Genres

Visitors Review

IMDB_Vits 2012-05-25 09:56:46

And you didn't ask for autographs?!(***/*****).

Starring:Owen Wilson as the man who spends MIDNIGHT IN Paris.Here in Chile,this movie came out a few weeks after WHATEVER WORKS,anda few months after YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER.Considering howbad those movies were,all this movie needed to be was at least decentfor me to regain my faith in Woody Allen.And it was.Of course I'msaying it's far from his best effort.So what is the problem with this movie?Although my expectations weren'tvery high,I didn't expect that his 42nd movie would have such a basicscript.Everything is so rushed and obvious,and a few times thecharacters change their personalities just so the scene can add itselfto the convenience of the plot.Allen tends to give us his views on existentialism,and in his comedieshe makes them the main message.Here,it's very confusing.GIL realizesthat we can dream but not live in the dream and just accept the presentfor what it is.But then he decides to break-up with his fiancée andlive in Paris as he always dreamed of.I guess he found themiddle-ground of both points,but you can't blame for expecting a morestraight message based on his filmography.It's a one joke movie,the joke being GIL encountering celebrities fromthe past.But they manage to keep that joke fresh enough to last thewhole movie.Too bad those are almost the only funny parts.Somethingthat is unintentionally laughable was that PAUL is called apseudo-intellectual and a pedantic,when most of Allen's maincharacters(not just in this movie)are intellectuals and pretentious butin a harmless way.It opens with shots of Paris.But it turns out to be a 2 or 3 minutemontage that ends up giving us the best of the city,leaving the rest ofthe movie with not much to show.I'm not saying there aren't good shotsduring the rest of the movie,but not enough for those who watch thismovie to see Paris.And believe it or not,there are a lot of peoplewhose main concern is watching a tour video rather than amovie.Oh,great!Now I'm pedantic.Grades:C in the U.S. and 5,0 in Chile.

nerdalen 2012-05-25 00:14:27

Woody Allen on top form

Woody Allen just gets better. He really seems to have come into his ownas a director during his European odyssey. A year ago we were allthrilled by Vicky Christina Barcelona which also got Penelope Cruz adeserved Oscar nod. He is certainly a better director than he is anactor. As an actor he brings a little too much of his hyper self-examination which can become tedious. Midnight in Paris is sweet and lively. It is full of pretentiouscharacters but is an unpretentious film. The message is simple anddelivered with consistent light humour.   Owen Wilson fits inperfectly, just as he does in Wes Anderson material.  Marion Cotillardis suitably beautiful and enigmatic. The rich Americans arepitch-perfect characters. Particularly fun is the agonising culturedintellectual who you just want to throttle, particularly when opiningon wine, Monet and Versailles. There is also a great little semi- cameoturn from Carla Bruni. Allen doesn't try to be clever about Paris. All the clichés are there -the sights, the cafés and the romance but the French characters arecast in a favourable light. You really get the sense that he likes theFrench, even if he doesn't quite understand them. The basic premise of Midnight in Paris will make some wince. The waythe starlets of the 20s are forced into the narrative is not all thatnatural and perhaps contrived. But for me it works and it is anecessary part of the concept. It does rely on the viewer knowing thesecharacters from the 20s and 'getting' the joke about who they areportrayed.I think Woody Allen is one of the great auteurs. He doesn't creategrand masterpieces but he does have an absolutely unique and consistentvoice. The world would be a poorer place without him. for me the onlyother directors who are so instantly recognisable for their style areAlmodóvar, Bergman and Spike Lee. Thirty seconds into a blind viewingand you can name the director. Roll-on more of the "Woody Allen doesEurope" era!

kerim hann 2012-05-23 00:49:05

Can't imagine this movie got so many good reviews

After reading reviews here, I have decided to watch this movie inBarcelona. Although I really did not like the way trailer has been puttogether, still wanted to give it a shot. Headed to a local cinemashowing it in original language. As the trailer was telling me like"don't go don't waste your time and money", it was beyond belief thatsome people will rate this movie highly just because its an another"master" !? piece from Woody Allen.First of all movie is not a romantic comedy, its not a science fiction,its not a drama, its not a romantic drama nor its a comedy. Its a verycreative idea of time traveling put in a very boring interrelatedpatterns.Acting is horrible as well. It could have been a great Hollywood comedyif directed better with better comedy lines. There was a single linewhich I laughed about Valium. That was something which they could haveused throughout the movie.If you are not into literature and art, do not waste your time.

IElbert 2012-05-22 20:12:25

Woody Allen, you can do much, much better

Shallow and cliché'd this movie made me pine for a 'Kung Fu Panda 2'showing next door for a more meaningful experience.Mr. Allen, please find your own Gertrude Stein who'd read your scriptsand tell you the truth. Meanwhile, take it from this disappointedmoviegoer that one simple idea is not enough to fill 90 minutes even ifrepeated three times.Contrary to the movie's claim, there was a better epoch where yourfilms did have depth, humor, and acting. "Midnight", with all therecognition it received, sets the bar so low that aspiring directorsfeel like nouveau Buñuels with their 'Hangover 2'.As Ernest Hemingway said (although not in this movie): "The mostessential gift for a good writer is a built-in shock-proof$#%*-detector."Please get one.

Stewball 2012-05-17 13:18:53

Any synopsis is a spoiler

Up front I gotta say I'm not a fan of either Woody Allen or OwenWilson, but after all this time, he finally found something to say, andWilson does a good job as Allen's proxy, using his mannerisms withoutbeing as obnoxious about them.It's hard to imagine anyone but a hard core action anarchist not likingthis movie. I won't talk about the story. I went in cold (I'd evenforgotten Allen had directed it), and it's the best way to view itIMNTBHO.Suffice it to say that it's a love story set in Paris which involvesParis, and it's not for nothing that he filmed "Manhattan[" in B&Wwhile this is in color. The cinematography, comedic lines, dialog andthe message were exhilarating as was the casting for every role. Myonly nit, a biggie for me, was the music; it was absolutely appropriatebut I'm not a Cole Porter fan who was the featured.Some will probably accuse the subject matter of being a little trite,but what overall plot hasn't been done before. There are people whodon't realize that the secret's in the sauce, that only it can elevatethe best steak from just juicy and tender to a masterpiece.I even love the poster, even though they didn't show "Starry Night" inthe film or go inside the Louvre (that I noticed--I mean, as long asthey did all the other stuff...?). It would have been nice to featureMarion Cotillard in it instead of Wilson but what the hell you gonnado--the plot hinges on him.Magnificent (only half a step short of a masterpiece) 9.5/10

Galina 2012-05-17 00:56:56

Midnight Magical Movable Feast

It had to happen sooner or later, and finally it did. Woody Allen andParis "fell" in love with each other, and, as the result, we, theviewers, received a precious gift from the master of subtle,intelligent and charming dra-medies, gentle and charming "movablefeast," the new movie "Midnight in Paris ".I have been a fan of Woody Allen for long time and seen all his movies,those that he made, and those in which he starred or only wrote thescreenplay for. I look forward to each of his films and I am ready tolove them before I even see them. I knew I would like Midnight inParis, but I had no idea how good it was. From the first frame,following the Darius Khondji's camera on such familiar but uniquelybeautiful streets, alleys, boulevards and quays of the City of Light,it was hard not to fall in love with Paris and with the film of Allen,his love letter to the most famous city in the world, capital of loveand Mecca for writers, artists, musicians and artists to whom Parisgave inspiration during all times and epochs - Belle Époque 1890s, theGolden days of the 1920s, and today, right now...Midnight in Paris is a delightful, kind (yes, this is Woody Allen),light, and charming film, which can be described as A Paris MidnightMagical Movable Feast. Paris in the film is beautiful during day light,night time, bright sun, and rainy hours. Oscar nominee, the mastercinematographer of many remarkable films, including Panic Room, Se7enand Evita, Darius Khondji worked with Allen on three films: AnythingElse (2003), Midnight in Paris (2011), and the next film, the Romanproject Bop Decameron (2012).Soundtrack consists of Allen's favorite songs from the 1920s-30s bysuch songwriters as Cole Porter, Glen Miller, and Enoch Light, and fromthe repertoire of Josephine Baker and Juliet Greco. For the originalfilm theme, Allen picked the guitar composition of the French jazzguitarist Stephane Wrembel "Bistro Fada". Wrembel's influence andsource of inspiration has been the music of the famous French Gypsyguitarist Django Reinhardt, whose longtime fan and admirer is WoodyAllen himself. According Wrembel, Allen was searching for a typicalFrench-Parisian melody, reflecting the spirit and atmosphere of Paris.I can confirm that the film theme and the songs that Allen picked upfor Midnight in Paris are important, integral component of the film'scharm and add to the romantic and joyous feeling that the film bringsto the viewers.As always, in Woody Allen's movies, the actors give uniformly goodperformances. Owen Wilson is very convincing and likable as Gil,Hollywood's successful screenplay writer who works on a first novel, aprotagonist, a much younger, attractive, and funny Woody Allenstand-in. Adrien Brody played the best role since The Pianist (verysmall cameo, but memorable and hilarious). Kathy Bates was verybelievable as a famous literary critic and friend to the strugglingtalented writers and artists. Alison Pill was impressive as the bright,outgoing but showing the signs of instability wife of the celebratedAmerican writer. I hardly recognized Corey Stoll but liked him a lot asanother famous American writer. Watching Marion Cotillard, I had noproblems believing that the character she played, Adriana, could havebeen the muse and the girlfriend of not just one but three amazinglyand uniquely talented world renowned painters. Rachel McAdams (Inez,Gil's not so romantic fiancée), Kurt Fuller and Mimi Kennedy (Inez'sparents on the business trip in Paris who don't seem to approve theirdaughter's choice), and Michael Sheen (Paul, Inez's pedantic andarrogant former boyfriend from college) were quite good as not verylikable Americans. The First Lady of France, Carla Bruni appeared in asmall role of a museum guide.The story itself was so lovely in using the time travel as the plotdevice and brought so many funny and sharp one-liners, dialogs andscenes as well as the plenty moments of recognizing the belovedliterature and art figures of the past, that I sat and smiled happilyduring the whole film. Like I mentioned in the beginning, I expected tolove the film even before I saw it and knew from the very first scenethat I was in for something very special but my husband, who is muchmore reserved in his ratings and not often calls a film a masterpiece,used the word for Midnight in Paris and asked whether the film has wonsome prestigious prizes. Well, the awards season is several monthsaway, but for me, and I am sure for all Woody Allen's fans, Midnight inParis is a great prize from the writer/director.

aharmas 2012-05-15 02:24:25

Allen's Dreams are Magical

There's something about the midnight hour, something special, mystical,and magical. In the case of this marvelous movie, its impact is fullyrealized, as we see our protagonist suddenly realize that he has theopportunity to face that which he truly admires, treasures, and dreamsabout. In the opening scenes, he expresses his desire to settle in thecity of lights, and we know it's not going to be an easy thing to do.His girlfriend and he are quite different in their appreciation of whatbeing in Paris means. She understands it's special, maybe from anaristocrat's point of view. He might be looking at it, as the dreamplace for an artist to find aspiration to fulfill his artistic goals.One night, he wanders into the streets of Paris and finds himself lost,only to find himself rescue by a party of night socialites who turn outto be quite famous in some literary circles. Soon, thescreenwriter/aspiring writer has an opportunity to see himself livingone of his dreams as well as slowly come to some surprising epiphaniesas he discovers more and more who his new acquaintances might truly be,and most important what their dreams really are.The film is set in several time periods, and Paris glows intensely andseductively in everyone of those. From its overcast skies andreflective streets, showing lovely architectural details and itsmagnificent landmarks to the superb and lovely recreations of oldertime periods, one can't help being seduced, charmed, and inspired tofind a way to show what a special place, and consequently what a trulymagical film this might be.Performances are outstanding all around, with Cotillard once againstealing every second she is on the screen. Through her eyes andcarefully delivered lines, we understand what attracts us to thisspecial time and place. She is a gorgeous and very talented performer,one who might be truly aware of her standing, yet she doesn't dwell onit. She attracts many types, but her philosophy is unique, move on,enjoy, live the moment. In a way, she is like the city that hasinspired Allen, and many others before him. Paris as a place might notbe aware of its magnetism, its beauty, and its power. Cotillard's museis the perfect human equivalent, a dazzling and potent woman, who movesfrom man to man, place to place, time to time, and who surprises uswith her own wishes near the end of the story.Wilson inhabits the Allen persona, and he does a very good job, notcreating a tired imitation, an annoying cliché that could have ruinedthe perfect balance of sight, sounds, and insightful dialog, keepingthis masterpiece way ahead of the best Allen has offered before. Forthose of us who gasped during the fantasy sequences of "The Purple Roseof Cairo", the marvelous recreations of the stage in "Bullets OverBroadway", the dissection of relationships in many of his best films,get ready to see it all finally come together, as he picks from thebest, and adds his personal touch, with many a funny and cleverobservation, uttered by Wilson with a honest and complete sense ofwonder. Unlike many of his leading men, Wilson displays an innocencewhich allows him and us to see his adventures in a fresh light."Midnight in Paris" is a beautiful display of what movie magic cantruly create, a sense of wonder long gone from contemporary cinema;This is a movie that entertains, teaches, and wears each one of itselements, like Paris bewitches us with every light, every facade, andevery heartbeat of its music.

keith-loeffler1 2012-05-14 14:02:51

A cultural romantic reconciles his intense nostalgia for the 1920's modernist French scene through magical rendezvous with its key figures

I really enjoyed this film for a number of reasons, though it iscertainly a "love it or hate it" story. Myself being quite interestedin the modern era and all of the creativity that it inspired, I wasimmediately drawn to the interpretations of iconic figures likeGertrude Stein and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Seeing these icons ina mystified version of their everyday escapades had a particularlyinteresting effect; of course the plot was carried along as Gil becamemore and more enthused with his surroundings and longing for a change(which he of course later renounces for a huge character arc) as wellas provide literature dorks with a chance to see their heroes as actualpeople doing actual things. Hemmingway was hilarious; his dry humor,fighting spirit, and obstinate take on the nature of good prose (braveand true!) was done very well. Gil's journey is filled with humor andgood mirth and his eventual realization that nostalgia is more of aflaw in logic than a life purpose is illuminating. All of us employ the"Golden Age" principal in our daily lives but its an actual challengeto move on and make our next days better than days past. He is aperfect representative of the proverbial "green grass" idea and Wilsonwonderfully portrays a man who is passionately preoccupied with his ownconvictions who ultimately makes an extremely wise choice. Greatperformances, beautiful cinematography, and wonderful story. Thanks forgiving me another classic Mr. Allen.

Christian_Dimartino 2012-05-12 21:56:41

One of the year's best.

Woody Allen hasn't been having a good time when it comes to criticslately. It seems like whenever he does a movie that takes place in adifferent city, it does better. Lets see, he did Match Point inEngland, which did good. Then his next two films took place in England,and didn't do well(I still liked them). Then he did Vicky CristinaBarcelona, in Barcelona, and that did well. Then his next two filmstook place in New York and England, and didn't do well either.His latest film, Midnight in Paris, did do well. It's getting a lot ofOscar buzz, and I couldn't wait to see it. Well now I have, and I willtell you it's his best film since Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I reallyenjoyed his last movie, You will meet a tall dark stranger, and not somuch for the film before that, Whatever works. Midnight in Paris is awonderful and real film, even if it's premise is magically based.The film revolves around Gil and Inez(Owen Wilson and Rachel Macadams),a couple traveling with family in Paris. Gil, an aspiring writer,lovesthe city. While his fiancé couldn't care less. She is more fascinatedwith the things that Paul(Martin Sheen), a know it all moron, saysabout Paris. But at midnight, Gil discovers a time portal to the1920's, where he meets famous dead artists like Ernest Hemingway, ColePorter, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and gets involved in theirlives.Gil also meets Adrianna(Marion Cotillard), who has had an affair withPicasso and now Hemingway, and is possibly falling for Gil. Meanwhile,back in 2011, everyone is starting to get a little suspicious of justwhat Gil is doing every night.Midnight in Paris is sweet and increasingly entertaining by the second.The performances, especially by, though I don't know his actual name,the guy who plays Hemmingway, is marvelous. Every moment with him andAlison Pill is very entertaining.It's one of those movies that you won't be able to stop thinking aboutfor a while. I know because I am one of them. I haven't been able tostop thinking about it since I watched it. I'm so glad I bought itbecause I can't wait to watch it again.It's the year's best romanticcomedy. It's a rare one where you actually fall in love with the movie.This is been a great year for romantic comedy. We' ve had this one,Crazy stupid love and Friends with benefits, all very enjoyable films.But I feel that this one comes out on top. It's one of the year's best.A

guy-nicholas 2012-05-12 06:41:07

A Woody Allen masterpiece! A refreshing and endearing story.

As embarrassed as I am to say this, this is the first Woody Allen movieI have ever viewed. I have heard numerous amounts of good things abouthis work and his directing, and his originality. I never really had aninterest in seeing this movie when it came to theaters, despite all ofthe positive comments about the movie, but when it was nominated forBest Picture I immediately added it to my Netflix list. I wasn't surewhat to expect, but, I knew it was Woody Allen so I was pretty excitedto view this movie, even though I had no idea what the movie was about.Boy, I was pleasantly surprised.First of all, the movie is about Gil (Owen Wilson) and Inez (RachelMcAdams) on a trip to Paris before their wedding. Despite Inez's rudecomments that made me just wanna scream at her, Gil tries to be thebest he can be to her, and that's frustrating. So one night, he goeswandering through the streets of Paris, and ends up getting lost. He'ssitting on a flight of stairs, in the middle of nowhere, and when theclock strikes midnight, a car comes and takes him on a little adventurethat sparks the plot of the whole movie. Along with Wilson and McAdams,there are some special appearances from Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, etc.etc. This makes the movie even more enjoyable.The big reason why I love this movie is the originality to it. That'salways a huge bonus to me when I watch a movie, is it original? I don'twant some love story that's been done twenty times to a point that it'sjust a cliché in Hollywood. This movie is definitely original, andright from the get-go I was very satisfied in the movie before I waseven thirty minutes in. A lot of the movies nowadays, and I'm sureyou've heard people say this over and over, lack originality. There area lot of retreads, sequels, and remakes. This movie, in no way, shape,or form, represents another movie of any kind. And I loved that fact,it just made me enjoy this film ten times more. All in all, I thinkthis movie well-deserves the Best Original Screenplay Oscar.Woody Allen has crafted a beautiful movie packed with amazing scenesplayed off very well by the actors. The writing and directing is justcompletely amazing. The whole movie is amazing, right from thebeginning, with the montage of Paris, to the very surprising, but notunsatisfying, ending. I highly recommend this movie to anybody heenjoys a good time in front of your TV, and who appreciates a goodmovie when they see one.9/10

buzzbruin 2012-05-11 22:09:25

Warm wonderful a classic

After seeing 2 crappy movies Meeks crossing and some Italian so-calledthriller (both of which I wanted to walk out on) It was a thrill to seea Woody Allen classic. Owen Wilson was just great, and who would havethought that. The cast was uniformly superb and the issues of life wereso very compelling. The theory of the movie was that we are all unhappywith being in the present and wish we could return to a "perfect" era.Thus does Wilson LOVE Paris and Paris at Midnight which leads to somewonderful escapades,This is a master at work, and in the full prime ofhis talent. This will be a classic. Both my wife and I would like tosee it again, which we never do.

JoeKarlosi 2012-05-11 10:27:53

Midnight in Paris (2011) ***

Another small and charming romantic comedy from the always-reliableWoody Allen that's becoming harder to find in a sea of overblown,overlong, special effects bonanzas. It's a story of a young modern-dayAmerican writer named Gil (Owen Wilson), spending time in France withhis fiancé (Rachel McAdams) and her parents, who is disenchanted withlife in the 21st Century and longs for the better things of the past.His girl and prospective in-laws don't understand and are downrightdismissive of him. One night Gil gets the unexpected thrill of his lifewhen he boards a magical cab which time warps him back into theglorious 1920's where he becomes elated at meeting many of his idolsall conveniently in the same place at the same time (Cole Porter, PabloPicasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dali, GertrudeStein).Owen Wilson is pretty good at playing what basically comes down toWoody Allen himself (I could easily see Allen in the part, but he'salmost 80 these days so he has young actors doing his nebbish schtickfor him). This is a cute enough movie that's worth seeing at least onetime. Woody has tapped into similar romantic territory before, so it'snot really very new for his regular fans. I can't say I agree with hisunoriginal moral of the tale though: that in the long run, "the goodold days" are supposedly a fantasy, and we will ultimately find outthat the past was no great shakes either. (I'd beg to differ there,Woody.)Rating: GOOD (*** out of ****)

netflix11 2012-05-03 06:42:19

Makes you want to visit Paris

This movie will take you out of your neighborhood, town, city, andplace you squarely in Paris for an hour and a half. Cheap and easy wayto see the world right? During most of the movie, I was reallyskeptical because the plot seemed so unrealistic and felt almost as ifI was tricked into watching it. After all, the trailer gave acompletely different picture about what the movie would be about. Butby the end, this movie made me reminiscence about my own visit to Parisand to study French again! To truly enjoy it, remember to let go ofreality and you will have a wonderful experience.Story (3.0/3.0): This is not the typical chick flick as the trailer maysuggest, and you will be frustrated if that is what you are expecting.But take a step back and just enjoy the movie. The plot structure isvery unique. There is also great character development for the maincharacter, who realizes an important insight that may be useful in allof our lives. You will learn a bit about the culture, literary, andarts of the 1920's and see much of "touristy Paris" as well.Acting (2.4/3.0): Owen Wilson does a great job playing an awkward andoften confused guy. Adrian Brody has a minor role but does a great jobplaying a caricature that will crack you up. Rachel McAdams wasprobably thrown in just for the sex appeal toward guys. But the bestacting job was done by Marion Coutillard. For those of us who've onlyseen her in Inception, her acting here is 10x better and capturesperfectly her seductiveness and dream-like quality.Cinematography (2.0/2.0): The movie is BEAUTIFULLY made. The color huesadd a vintage artistic feel to it. The modern day Paris is veryrealistic and just as how I had remembered it.Music (0.8/1.0): Typical French music as expected but it fitsperfectly.Rewatchability (1.0/1.0): You will leave with theories about what theending means and will want to rewatch it with this new perspective!Overall score: 9.1/10.0

MYeah_Gorlomi 2012-05-02 19:10:06

A sweetly sentimental movie with an excellent cast and script.

Woody Allen's script is an impressive one. One that he clearly took histime with. Midnight in Paris features an impressive cast of characters,an array of interesting sub plots, and a very sweet sense of nostalgia.The sequences of the roaring 20's after midnight are magical stuff setup with care by Allen. They balance sentimentality, comedy, romance,and drama on perfect keel. The movie places us under an irresistiblespell, and the whole thing just flies by, never getting boring.The way that Allen also writes his characters is wonderful stuff, andhis incredible ensemble cast (Including Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams,Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Corey Stoll, Michael Sheen, andespecially Alison Pill... the list goes on) bring out the most of theircharacters with total conviction. In particular, Adrien Brody has ahilarious cameo as a rhinoceros obsessed Salvador Dali.The backdrop of Paris only heightens the movie's charm. Allen beginsthe film with a lovely, but somewhat draggy, four minute montage of thecity, but I can't deny that it's a nice way to establish ambiance.Allen chooses fascinating aesthetic styles to further enhance themovie's nostalgic effect. The element that truly brings this out isDarius Khondji's cinematography, which Allen wanted to have a very widerange of warm colors to give a very flattering light. The colorspectrum is gorgeous, no less than such a city as Paris deserves.***1/2 out of ****

BrianLlywd 2012-05-01 19:54:22

Really, really liked it.

I gotta admit that I am compelled to rate this picture very positively.My wife had seen it and really liked it (I hadn't). Then we ran into Woody Allen in NYC (I profess pompously) and I toldhim it was brilliant and he thanked me, so I have to stand behindthis... It's brilliant. Owen Wilson (Gil) fills in admirably for Woodyin the role of the slightly befuddled nebbish who falls in love at thedrop of a coquettish smile by an ephemeral waif of a girl. The story is exceptionally likable and so are the players. What I likedbest were the characterisations of the historical figures. Kathy Bateswas a perfect Stein, Brody was as good a Dali as one could be, CoreyStoll a robust Hemingway, etc.But, a couple of little things did bother me.One was that Adriana's written memoir of their making love, read by Gilin the present, didn't actually occur. Also, what happened to his book?If Stein and Hemingway both liked it, why wasn't it published? Another is that it wrapped up too quickly with Gil leaving his fiancéeand hooking up with another girl in a wink of an eye and not trying torevisit the past again. I would.Other than that, it is brilliant. I was prescient, I guess.

george_t93 2012-05-01 08:29:05

An instant classic!

Being a Woody Allen fan doesn't make me the most objective ofreviewers, but after seeing this I have to admit it: Woody Allen hasdone it again! Contrary to his most recent films (and mind you Ithought Vicky Christina Barcelona was really mediocre) Midnight inParis leaves you with the most pleasant flavour of bittersweetnostalgia that makes your heart beat at a faster pace. With anincredible plot vehicle, remarkable acting and a marvellous scenery,the film is bound to entertain, with the real sense of the word. Thehumour is a bit difficult to catch for anyone who skipped his Art andModern History classes, yet it manages to provoke laughter even if youdon't take all the jokes. Owen Wilson is great as the "Woody"character, Marion Cotillard is extraordinary as always, and the rest ofthe cast ensemble is also in great shape. I loved Adrian Brody's scene,while I also enjoyed very much Kathy Bates, who is an incrediblecharacter actor. The idea behind the film is very clever, reminiscentof the Purple Rose of Cairo but taking it to a whole new level, andalso quite thought-provocative. All in all a great film certainly notone to miss!

gerriweth 2012-04-26 02:57:13

Magical love story with Woodly Allen written all over it!

I just loved this movie. The premise was truly interesting and kept mewanting to see more and more. The characters were likable except forthe fiancé and parents, but were selected appropriately for the roles.You must enjoy the wordiness of Mr. Allen and the tongue-in-cheekcomedy. Pure magic from beginning to end. What a pleasure to see a goodmovie. You are taken by surprise and taken back in time to a happy andgiddy time when people laughed and danced. I have been a Woody Allenfan for a long time and especially liked Vicki Christina Barcelona, soI knew I would like this as well. This man has a fanciful mind andseems never to be at a loss for words. If you like Woody Allen, youmust see this movie.

rightwingisevil 2012-04-25 15:49:19

Not bad, but still an arm's length from great(ness)

There are so many copycatting like ingredients tossed into thescenarios and storyline, mixed up and dissolved into this Woody Allen'smovie: "Cinderella" the cartoon, "Somewhere in Time", "Time Traveler'sWife", and so many other Sci-fi and romantic movies and novels. The 12o'clock midnight charm is definitely from Cinderella, the big antiquecar is like the chariot from a pumpkin; meeting a dream woman andbecoming so obsessed is just like what the male met his fatal female in"somewhere in Time", the only thing turns out better is the guy inMidnight in Paris didn't become a tragic character in the end but ahappy one instead.I often questioned the overly exaggeration of making Paris the mostromantic city in the world. Seems everything in Paris is exquisite andsublime. This is obviously a scam manipulated by the internationaltourism and the French. A city actually is no different from othercities in any country, people live in it shitting, crapping, eating,fornicating, urinating, sneezing, coughing....as any other citydwellers doing daily. What's the big deal? Walking in the rain fallingin Paris is more romantic than falling in other cities? Maybe just alittle better than the rain that falls in China, less acid andpollution? The movie also would only resonant to those who know alittle bit of French and American literature, some basic commonknowledge of the art world, about Picasso, Dali, Manet. Without knowingthese fundamental French/American Literature For The Dummies and ArtHistory 101, I really doubt those majority video gamers would give arat arse about this movie. And I am quite sure that this movie is onlyfor the people who still read and not even the kind who really read onKindle.With all things considered and said, I have to say signing Owen Wilsonup to do this character was 50/50 good and bad at the same time. Theway he talks, the way he spit out the dialog is not quite likable, ashis mouth and lips often twisted in a weird way, and exactly soundslike what his fiancée's father said: "There's part of his brainmissing". He doesn't look convincing and believable as a writer andsometimes a bit immature, childish and lukewarm. There are manycharacters played by other actors and actresses are very convincing,but the character played by him, unfortunately, nobody but Owen Wilson,with a funny nose and mouth.

ElMaruecan82 2012-04-23 07:17:50

You don't talk about Art, you experience it!

Woody Allen, who directed "Manhattan" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"depict towns with such a unique talent they would always transcendtheir setting status and feel as real and lively as characters. Andconsidering his enduring love for Paris, the most beautiful andartistically influential town in the world, I guess cinema was beggingfor an Allen film set in Paris, and 2011 was the year it was finallydone. With the talent I mentioned about characterizing towns, there was nodoubt the movie would immediately make us fall in love with Paris, sothe challenge was elsewhere, the movie had to maintain all the charmand wit used from Allen's incredible streak of Oscar-nominated scripts."Midnight in Paris" needed to surprise, to bring out some unexpectedelements, and on that level, I'm glad the marketing campaign labeledthe film simply as a 'romantic comedy' failing to reveal what it wasabout in such a misleading way I'm sure it was deliberate, because Iwas not only surprised, but gladly too.The movie starts with a predictable tribute to Paris, a series ofpostcards showing the most notorious places of the capital,Champs-Elysees, Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame, the Triumph Arc, Paris on asunny day, Paris under the rain, Paris by night 'naturellement', andthe opening to conclude with the most defining monument of Paris, theEiffel Tower. It was a nice introduction, conducted by a jazzy music,Woody Allen knows how to marry the right music with the right place ashe did with George Gershwin's rhapsodies in his "Manhattan", as if alove story should combine musical and geographical elements in lovebetween each other. "Midnight in Paris" started like I would haveexpected, and I sincerely hoped it would be less touristic or less'Paris for Dummies'.Maybe I'm biased because I spent 8 years of my youth in Paris, andnever felt like a tourist in there. I've always loved the charm of theunknown little streets, the pleasure to get lost and walk to discoversome unexpected little treasures, avoiding buses, subways and trafficjams and simply walking at night on a bridge or a pedestrian street. Iknow Paris, and I know it's a town we love even more when we don't'play the tourist'. Sure there are great places to visit, and I can'trecommend enough to visit the Louvre or Montmartre, but don't ever takeParis for granted just because you saw the most iconic monuments.There's more to discover in Paris, and more to discover in you throughParis' eyes. So, I'm biased but not that I challenged Woody to surpriseme about Paris but showing me something better than a human version of"The AristoCats".So … "Midnight in Paris" starts with a conflict, Gil (Owen Wilson) is ascreenwriter and wannabe writer who tells Inez his fiancée (RachelMcAdams), how in love he is with Paris, and she admits failing to seethe appeal of the town, especially the overrated fascination for rainyParis. She's a no-nonsense woman, who loves dances and nightclubs; he'snostalgic of the inter-war period Paris. Well, when a romantic comedystarts with a couple you wonder how they ever decided to marry. Butfrom a director who made more than 40 films, it's less to create somestereotypical situations than a feeling of discomfort through thecharacter of Gil, so blinded by his fascination that his personalitycan't emerge.The movie echoes the beginning of one of his Woody Allen's mostendearing classics "The Purple Rose of Cairo" featuring Mia Farrow asCecilia, a timid character who could only express herself through herlove for movies until her life changed when a movie character came offthe screen and discovered with her the real world. In "Midnight inParis", Gil also makes an extraordinary discovery, every night atmidnight, a mysterious car embarks him to a fantastic ride in the 20'sParis, when it was an intellectual laboratory of creativity andrevolutionary concepts that enriched the fields of culture, arts,science and entertainment, welcoming such influential artists asSalvador Dali, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, ColePorter, Pablo Picasso, when Art was something to experience, to live,not to be just pompously'described'.In this journey, we discover the nostalgic side of Paris when it wassynonym of jazz, surrealism, cubism, artistic revolution, fashion, fun,France, the World! Gil discusses literature, art, women, life with ascene-stealing Hemingway (Corey Stole), he explains his condition tothe non-impressed surrealist Dali (Adrian Brody) and has the privilegeto have his manuscript read by Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates). The moviedoesn't avoid the love triangle, since he falls in love with Picassoand Modigiliani's mistress, the beautiful Adriana (Marion Cotillard).Adriana is interesting and intriguing as she also feels nostalgictoward Paris from the past, the Belle Epoque, the Paris of Gauguin,Moulin Rouge and Toulouse Lautrec. And Allen, with his unique talent,would surprise in one extraordinary twist showing that Paris wouldnever lose its nostalgic appeal.There were countless possibilities, the film could have explored theexistential Paris, and featured Sartre, Boris Vian, Edith Piaf and NatKing Cole. Paris' charm is eternal although something might have beenlost by the devastating effect of modernity, when an old and fashioncafé in the 20's becomes a lavatory in the 2010's. The 2010's aspect ofthe film isn't the highlight of the film anyway with its gallery ofcharacters written more as plot devices: the irritating fiancée, theParisian soul mate, making the 20's artist looking more authentic and Icared less about French-audience-pleasing Carla Bruni or Gad El Maleh'scameos. Paris stole the show!The charm of the film relied on the depiction of the magical charm ofParis and as an artist myself, this vision reconciled me with the townand made me wonder if I would go living there again. Pourquoi pas?

Howard Schumann 2012-04-22 09:22:33

Insufferably shallow characters

In an interview with L.A. Weekly, Woody Allen said, "The humanpredicament is so tragic and so awful that, short of an act of magic,we're doomed." Given his questionable view of the human condition, onewonders what the word "magic" means to him. There is little indicationof it in his latest film, Midnight in Paris, a love letter to animagined Paris in the 1920s. Set to the music of Sidney Bechet, thefilm opens with a 3 1/2 minute montage of Paris by cinematographerDarius Khondji's that is little more than a travelogue showing theusual tourist sights rather than the true Paris beyond the Eiffel Towerand the five-star hotels that Mr. Allen seems so enamored with - streetvendors, bookshops, cheese, bread, wine, and pastry shops, outdoorcafés on the Left Bank, and quaint streets loaded with charm - theParis of the Parisians.As the film begins, we hear disembodied voices chattering away over thecredits. It takes a few minutes to find out that we are listening to anengaged couple, Gil (Owen Wilson), a hack screen writer turned novelistand his shrill fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) talking about plans fortheir wedding. They are visiting Paris at the behest of their wealthyparents, businessman John (Kurt Fuller), who Allen lets us know rightaway is a right-wing Tea Partier, and his charmless wife, Helen (MimiKennedy), whose interests seem to lie in spending thousands of dollarsfor antique furniture. Almost immediately we can sense that the engagedcouple may not be right for each other.Inez is always on schedule, making plans and demanding that Gil goalong with her every whim. Gil, on the other hand, (at first anyway) isadjustable, willing to go along to get along, not a good beginning fora marriage. As if we did not have enough of insufferably shallowcharacters, however, (Allen's desultory persona is there in spirit),the director throws in old friends of Inez, Carol (Nina Arianda) andPaul (Michael Sheen), her pedant of a husband, who Inez used to have arelationship with. It is not a mystery why, after a few failed attemptsat socialization and sightseeing, Gil insists on being alone to takewalks at night to get his so-called creative juices flowing.The conceit of the film is that Gil, while out walking at midnight, ispicked up by an antique cab and enters a time warp, traveling back toParis as it was in the Twenties, presumably an invigorating andexciting time to be alive when ex-patriot Americans and Europeansinteracted with innovative artists, writers, and musicians in aBohemian atmosphere. With an "Oh gee, Oh gosh, Oh golly" expression onhis face, Gil meets and hangs out with F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald(Tom Hiddleston and Alison Pill), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), ColePorter (Yves Heck), Pablo Picasso (Marial Di Fonzo Bo), Gertrude Stein(Kathy Bates), Salvador Dali (Adrien Brody) Luis Bunuel (Adrien deVan), all shown together like the director was testing the audience to"Name that Tune". Naturally, they are all so fascinated with the exoticGil.What could have been a wondrous and entrancing experience becomes astupefying cliché in Allen's hands. The 1920 artists are mostlyone-dimensional caricatures delivering "clever" dialogue withoutspontaneity or wit, except for Stoll's lively discussion with Gil, ascene that begins to show promise for the film's direction but is soondropped. With some exception, most of the characters resemble thecardboard cutouts from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Hemingway,the macho man, talks about his war exploits and challenges Gil to aboxing match, Dali pounds his chest shouting "I am Dali! Dali!, Picassofeuds with his lovers and so forth on into the night. Meanwhile, Gilbecomes smitten with Picasso's lover, the entrancing Adrianna (MarianCotillard) and makes his return every night at midnight in the samevintage car.Gertrude Stein agrees to read and comment on Gil's novel about anostalgia shop. What else would she do with her time? The film givesthe impression that life in that era was one big party with importantartists never doing any work, never feeling lonely and depressed, andnever seeking the quiet places, suitable for reflection and seriousthinking. Of course, Adrianna isn't satisfied with the gloriousTwenties and travels with Gil further back in time to the "BelleÉpoque" of the 90s. If all of this sounds superficial and dull ratherthan full of mystery and fun, it's because it is. Allen has nothingmeaningful to say about the human condition, witness his philosophyfrom Match Point that posits that life is all about luck and littleelse.His facile message here is that we should appreciate our presentcircumstances rather than long for something unattainable, (especiallyif we live in the lap of luxury as do most of Allen's characters). Thisis a worthy if banal message but it is lost on Gil whose actions onreturning to present time negate whatever value the message might haveoffered. Traveling to a distant time should have a calming effect suchas in Rod Serling's Twilight Zone episode from Season 1 called "A Stopat Willoughby" where a train stops in 1888, allowing a harriedbusinessman to experience an illuminated world filled with simplicityand serenity, qualities nowhere to be found in Midnight in Paris, afilm about as magical as shopping at Walmart.