You'll want to spend much longer than midnight here.
Released: 2011
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
What is it about the past that draws us back into the art, music, and literature of days gone by, causing us to devalue the present? Were those events of yesteryear really grander, bolder, and more beautiful than today's societies, or have the history books morphed them into more elaborate moments of appealing majesty? These are the questions that Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" asks and consequently allows us to answer, albeit with a little biased help. Beyond questioning the dangers of melancholy, reminiscent obsession, the beauty of this film is that it ironically and intentionally does pay homage to literature's great writers through its whimsically nostalgic style and sensibilities. The characters are placed into one of two wonderful camps: comically-oblivious and close-minded, or enthusiastically-buoyant with sentimental awe; Owen Wilson in particular does a great job of embodying the amiable protagonist of this whimsical adventure of self-discovery, tackling his role with all the earnest gusto of a naive schoolboy. The cinematography is brilliant and Paris in both the daytime and the moonlight is as alluring and enchanting as the premise of this movie. Most importantly, it never takes itself too seriously, riding a wave of droll charm all the way from its onset to its finale. There are moments where "Midnight in Paris" drags its feet a little, aimlessly meandering through its plethora of romantic ideals, but in the end we're given a beautifully-crafted film that's just as smart as it is sincere.
Rating (out of 5): 4
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