Woody Allen’s romantic comedy is a charming love letter to the City of Light and also a treatise on the power of nostalgia. Owen Wilson is well cast as a man perpetually doubtful of his talents and frustrated with his life – a role we have seen Allen play many times in his earlier works.
Midnight in Paris is a fairytale that leaves you with a magical sense of fulfillment not dissimilar to the effects of watching Amélie (2001). It is Woody Allen’s 41st film and his highest-grossing to date. One of the world’s best directors back on top form.
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You can find more information on this U.S. movie on Wikipedia and IMDb.
As always, we recommend you don’t ruin any surprises by reading spoilers or watching this trailer:
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Title: Midnight in Paris
Language: English
Direction: Woody Allen
Screenplay: Woody Allen
Cinematography: Darius Khondji
Editing: Alisa Lepselter
Score: Stephane Wrembel
Stars: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Michael Sheen
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Wonderful Cinema 
Reblogged this on diemrapere.
I love this movie 🙂
I only just saw this film last Thursday, I was taken back to the ¨good old days¨ the costumes, the wonderful music and Paris at its best; yes, a great film and with Carla Bruni. well, what more can one want.
I saw the film two days ago in the Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds (UK). They say it’s the only authentic 1940’s movie theatre in the UK. It was a morning performance and on the website it was tagged “BOYB”. I reckoned this was sort of loop device for the hard of hearing. I asked the guy at the ticket desk, he told me it stood for “Bring your own baby”! Yes the audience of only 12 were all young mommas with the kids at their breasts! Despite the distraction I thought the movie was beautiful to watch and one of Woody’s best.
Hahaha this story is fantastic! I will definitely re-tell it to my co-workers on the education team at Hyde Park Picture House 🙂
I love your short movie reviews!
I find it incredibly helpful how you list the movie details (Director, key actors etc.) at the bottom for us readers as well! Very thoughtful.
This is such a delightful film! Great short reviews!!
I have just viewed this movie again after five months and I was even more enchanted than last time. The undoubted star of the film is beautiful Paris itself, lovingly photographed even in the rain. The casting is immaculate; the only quibble I have is the bruise on Woody’s stand-in Owen Wilson’s nose! Surely make-up could have made it invisible? The cameo parts are a huge delight from Carla Bruni Sarkozy to a wonderful Salvator Dali from Adrian Brophy. But how many viewers under 50 recognize the intellectual luminaries of the twenties like Gertrude Stein, Luis Bunuel and Tom (T.S.) Elliot and many more? Truly Wonderful Cinema!
I recommend this movie to everyone. I’m not crazy about Paris but this is impressive!
Considering domestic box office in 2009 USD, Midnight in Paris ($57M in 2009) runs a distant fourth behind Annie Hall ($38M in 1977), Manhattan ($40M in 1979), and Hanna and Her Sisters ($40M in 1986). A vending machine can of coke cost a quarter in 1977 (and I guess that movie tickets were $2.00-$2.50).
Foreign box office for Midnight was $94M. I coudn’t readily find foreign receipts for Allen’s other blockbusters.
CPI data is readily available. Here is one source (page 4 of the PDF):
Click to access minimumwage.pdf
With this one, and I love Woody Allen but this is the first time I did not think he did a good job with picking the actor. It is hard for me to see Owen Wilson as anything but a surf’s up California boy, who lacks in class or wisdom. I felt Ewan MacGregor would have been a better pick for this film because he is a more mature, intellectual who would have actually read the books of the authors we saw characterized on screen. Ewan can play humility with ease whereas Owen makes it up. It could have been other actors too but some film friends and I actually came up with Ewan in a discussion group we had, which is why I named him. I did feel entertained by the film but I was caught off guard by Owen’s acting. Wedding Crashers yes but something with a foreign location, nah. Not unless he is playing a surfer going to another country for a competition.
I think this movie is a fantastic one! It is so deep and factual while so entertaining. The scenes are beautifully shot and portrayed.
Just going through the site — IMO it’s very well done: clean, aesthetically pleasing, no disagreements so far, but then I don’t see so many movies. And of course I loved this one.
Funny, surprising and original. I wasn’t really into Woody Allen stuff until I saw this one…and Vicky Christina Barcelona.
Watch To Rome With Love – it’s great!
Will do! Added it to my list.
I thought this movie was awful with the only redeeming quality of the great street shots of Paris. I tried to watch it a second time and couldn’t.
Thank you for the follow at simplydaisies! I love movies. Great reviews on your movies! I will be back.