Midnight in Paris Reviews

I had been eagerly anticipating Midnight in Paris ever since it came out. The concept seemed interesting, the cast on paper were great and I loved a lot of Woody Allen's early work(Annie Hall, Manhattan and Crimes and Misdemeanours come to mind). And I wasn't let down at all.

To me Midnight in Paris is Allen's most sustained and most enjoyable movie in about 15 years. I personally would've loved for it to have been a tad longer, however with that there is much to like about Midnight in Paris.

Starting off so promisingly with a gorgeous opening montage, one of my personal favourite beginnings to a Woody Allen movie actually, Midnight in Paris with its striking locations/scenery, beautiful colours and skilled cinematography is a very well made movie.

Also, its soundtrack has a nostalgic and appropriately romantic feel to it. And the story is always interesting, it is splendidly dotty in its construction which ensures it is never overly-comic or overly-serious, but what made the story interesting for me were the literary and painterly references, it helps to know some of them but even those I didn't know were done in an informative rather than heavy-handed way.

The characters like with many other Allen movies are examples of those you are not sure whether you would like, but learn to by the end. Owen Wilson's character is particularly true to this. Allen's direction is always assured, but aside from the opening montage and the references Midnight in Paris's remarkable selling point was the script, the comedy is savvy, the romantic elements are yearning and the questions asked are done in an affectionate manner.

I don't have much to criticise the acting either. Owen Wilson in the central role was unexpected casting for me, but it was unexpected casting that paid off for he is delightful here. Rachel McAdams is suitably shrewish and Marion Cotillard is alluring and intelligent. Michael Sheen and Kathy Bates are rock-solid as usual.

Overall, a wonderful movie. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Oh Dear,this film has won best screenplay!!!,
"Midnight in Paris" is the worst Woody Allen's film I've ever seen, so boring, annoying and ridiculous, and have no magic like it seems to make it happen in fantasy theme. I like Woody Allen's films and I've been his fan since 90s, but "Midnight in Paris" is so disappointing, I'll never understand why it gets awards and high rating. 

Confusing, but inspiring, clever and funny, 'Midnight In Paris' is a charming movie about a man named Gil (Owen Wilson) who travels back in time at midnights. While Wilson's performance in my opinion isn't that amazing, the supporting cast, consisting of Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Marion Cotillard and Carla Bruni are good in their roles. 

The movie is complicated and I can't give better details of the plot but if you watch the movie, you will love it yourselves. Love the concepts!

For about 20 years already, I have been following closely Woody Allen’s career (I think I have seen about 30 of his movies by now) but even though I used to be a hardcore fan, I have nowadays some rather mixed feelings about his work. The point is that even though he is considered a Art-house king, he is in fact actually a real factory. Indeed, every single year, he comes up with a new movie, like a metronome, and with such productivity, as a result, most of those movies have become disposable (and I’m being nice). However, at least once a decade, he makes one film which gets some amazing reviews and this movie was a great success financially (it was Woody Allen's first film to gross over $100 million worldwide) and critically (among other things, it earned 4 Academy award nomination and Allen got his 4th oscar out of it). With this in mind, I was rather hopeful and, indeed, it was pretty good and quite enjoyable but, honestly, it was far from being a masterpiece. The point is that, maybe for the US audience who have never been to Paris, it was amazing to see this city from such a romantic point of view, but for a French guy like me, it was like watching a very long commercial. Same thing about seeing all those great artists. It was a fun gimmick but since none of them was properly developed, it was nothing really interesting. As a matter of fact, I prefer the present day story about the misguided relationship between Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams (both really good here). Furthermore, the conclusion was seriously generic. Still, somehow, it was a nice watch, I had a fairly good time watching this and I guess it is worth a look but don’t expect anything really amazing.

just watched this movie, good movie, its basically own wilson in a movie, he is the same character in all his movies, but in not complaining with this one.
He doesn't act he's just there in paris, well it seems that way.
the movie is quaint, like a classic, like breakfast at tiffanys type inspiration/dialogue.
it delves in early century art and persona's and time travels in and out of time, it initially seems like a dull movie but it isn't, give it a chance

6.5/10

If you have ever yearned to have lived in another time you should watch this wonderful movie. I would normally not recommend an Owen Wilson movie but this movie changed my opinion. He does a wonderful job of representing the character who falls in love with Paris, and furthermore the people and culture that trancended Paris in the 1920's such as Hemingway,Salvatore Dali, Picasso etc. Each midnight he gets magically transported to this era where he meets and falls in love with Adriana, one of Picasso's ex. mistresses. In doing so he realizes that he was never in love with his present day, obnoxious fiance. A good movie for hopeless yet charming romantics with the added bonus of having Marion Cotillard exude her understated her charming erotic vibes.
Curl up beside a fireplace with your girlfriend or boyfriend, watch and wonder what might have been if you had been around in the glorious Paris of circa 1920.

I really liked this movie, I think it's an interesting idea they had, something many people want to do time travel. It makes you think of what you would do in the same situations. Pretty great acting, I though the characters were well written as well. This movie made me think about how I go about my own life always wanting to live in a different time.

We know that Woody Allen does not enjoy great prestige in their home country and it is in Europe where his cinematography has been better appreciated. The highest grossing film of the director in his country, USA, or more nominations for the Oscars is data that summarizes and explains its commercial success and can not be due to chance, but a matter of taste, overall and according to the latitudes different. The European viewer may feel a little disappointed with these last works of Allen in which his peculiar machinery does not seem so well-oiled as before. I guess he will be more difficult to recognize the genius of the New York director even though the action takes place across the Atlantic.

Few years ago, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" i guess not coincidentally, was another significant success in the U.S.A., coming to be a kind of tribute to the spanish city, Allen in "Midnight in Paris" repeated but with the capital of the Seine. Paradoxically, his last films shooted in Europe are nearest to american tastes than the european... I think the reason is Allen also makes an investment in terms of product presentation, a tour guide working for the American viewer who has not visited the European continent. And so does taking advantage of such ignorance in reference to topics, if not entirely true, at least he channeled the movie did the well-known and trivial and commonplace. A Barcelona city of patio and guitar has replaced a Paris stamp night, very ornate, if not the abstraction of the "Roaring Twenties".

The history of wealthy american families in the french capital is the most bland and superficial, with an incredible climax to close the movie and an important summary of nonsense. As to the fable back to last night, the story improves considerably, with atmospheres "period" and a photograph in warm tones very well built. This, if we tiptoed down the list of personalities from the arts to come out of nowhere the writer protagonist of the film. It worked quite embarrassing how little of the script in this regard. The characters are linial, almost empty, in terms of personality, but will be seen a caricature, unconvincing, hard to be credible.

Another factor that makes heavier the vision of "Midnight in Paris" is the ubiquitous musical accompaniment, with a repetitive string music style of the central line "The Sting". Neither product improves the choice of its extensive showcase of actors, with the notable exception of Marion Cotillard convincing, the only one that gives authenticity to her role. The male protagonist had won a lot in the skin of the director himself, but Allen is no longer in age to young leading man roles.

In short, how sad is to recognize, always in my personal opinion, decline of this really creator who is Allen, with a world that is recognizable and proper, so characteristic. Clearly, the veteran, Allen's hand is seen in some sequences and the film never loses its interest and manages to save but his tone is low, discreet, and, worse, less and less imaginative and more focused concessions, to a large audience like that, no doubt, will not turn away. With his background and justice, recognition should never be lacking in this great filmmaker who is Woody Allen.

Nevermind - SockShare sucks. Go with SolarMovie indtead.

Finally got a good file started. On to beer number two, Jubelale by Deschute’s. This one I’ve been drinking all winter - it’s one of the many seasonals from Deschutes that I always look forward to. Like a good winter beer it’s got full on malts, but with some hops as well to spice it up. It 6.7% abv, but that’s not quite good enough. I like to add some homemade Thanksgiving spice liqueur to this one. It’s just vodka infused with dried cranberries, orange peel, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and sugar; but a half shot or so turns this beer into high octane liquid gingerbread! Now I’m really full of cheer!


Midnight In Paris is a shamelessly romantic love letter to Paris, to its streets, its artistic magnetism, its famous inhabitants... This movie deserves to be seen with Paris, Je T’Aime - well, maybe as the hors-d’oeuvres.

The transition from today to yesterday was Brilliantly Sublime - taking advantage the facades of Paris which haven’t changed in centuries - and without any formal cue to the audience. I was just as surprisedly invited into the past as Gil was, without special effects or tromp-d’œil; I was at a loss to say if it was real or just theatrics, like slipping into a dream. I love how Gil tried to show Inez like a little kid who swears he saw fairies in the back yard.

Great opening montage of Paris. The city of lights is certainly at it best in the summer. My favorite part is Montmartre - it just feels more parisian than any other quarter.

After a while it does get overloaded with cameos. At the same time I felt like there were too many famous people (the mistake of Funny People), and then that I wasn’t getting enough of each. I wanted to see more Man Ray and Hemmingway! Why wasn’t there a full scene with T. S. Elliot? Art hors-d’oeuvres indeed!

I was really pleased to see Gad Elmaleh - he’s a brilliant french stand-up - and I think he would have made a much better Dalí.

This was obviously a chance to make a personal dream of Woody Allen’s come true - and I’m so glad he did. I loved the escapades into the 20s and even the 1890s. I wish, like Gil, that I could have stayed there. Gil’s harsh present was jilting to cut back to - Rachel McAdams again plays a spoiled bitch to perfection. I’ll say this - I would love to get into a magic taxi to a time without Owen Wilson. He was out of his depth and forgettable in his performance, which, by contrast, made the 20s scenes and personalities stand out even more.

If you have a nostalgic wanderlust or feel like you were born too late, this is a great vehicle to escape to brighter times. But the morale is clear - the grass is always greener in another time.

Aloha! Bonjour, even. And Happy New Year!!
My name is Jacin. I am a voracious movie junkie, and a lover of ales, spirits, and wine, wine, wine! And for 2012 I have made it my resolution to do anything but improve myself; in fact, I have resolved to take my movie and drinks addiction to the extreme, to dive in head-first like Tony Montana. I call it my 360 Movie Challenge - 360 movies in 366 days. I’ll review each one, attach useful links, and share my favorite drinks for each one.

12/31/11 - New Year’s Eve
Starting out with Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris. This came highly recommended by my #1 source for great movies: my hanai parents, John and Victoria.
Before I begin, I gotta say I’ve always been put off by Owen Wilson’s nonchalant demeanor, like he’s too cool to do any character work. I am a fan off Woody Allen’s work - I like his paranoid and candid take on romantic comedy. Mostly I like his early work, anything with the incredible Diane Keaton (Sleeper, Annie Hall). Some of his later work, like You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, were just terrible. The former was a depressing spiral much like The Social Network, and the latter just reinforced my repulsion for Scarlett Johansson.

Well, I’m already half-way into a delicious glass of Gavroche French red ale (purchased at The Liquor Collection, Honolulu). It’s got some killer malt characters - burnt caramels, some milk-chocolate, and sherry sherry. After a semester in France I came back with the belief that “If you don’t like French wine, wait till you try their beer”! Gavroche is certainly an exception. If you a smooth, winey ale, I recommend this.

Midnight In Paris is unfortunately not available online from Netflix tonight, but that’s what illegal streaming websites are for, right? Thank you, SockShare. OK, as the good Doctor would say, “Allons-y”!