FILM REVIEW:MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Funny and witty, Midnight in Paris is a light hearted journey of self discovery for aspiring writer Gil Pender (Owen Wilson). However, it is also not entirely a romantic comedy as its title might suggest.

Gil, a successful Hollywood writer who is struggling with his first novel, travels with his fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams) to Paris. He is enthralled with the city and has thoughts of staying in Paris after getting married but Inez thinks otherwise. Gil sees Paris as the ideal place to find the inspiration to accomplish his artistic goals; while Inez views it merely as an important touristy location of note. It is this difference that would lead them to very different conclusions about their lives. When Gil decides to leave Inez to party with her friends and goes for a midnight stroll along the streets of Paris, he is picked up by merrymaking folks who will provide him the writing inspiration he needs.

The film begins in modern day Paris, with its beautifully designed buildings and museums that display its golden age of artistic expression; before luring us into the 1920s, where its dimly lit, moody streets evoke a rustic, cosy feeling that makes you want to stay a little longer, among the literary/artistic greats of the past, just to know them a little better.

Owen Wilson is aptly cast as protagonist Gil Pender. A veteran of the comedy genre, he exudes an unbiased and unassuming air that allows him to be the nonjudgmental eyes and ears of the audience, while not losing his own character in the process.

Performances are good, although some of the supporting cast’s roles serve merely as character foils to the protagonist; to highlight how different and possibly incompatible he is among their company. What delighted me the most were the many cameos of accomplished actors, aptly taking mentoring roles in their fictional impersonation of the many artistic talents that flocked to Paris circa 1920 .

Woody Allen writes and directs a film that is very watchable, expects nothing from its viewers other than an open mind and a need to escape reality for a brief respite. His script is snappy and witty, subtle and gentle; coaxing and luring us into the magical, alluring past of Paris. Filmed entirely on location, in Paris, Allen also engaged a number of local French actors and actresses (like former model and wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni) to evoke an authentic Parisian feel that is different from, yet similar in some ways to their American counterparts; a juxtaposition of sorts.

Midnight in Paris is no epic melodrama; nor is it entirely a romantic comedy in the traditional sense but it is definitely more than the sum of its parts. The film sublimely delivers Woody Allen’s message to artists of all mediums to seize the present and not mope about the difficulties they face, especially when they are misunderstood by those around them. However, it might offend some people with its shallow, materialistic depictions of antagonistic characters that oppose Gil’s chosen literary path. All in all, with the exception of young children, Midnight in Paris is entertaining, educational and doubly entertaining for art and literature enthusiasts.