Cast:
Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen.
Director:
Woody Allen
What’s it about?
‘Midnight in Paris’ follows Gil (Wilson) and fiancée, Inez (McAdams) as they take a holiday to Paris with her parents. Gil is a wannabe novelist suffering from writers’ block and she is a spoilt little rich girl who sees his aspirations as an unrealistic dream. Over the course of the trip, they are forced to face their different ideals as Gil’s dreams become reality.
What happens?
While Inez’ parents’ take care of their business commitments, she and Gil explore the city, taking in museums and restaurants with friends Carol and smug know-it-all Paul (Michael Sheen). When Inez wants to continue to the evening with Carol and Paul, Gil goes back to the hotel to focus on his novel. However, en route he discovers that after midnight, Paris comes alive and enjoys chance meetings with artists and writers of all ages. These meetings shape the film and its’ conclusion.
Is it good?
Yes! Woody Allen has had a run of unsuccessful films over the last few years so this is something of a return to form for him. The script is delightfully funny, the setting is beautiful and the performances top-notch, with Wilson especially hitting his peak in one of Allen’s typically talky pictures.
What’s not so good?
Some more on the characters’ backgrounds would’ve been nice. Some might find it difficult to identify with Allen’s characters because we don’t end up knowing very much about them. This is not unusual for a Woody Allen film and this is only a minor irritant.
Verdict
Woody Allen films, with their ‘why say 4 words if you can say 40′ attitude, aren’t for everyone so if you’re not a fan, this film won’t alter your opinion. Midnight in Paris, however will win over fans with its’ gorgeous looking, funny film which could just as easily be dismissed as an advert by the Parisian tourist board. Do that, at your peril.
Look Out For!
The First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, in a small role as a museum guide.
