Oscar 2012: Midnight in Paris

Paris in the 1920’s

If at any time in your life you have had an interest in modern art, literature, music, dance or fashion, you have crossed paths with Paris in the 1920’s: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Picasso, Man Ray, James Joyce, Josephine Baker, Duchamp, Coco Chanel, the list can go on and on. Woody Allen’s film “Midnight in Paris” takes us to that time, with a twist. Owen Wilson’s character, Gil, can only be transported to that age at the strike of midnight. It is a delightful adventure. A comedy that that weaves together the modern world with the Jazz/Dada/”Lost Generation” era. I was curious as to what led the non-Parisians to move to France at this time.

Hemingway supposedly went because it was “an inexpensive place to live” and “the most interesting people in the world lived there”. Picasso seemed to be around Paris from as early as 1900. Joyce headed to Paris at the invitation of Ezra Pound. It is said that Dali made his first visit to Paris in 1926 where he met Picasso. Duchamp met Man Ray in America before moving back to Paris in 1923. In 1917, Cole Porter moved to Paris and his parties were notorious for "much gay and bisexual activity, Italian nobility, cross-dressing, international musicians, and a large surplus of recreational drugs.” The thought of, in a day, you can bump elbows with these characters within 24 hours in less than a 10 mile radius, is an exhilarating thought on its own.

“Midnight in Paris” is a successful comedy, romance and fantasy. “Your father defends the right wing of the Republican party and I happen to think that you almost to have to be like a… demented lunatic” is one of my favorite lines from the film. Or, “You always take the side of the help. That’s why Daddy says you’re a Communist. Gil’s character has three love interests in the film: Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard and Lea Seydoux. (Poor guy!)

“Midnight in Paris” is my sort of movie. It is a movie that I would want to re-watch (if that is a quality of a good movie). There was a debate later in the film between Gil and Marion Cotillard’s character, Adriana, about what is the “golden age”. Gil says it’s the 20’s and Adriana says it was the Belle Epoque (late 19th century to WWI). There is a realization made in the movie that maybe that the nostalgia you have for the past is maybe making you miss the “golden age” you are living in the here and now.

The movie ends in a lyrical, Hollywood, and “they lived happily ever after” sort of way. And I had no problem with it. C'est magnifique!