Midnight In Paris

How can I talk about this film without spoiling a lot of wonderful surprises? I can't, so all I'm going to say about Woody Allen's latest film is that it's a romantic love letter to Paris of both past and present. That's all the plot I'm going to reveal. And that's okay. I'm hoping that it'll be enough to get you to see this wonderfully funny and sentimental film. Go Woody.
Now if you check back in this blog to last year and the year before, you might notice that I disliked Woody's last two films. Well, that may be an understatement. I lambasted both of them as cheap knock-offs of his own work; lecherous drivel and the redundant ravings of a horny old man. I TOLD ya I didn't like 'em. Well, I am happy to report that "Midnight in Paris" is none of that. What it is is fresh, joyous, original and delightful. I'm a happy movie goer. I'm a restored Woody Allen fan.
Paris is a character in this film the way New York was a character in Allen's "Manhattan" and just like any good character, Allen fleshes out Paris by capturing both the ambiance and the mythology of that beautiful city. There is everything that was missing from his last few films....charm, humor, insight and honesty (especially in the dialogue which isn't stilted or forced at all this time out). It is an original and you should see it with someone you love (or someone you like) and share the experience. It's that good. I'm so happy.
I know I said I wasn't going to spoil anything but there is a scene with Owen Wilson and three surrealists (they talk about a Rhino) that is classic Woody Allen. Worth twice the price of admission for that scene alone.