Earlier this year A Midnight in Paris was in theaters and was one of the best independent films of the year. Directed by Woody Allen and starring Owen Wilson and host of celebrities in guest roles, this movies highlights Paris in its hey day in a artistically beautiful and fantastical way.
The premise is a modern day writer played cleverly by Wilson, finds a way to go back to Paris in the early twenty century and meets many of this century most famous and noted artists, writers, and creative talents. Each of these historical figures are played by a different celebrity actor and they give Wilson advice on life and his writing. Back in the present, Wilson tries to patch together his life with his girlfriend Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) while vacationing in Paris with her family.
I would have to say the star of this movie really is Paris. Or at least what it represents in the mind of many people -- A place for creative inspiration and romance. Woody Allen has a gift for featuring cities in his movies. In the early days it was mostly New York, but more recently his focus is spanning an array of global cities. Most notably, Barcelona in Vicky Christina Barcelona or London in Match Point, and now A Midnight in Paris. The movie is witty, a bit pretentious, and some may call it intellectually snobbish. But it also just might spark an intellectual curiosity about some of the great artist and thinkers of this past decade (Josephine Baker, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein to name a few.) I know I picked up a few more books and took a few more trips to museums after seeing this movie (Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas). But for Woody Allen fans, you will love this movie.... great dialogue, witty humor, and great performances from the actors. For all others. Depends on your taste, but I think those with and open mind and don't mind a little fantasy mixed with your history lesson, give it a shot. This movie will probably get some Oscar buzz.
Pros
1. Woody Allen movie. There is a reason people keeps giving him money to make more. They are usually pretty good.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that are not fan of his neurotic acting.
3. Owen Wilson. Perfect casting. So innocently funny.
4. The guest actors. So many and they certainly seem to be trying to out do each other... in a good way.
5. The city. Paris. Makes me want to take a trip back there... in time.
Cons
1. Woody Allen movies have its own pace. Dialogue is king in his movies and this one is no different.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that ARE fans of his neurotic acting.
So what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?
S.F. Guru
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