Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
This has been one of my favorite movies for years now but I thought a recent re-watch was the perfect excuse to review this Woody Allen film starring Owen Wilson. The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for three other Academy Awards including Best Picture.
The Analysis:
Screenwriter Gil Pender and his fiancé Inez have different priorities during their trip to Paris. Gil is in love with the city and feels inspired by its history and charm, while Inez only seems interested in shopping and socializing with her rich friends. One night while Gil is strolling through the streets, he finds himself transported to another time. Gil is surrounded by famous figures of art and literature from the Jazz Age. Paris in the 1920s is everything he imagined and more, but can he return to present day and be satisfied with the now?
The movie opens with many gorgeous scenes of Paris, setting the stage for this romantic and charming film. Central to the film and its characters are feelings of nostalgia and the idea that some people may have enjoyed life more if they were born in a different era. For Gil, he is taken with the idea of being in Paris during what he considers the golden age of art and culture.
While I think most people would enjoy this movie, those with a familiarity of icons like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Salvador Dalí would get more out of the film.
As much as I enjoy this movie, I admit that it is not without flaws. Gil’s fiancé is made to be so unlikeable that it is unclear what even brought Gil and Inez together in the first place. There is also a scene where Gil randomly discovers a diary written by a character he meets during his visit to the 1920s. The implausibility that Gil would find the journal or even know what it was makes for a slightly cringe-worthy plot device. However, I think these small flaws do not take away from the overall experience. Midnight in Paris is funny, interesting, and charming. I recommend for a date night or when you’re looking to feel cultured.
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