Midnight in Paris





Directed By: Woody Allen

Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, and Michael Sheen

Once in a while, a film comes along that makes you lose all sense of reality.  You lose track of time and how long you've been in the theater.  You forget what else is going on in your life. You become fully immersed in an engaging fictional tale that takes you to another world.  That's the magic of a truly great film.  Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris has that magic.  You'll lose yourself in this fun romantic comedy as you fall in love with the beauty of Paris.

Gil (Owen Wilson) is a Hollywood screenwriter who wants to make a career change by writing a novel.  He goes with his fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) to vacation in Paris with her affluent, conservative parents (Kurt Fuller & Mimi Kennedy).  Gil instantly falls in love with the city and even talks to Inez about moving there after tying the knot.  An old soul at heart, Gil even wishes that he could have see Paris in the Roaring Twenties, the golden age.  It just so happens that Gil gets his wish one evening during a midnight stroll through the city.  On a fantastic journey through time, Gil gets all the inspiration he needs for his novel from towering figures such as F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), and Salvador Dali (Adrien Brody).

Allen's sharp-witted, imaginative romantic comedy pays homage to both the past and present in a fun way.  With Owen Wilson as the star, there are plenty of big laughs.  He brings all his charm and humor to the lovable Gil.  Combine Owen's talent with an incredible supporting cast portraying some of the most celebrated and influential writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers of the 20th century, and you have a truly creative film.

Aside from the talented actors that Allen brings together in his film, Midnight in Paris captures the true beauty of the city after which it is named.  The cinematography of the film is absolutely breathtaking.  It will make you want to go to Paris for a European vacation right after you leave the movie theater.

Midnight in Paris is undeniably the best romantic comedy of the year.  With strong writing, a stellar ensemble cast, and the innate beauty of Paris, Woody Allen crafts a fun, light-hearted theatrical finish that immerses you in the beauty of the past while not forgetting the better qualities of the present.  Woody's latest flick gets a 0.03% rating.