Review of Midnight in Paris (2011) by Jaime M — 04 Nov 2013
Gil, a writer with no self -confidence, who is bullied by his girlfriend and her parents, falls through the rabbit hole at Midnight in Paris into the world of American expatriates in Paris in the 1920's. There he meets the stereotypes of Hemingway, Fitzgerald (both Scott & Zelda), Gertrude & Leo Stein, Cole Porter . . . ; Allen plays the stereotypes for laughs (ie. Hemingway only speaks in short declarative sentences and wants to fight everyone). Gil finds Adriana, a artist groupie, and falls in love, but she wants to go back to the Belle Epoque, which the couple does briefly. Gil gets his writing confidence back from Gertrude Stein and learns that everyone thinks a former age was magic, but you have to deal with life.
Somehow it's all a bit too cutesy. Wilson is appropriate as the bullied boyfriend, but it's hard to believe that this likable guy was either a Hollywood success or will be a talented writer. McAdams, Sheen, & Kennedy made the most of the characters we love to hate.
Most disappointing to me was the cinematography, with Paris in such sepia-tones as to look washed out and faded. As always with Allen great music: Porter and other Jazz Age greats.
This review of Midnight in Paris (2011) was written by Jaime M on 04 Nov 2013.
Midnight in Paris has generally received very positive reviews.
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