Mini-review: Midnight in Paris (Allen, 2011)
June 26th 2011 14:50
Midnight in Paris (Allen, 2011)
The beginning of Midnight in Paris evokes both signature Woody Allen motifs and the opening montage of Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. The film opens to a succession of shots revealing numerous locations in Paris. Allen creates a love letter right off the bat, one that is mirrored by his protagonist, Gil (Owen Wilson), an old soul tired of his unfulfilling job as a Hollywood script doctor and dreams of living and writing his novel in the romanticism that is Paris.
Gil’s fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) has very different notions. At first, her chiding of his idealist and perhaps grandiose notions seems perfectly within reason but it’s soon revealed she portrays this stance no matter what the topic of conversation may be. The pair are so clearly wrong for one another it’s a wonder they got this far. Gil is a passive individual by nature but Paris seems to bring out his desirous side.
Allen weaves his narrative together from the opening scene yet the places in which he takes you are a surprising and serene combination of magic and charm. Allen once again directs a stellar ensemble cast including Tom Hiddleson, Michael Sheen, Allison Pill, Kathy Bates, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, and Corey Stoll.
The film is a not only a love letter to Paris but to the art, music, and literature scene of the 1920’s. Allen constructs a tale of wishful romanticism and dreamy want. Who hasn’t longed to live in a different era? Who hasn’t felt they were born in the wrong time? It’s this concept that is the driving force of the film and before long we are whisked away into a dreamland of culture and reverence.
Each actor is at the top of their game; particularly Wilson, whom has a tendency to squander his comedic timing on mediocre projects. Wilson provides the perfect neurotic yet loveable mix needed for an Allen protagonist: he exudes chemistry with two different women and is greatly responsible for the charming essence of the film.
McAdams does a great job portraying a woman you start out thinking isn’t so bad but soon, ever so slowly, reveals her despicable personality to the point in which you sit flabbergasted and rather in awe at how subtle the revelations are; Allen truly is a masterful writer. Marion Cotillard and Allison Pill also give fantastic performances
Midnight in Paris compares to Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Match Point in terms of being in the company of Allen’s greatest work in the past decade. It's an utter delight to behold.
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