Review of Midnight in Paris (2011) by Gregory G — 03 Mar 2013
An inventive, fantastical romantic comedy from Woody Allen, a love letter to Paris and the great artists of the early twentieth century. Owen Wilson is perfectly cast in the Woody Allen role. (He doesn't impersonate Woody but makes the character his own without the usual mannerisms or shtick.
) He's a screenwriter, in the process of writing a novel, visiting Paris with his wife (Rachel McAdams) and her parents. After midnight, wandering the streets alone, he is transported back to 1920s Paris where he interacts with various writers and artists like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Picasso, and Gertrude Stein.
This is Allen's best movie in at least 15 years and it may be his most lyrical. It has more wit, grace, and romantic spirit than his recent pictures, and calls to mind his earlier comedy "The Purple Rose of Cairo.
" The opening montage with postcard views of Paris is unnecessarily long. A reference made suggesting to Luis Bunuel an idea for a movie that becomes "The Exterminating Angel" is a nice touch.
Allen won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Gorgeous cinematography is by Darius Khondji; music is by Stephane Wrembel. With Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen as a pompous professor, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Leya Seydoux, Tom Hiddleston as F.
Scott Fitzgerald, Alison Pill as Zelda Fitzgerald, Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway, Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, and Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali.
This review of Midnight in Paris (2011) was written by Gregory G on 03 Mar 2013.
Midnight in Paris has generally received very positive reviews.
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