him realize that they are no more satisfied with their present than he is with his. Rather than lose himself in a longing, he learns to take control of his life and appreciate its beauty.

The script’s witty portrayal of historical figures such as Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and even Salvador Dali, played brilliantly by Adrian Brody, is not only true to the figures as we understand them today, but are likewise entertaining with their multitude of allusions and puns. It is clear that Allen, who also wrote the script, put a lot of thought into each character no matter how brief their screen time. The dialogue between every character is loaded with historical value that the well read will greatly appreciate.

Wilson’s character is dynamic and sincere, a refreshing change from his characters in the romantic comedies he so often fins himself in. Corey Stoll’s moody, frank Hemingway is spot on, and will leave you in tears of laughter at times. The relationship between the Fitzgeralds is humorous, but allusive, without going to deep—an excellent choice, as I think it would have diverted from the storyline. McAdams gives an effective performance as the bossy fiancé that leaves you waiting for that midnight escape.

Allen has created a true piece of art with this film. This wity script and excellent acting will not only entertain you, it will leave you feeling fulfilled. It is nice to see a change of pace amongst the multitude of super hero and action films inundating the theaters this summer. Midnight in Paris will have you saying ‘now that’s a movie!’ as you leave.

Now my biggest gripe right now, and I have to throw it out there, is that many people won’t see this movie because they don’t like Woody Allen. My Mom and many other conservatives HATE Woody Allen, because let’s face it, he is quite standoffish politically. But hating him is no reason to prematurely judge his movies, He is a brilliant artist and talented director and you should not do yourself the disservice of not seeing this movie on account of his political opinions. Just some food for thought.

Cheers!