In Search of a Midnight Kiss Reviews

Now, this is my kind of movie. :) Alex Holdridge's In Search of a Midnight Kiss is simply a wonderful film. It's an exploration of the subject of love and relationships that avoids all sense of corniness and romcom cliches. It is an incredibly authentic film, yet its excellent mirroring of reality never renders it boring, and it never keeps the audience from being able to connect with the characters or from becoming emotionally affected by the things that befall both of them. In the non-cinematic, real world, men usually try as hard as they can to avoid crying, in order to continue ostensibly fulfilling their role as the "stronger" sex, so it's not a surprise that, in its attempt to imitate life, the film medium rarely depicts men crying, even in the case of movies that cover a similar subject matter as that of In Search of a Midnight Kiss (seriously, do we see men crying much in romantic dramas/comedies? Not at all.) Thankfully, the makers of In Search of a Midnight Kiss and actor Scoot McNairy aren't afraid to display the inevitable reality that males actually CAN break down, and this gives way for a scene towards the climax that is incredibly moving and devastating at the same time. If the film hadn't totally won me over by that point, it certainly did then.

I was wondering whether or not the use of black-and-white would be detrimental, but it isn't at all. I'm not sure why, but oddly enough, I think it's really effective here. As many have pointed out, it makes the LA locations not feel conventional or like things we've seen in dozens upon dozens of prior films, and that is very helpful in making this film feel fresh and interesting. One of the things that a lot of romantic dramas/comedies have trouble with is having the "Meet Cute" (when the two leads first see each other) unfold believably, and this film has a tough task with its "Meet Cute" because Wilson (Mcnairy) and Vivian (Sara Simmonds) talk over the phone and then meet in person, meaning it's a sort-of blind date (even though Vivian was able to see a photo of Wilson on his ad). The awkward moment in which Wilson sits for a while at a different table across from Vivian is handled very nicely and the comedic timing is perfect. When we first meet her, Vivian is wearing sunglasses and she comes across as being somewhat cold, but all of that is nothing but concealing much of what we'll find out later as she warms up to Wilson and begins to confide in him. McNairy and Simmonds give amazing lead performances, and there isn't a moment of the romance between Wilson and Vivian that lacks poignancy.

Earlier this year, many believed that Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist was a decent homage to the masterful Before Sunrise, and I couldn't disagree more with that. And while In Search of a Midnight Kiss isn't the breathtaking, perfect and unbelievably amazing work of art that Before Sunrise is, it's certainly worthy of at least being compared to it. I had high hopes for Nick & Norah, which turned out to be nothing but a mostly gross comedy that was completely lacking in edge and was saved from being totally bad only by the charm of its two leads. On the other hand, In Search of a Midnight Kiss is an often hilarious film, deeply observant of human behavior, and accurate in terms of how people actually communicate with one another and of their apprehensions towards expressing certain things. It has all of the edge that Nick & Norah lacked, and then some. The dialogue here between Wilson and Vivian isn't as insightful as that between Jessie and Celine in Before Sunrise, but that's only because the script of In Search of a Midnight Kiss isn't as interested in the philosophical questions that were discussed by the characters in the earlier film (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy). This makes Holdridge's film fall short of being the masterpiece that Before Sunrise was, but it certainly doesn't keep it from being one of the best films of 2008. This is an incredibly well-crafted and deeply emotionally-satisfying motion picture.

''It's not just another kiss...''

Broke and alone on New Year's Eve, Wilson just wants to spend the rest of a very bad year in bed. But, when his best friend convinces him to post a personal ad, he meets a woman bent on finding the right guy to be with at midnight.

Scoot McNairy: Wilson

Sara Simmonds: Vivian

Told in a lush black and white, Indie flick Midnight Kiss results in one of the sleeper hits of 2008. Directed by Alex Holdridge he hits home with the fact that this is not some fantastic tale of epic proportions, but one thats firmly rooted into the entanglement of gritty, hard pressed life. It doesn't lie, it has no need, it's telling us a story of a man who's just had a terrible year and he's had enough. So it's time for a clean break, a fresh start...easier said than done.

Main character Wilson, wonderfully played by Scoot McNairy shows us a main guy who's a tiny bit on the weird side. Strangely Wilson is first caught wanking over his mates girlfriend from an image he creates on photoshop, Midnight Kiss is a weird film, an indie film, and I loved it. Even better the film gets weirder and wonderfully impressive in its simplicity yet complexity.

''Please help us find whatever we are looking for tonight...''

We proceed in getting two unlucky people who come together thanks to a myspace profile ad.
Sara Simmonds as Vivian is the blind date Wilson ends up being with on New Years eve, and boy is she weird too, if you weren't afraid of Online Dating already then after this film you will be or hopefully you will be.

Midnight Kiss proceeds to inject the proceedings of the day for the characters. Not just the main ones but his mate Jacob(Brian McGuire) and Jacob's cheater girlfriend Min(Kathleen Luong).
We also see the relationship between Wilson and Vivian evolve over the day and their time together. Vivian will succeed in making some scoff at her apparent air pigheadedness or her hobby of taking pictures of shoes that happen to be single and abandoned, lost.

''Welcome to L.A, embrace the pain.''

Some could say Midnight Kiss is a sort of echo of Woody Allen's Manhatten. Sure they could be right too in alot of regards. It's got that Black and white feel there that is used in Manhatten but plus the fact it's focusing it's energies onto relationships in general. The big similarity the relationship between the main two.
Midnight Kiss however does give it's own unique blend of dilemmas and scenarios which you will find quite refreshing and original.

Midnight Kiss overall is a huge success if you're into Indie films. This one is another that shouldn't be missed, and as soon as you begin to watch you become sucked into this black and white world you're enthralled by.
Definitely true to life and most definably a life study of sorts.

''It's all the hope of romance culminating in just one moment...''