Midnight In Paris [DVD] [2012]

This film is probably one of the best portrayals of the `roaring twenties' that I've seen, second only to the brilliant `Great Gatsby' IMHO. Ironically, Scot Fitzgerald, who wrote the latter, is one of the many icons of that age who puts in an appearance here. His wife Zelda became a leading flapper of the period.Others who we come across are: Ernest Hemmingway, Cole Porter, Picasso and Salvador Dali - not bad for a night down at the local!This film has everything - beautiful Parisian scenery, a great story line, wonderful acting and superb wardrobe and backdrop all round. This is a stunning film in my opinion - a real feast for the eyes - glorious.The roaring twenties erupted after WW1, the centres being the likes of New York, London & Paris - this was a playground for wealthy and not something that your average underling would have been involved too much with.This for me is right up there with `Manhattan,' as one of my `Woody' favourites, and clearly a lot of fans thought the same too and headed to the flicks in their droves. It was Woody's greatest ever financial hit - costing 17 million $ to make and grossing an incredible 151 million $.Unsurprisingly, it won an Academy Award and Golden Globe - enough said!

So, ok. You want to watch a Woody Allen film, but you're not sure which one. Mighty Aphrodite, with its oddly supernatural-imbued ethos, or maybe Manhattan, because it's so evocative. But then there's Hannah and Her Sisters, with that great scene with Michael Caine. But isn't all this a bit too serious and (maybe) even depressing? Are you sure you're not overthinking this one? I mean, how can you know?If you're in a dilemma, then Midnight in Paris may well be the one to watch, because it's got almost all of the hallmark Woody Allen ingredients, only more so. Owen Wilson gets the character that Allen would have played, if only he were still young enough, absolutely right. There's the set-piece argument with the Republican, the feelings of intellectual inferiority, the oppressive fiancée, the yet more oppressive mother-in-law to be, the romance that could have been so much more, and, finally, the pay-off, where Allen/Wilson meets the manic-pixie-dream-girl who perfectly fits his personality.All of these are great things, but it's the involuntary time-travel riff which really makes this film hum. Allen has experimented with time travel before, of course, but in this film his alter-ego gets to meet more of his heroes than even Bill and Ted do in their extraordinary adventure.This is a maturer film than many. In the earlier Allen, his main character's weaknesses are exposed and exploited, and the protagonist is so often left with only might-have-beens. Perhaps Manhattan Murder Mystery was the turning point, but this one takes it right to its conclusion. The extremely quirky quirks of fate lead Allen/Wilson not to his destruction, but to escape from a marriage which every viewer can see would not have worked, and from the parents-in-law from hell, to a fulfilling future as a confident, no longer neurotic writer who has found his muse.Oh, and if you look carefully, that red-headed lawyer from Spiral is in the caste.Perfect

Let me start by saying that I am not generally a Woody Allen fan, that's not to say I dislike his films, but I don't automatically like them either, often finding them a little self indulgent for my taste.So I started watching Midnight in Paris with a little scepticism and having purposefully avoided other reviews. For starters Owen Wilson is inspired casting for this role, especially for how different it is from his usual comedy roles, the humour here being much more subtle than his usual style. The filming and effects are beautiful from start to finish and the story and plot although some might call them a little whimsical, are engaging and fantastically well developed for a perfect blend of subtle historical reference and humour and artistic licence, all of which make for a perfect escapism film.Very very surprised to find this one of my favourite films of the year.