I had heard about Midnight in Paris a while ago when it was in theaters, and had mixed feelings about wanting to see it. Owen Wilson is not one of my favorite actors, because I feel like he plays the same character over and over again. He's completely type casted in just about everything he is in and something about his voice rubs me the wrong way. However, I love Rachel McAdams, Woody Allen, and anything to do with Paris, so I wanted to give it a try. I decided to rent Midnight in Paris on Itunes and watch it in the car while traveling over the holidays. Of course, that didn't happen so I finally got around to watching this movie a few days ago when I got home, and boy am I glad I did!
Midnight in Paris starts off with Gil (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter working on a novel that no one really believes in, traveling to Paris with his fiance, Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her family. Gil cannot stop gushing about the city of Paris and how much he would have loved to be there during the 1920's, while his fiance and her family treat him like he's some sort of pathetic dreamer. One morning while eating breakfast at a bistro, Inez runs in to two of her friends, Paul and Carol and it's clear that Gil is not too fond of them. When Paul invites Gil and Inez to explore Versailles with them the next day, Inez insists that they join them, much to Gil's dismay. While walking around Versailles with Paul and Carol, Gil is extremely annoyed by Paul while Inez is completely taken with his knowledge of fine art and culture. That night, Paul and Carol invite Inez and Gil to go dancing after a wine tasting. Gil declines to go because he would rather walk around the city of Paris and get some air, while Inez takes them up on their offer. Once Gil is out on is own and able to explore everything that Paris has to offer at night, he finds himself being picked up by a car of exuberant characters that look like they came straight out of the 1920's. The car arrives at some sort of party where Gil meets the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter. Gil leaves the party with the Fitzgeralds only to meet Ernest Hemingway at a hole in the wall bar.
Each night in Paris, Gil walks the streets and meets everyone from Salvador Dali, to Pablo Picasso and Picasso's "muse," Adriana (played by Marion Cotillard). Gil is even given the opportunity to have his manuscript read by Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates). Soon he faces a choice of falling in love in the past or planning is life in the future. This film is full of lush scenes in Paris, sprinkled with colorful characters that are supported by an amazing cast. I cannot recommend Midnight in Paris enough, especially to anyone who is a dreamer and loves different eras from the past.
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