Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen's latest (and possibly greatest) foray into fantasy, is a delightful mix of humor and surrealism. It has elements of a classic Woody Allen picture, namely a neurotic protagonist, but it does not try to be more than what it is; a light, simple story that only require's its audience to suspend their version of reality for 90 minutes or so. What makes this film special, or rather, worthy of four Oscar nominations? That, too, is simple because only Woody Allen can expertly craft a tale of unexplainable time travel that is charming, romantic and ultimately a joy to watch.
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| Adriana (Marion Cotillard) and Gil (Owen Wilson) |
The key to Midnight in Paris is really not to expect a deep, life changing experience - it really is what it is. Owen Wilson's character Gil is an easily distracted yet somehow very successful Hollywood screenwriter that has a bad case of writer's block as he tries to write an actual novel. On a trip to Paris with his uptight fiance Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her obnoxious parents, he finds solace with the likes of Cole Porter, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Guided by a jaded muse (played perfectly by Marion Cotillard), he revels in the nostalgia of it all and tries to immerse himself into their world where art equals life. In contrast, the characters in the "real" world are dismissive of his work, coming off as very two-dimensional. I understood this to be a choice made by Allen to question our own definition of reality. It is in this seemingly simplistic journey, with a fascinating ensemble of quick-witted, well known characters, that Allen's intricate direction and writing are showcased. While I don't think Midnight in Paris will win Best Picture, the Academy would have to be mental to not award Allen Best Original Screenplay. He made something so difficult and complex seem simple and that is the work of a true artist.
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