Movie: "Midnight in Paris" (2011)

[Bob Pr.]

"Midnight in Paris" (2011) 100 min.; PG-13. Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance.
Written/directed by: Woody Allen. Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates
IMDb: 8.1/10. Midnight in Paris (2011) - IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% top critics praise it; Midnight in Paris - Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert: 3.5/4 stars: Midnight in Paris :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
Trailer: IMDb Video: Midnight in Paris

Gil (Owen Wilson) is a successful, young Hollywood screen writer but he
yearns to be a respected novelist and is writing (& rewriting) one. He's
engaged to Inez (McAdams), the daughter of wealthy California parents who
bring Inez and Gil along on their business trip to Paris. Gil is enchanted in
seeing the bistros frequented by Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, Picasso, etc.,
while Inez is more interested in shopping for items for the home they'll soon
make back in California. She'd prefer Gil just stick with his so-far successful
and lucrative career rather than aspire to greater literary worth.

One evening, after several drinks, they go separate ways for the evening--
Inez off with mutual friends, Gil walking back to their hotel. As the clock
strikes 12, a '20s Peugot taxicab careens to a stop beside Gil; it contains
Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald and they convince Gil to hop in and party with them
and their friends.

Gil does so, and on following midnights he continues to meet and socialize
with them and their friends: the writers, artists, and famous Parisian denizens
of that '20s/'30s "golden age" era: [Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates) & Toklas,
Hemingway, Picasso, "Tom" (T.S.) Eliot, Josephine Baker, Luis Bunuel, Cole
Porter, etc.], all of whom vanish by each dawn.

Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams were each excellent in their roles.

Hearing some reviews of this film, I was a little leery of seeing it fearing I'd
miss too much since I wasn't that deeply, intimately familiar with Hemingway,
Fitzgerald, etc.

Not a problem; a rough understanding of those two adds a lot of enjoyment.
Knowing something of famous artists of that period will also be a plus.

I'm sure Woody enjoyed tinkering with time travel a great deal. He did NOT
have Eliot saying he "walked on a beach with his trousers rolled" (lines from
Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock") but he sprinkled in many similar,
far more clever things such as Gil suggesting to the film director, Luis Bunuel,
the unusual plot of one of Bunuel's much later famous movies.

This may be a 6/10 or 7/10 for many who like Woody Allen movies but more
familiarity with cultural icons of that Paris era will rate it higher for most.

Roger Ebert's review is one I very much agree with. But reading a number of
IMDb's + & - "User Reviews" Midnight in Paris (2011) - IMDb user reviews may
give you a better sense of whether you will like it or not. I recommend doing
that if you have any question.

9 of 10 stars

Not a GREAT movie but a VERY delightful confection.