Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a wonderfully acted, wonderfully written film. I'm not very familiar with Woody Allen's work, but from what I have heard, this movie is extremely "Woody-esque". Owen Wilson plays a guy who feels like he is stuck in the wrong era- that he was born 90 years too late. Nostalgia and remembering the past is a wonderful thing, but is the past really as great as we imagine?

Gil (Wilson) and his fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) come to Paris with Inez's family on vacation. Gil is a Hollywood screenwriter, but longs to write a novel in the vein of his idol's: Hemmingway, Elliot, and Fitzgerald. Inez is caught up in the material lifestyle; fame, wealth, and a perfect life with Gil in Malibu. Gil is overtaken by Paris and wants to move there and live the simple life, much to the dismay of Inez. He wants to take walks in the rain and experience the beauty of Paris; she wants to eat at the fancy restaurants, go dancing, and do it all while wearing the best clothes and jewelry. To get away from it all, Gil takes a midnight walk through the streets, where he encounters something very strange. A 1920's type vehicle transports him to a place in the past where he meets his favorite artists, authors, and musicians, giving him a chance to experience the era he believes to be the "golden age". His midnight walks take him further into the culture he loves, and further away from Inez.

Nostalgia is a funny thing. I think back on simple memories from my past and they seem so great: walking home from school in 7th grade, playing in high school football games on Friday nights, traveling to play in competitive baseball tournaments, staying out at my cousin's house in the country, and so many more. All of these memories are so vivid and give me a feeling of warmth and comfort; as if only I could just relive these moments again, it would be better than anything I am experiencing today. Gil certainly feels this way in the1920's. When he gets to experience this era he feels like it is a dream come true. His writing becomes inspired, he fits in, and sacrifices his time in the present to engross himself in the past.

But is the past really better than the present? Our memories cloud our judgments. We have emotions tied to them and they play tricks on us. Was playing in high school football games an amazing experience? Absolutely. Would I want to go back and be in high school again? That answer is a definite no. It's so important to appreciate your memories but it's also important to appreciate them for what they are. I see this all the time with my friends and how they view children's cartoons. "Our cartoons were so much better! Cartoons today are terrible!" These statements might be true, but it is way more likely that these cartoons are associated with youth, and a time of simplicity, which gives off a warm and fuzzy feeling. My seven year old brother in 15 years will be saying the exact same things; that the shows that were on when HE was a kid were way better than the new ones. The point being is that Midnight in Paris does a wonderful job of addressing the theme of memories and feelings from the past.

Gil and Inez are so different, and it makes you wonder how they even got together in the first place. This seems to happen a lot in romance stories; the main character is in a relationship that seems so opposite of their personality, and are miserable until they meet a fiery new man or woman. At first I thought that this was just a movie cliche, but as I get older I realize that there are people who are in relationships where they are nothing like their partner, making you wonder what attracted them to each other in the first place. Instantly I was against Gil and Inez staying together.


The dialogue is very witty and enjoyable, especially between Gil and the people he meets in the past. One of my few complaints is that Inez's character comes off as too simple. She seems to have a one track mind of wealth and status, and as I previously stated, it's hard to believe that her and Gil ever fit together. Some hilarious scenes are with Inez's pseudo-intellectual friend Paul (Michael Sheen), a know-it-all that you'd like to give a nice punch in the face.

Midnight in Paris is a relatively clean, fun and romantic film. Paris provides beautiful scenery, and Allen accentuates it with pretty shots and a lovely musical score. Owen Wilson is fantastic as Gil, and Allen's writing really shines. His Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is well deserved, and I highly recommend seeing this film.

4/5