Midnight In The Morning

Today I had the chance to finally go and see Midnight in Paris. I adore Woody Allen Movies, good or bad, I love adore them all! So I was very excited it was now playing at the theater down the street from our apartment. So I awoke early, had a nice hot cup of tea, a bit of Blueberry Limoncello Cloufouti with a dallop of  creme' fraiche on top , enjoying the song of the morning doves outside my window and waited till it was time to walk to the theater. 

I paid my ticket price, and found a seat in the top back row of the small theater dedicated to showing the film. It was not overly full, but then Woody Allen and romantic dramas are not everyone's cup of tea as they are mine. There was the usual couple of husbands dragged along, and there was the girlfriend groups who came in with their giggles and chatter. I loved having a corner of the theater to myself...I prefer that. The film began to play ......

via google search

"This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It's about a young man's great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. It stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Carla Bruni among others. " * from the official site


The movie opened to the wonderful notes of 1920's jazz, instantly transporting ones heart and soul to that time...scenes in golden over tones, similar to the color you see from the sun going down in a Summer evening at dusk. Scenes from all over Paris flashed on the screen, not a single distraction from this wonderful Parisian postcard from Woody Allen ...there was not an intro, there was not credits, there was only dreamy street scenes and wonderful music setting the scene.

The Cast List

Starring

Gertrude Stein....KATHY BATES
Salvador Dali.....ADRIEN BRODY
Museum Guide......CARLA BRUNI
Adriana...........MARION COTILLARD
Inez..............RACHEL McADAMS
Paul..............MICHAEL SHEEN
Gil...............OWEN WILSON

Co-Starring

Carol.................NINA ARIANDA
John..................KURT FULLER
F. Scott Fitzgerald...TOM HIDDLESTON
Helen.................MIMI KENNEDY
Zelda Fitzgerald......ALISON PILL
Gabrielle.............LÉA SEYDOUX
Ernest Hemingway......COREY STOLL

The Synopsis tells it all. Very simple, to the point, it truly is all the movie is about. Deep, yet understandable undercurrents of meaning weaved through a magic transport through time into 1920's Paris...truly the only time I was not enthralled was when the main character Gil played by Owen Wilson was back in the current world and needing to contend with his fiance Inez, played by Rachel McAdams , her annoying parents and old collage friends that happened , in that small world sort of way to run into the couple at a restaurant and it was decided they would see Paris and surrounding areas together. I shall not continue on about all of them, truthfully I did find the characters annoying. But I think that was the point, because Gil was not wanting to be social with these people and Inez did, Gil, after a wine party decided to take a stroll through the city while the others went off to a club. As he walked around he found himself lost, he sat on some stone steps, along a cobblestone road and started to relax, not knowing what else to do, as the bells of a chimed twelve.

This is a bit later in the film, but same stairs. *via

Soon a yellow cab circa 1920's drove up and several people shouting in French at Gil gestured for him to get in and he reluctantly did so, not really wanting to stay on the street much longer...and the magic began. I do not want to tell you a single thing more. This is a movie that needs to unfold piece by romantic, magical piece. But I will say there is very few movies I would turn around and watch again, then watch over and over, but this combined my favorite aspects of movies and in a way that Woody does so very well. So I thought I would just share a few favorite stills from the movie. But if you like romantic movies, Paris, and anything from the Flapper era as I do, I highly suggest you see this movie! ** click on names of actors and or characters and link will take you to the cast page, click on their names there and you can read their bios...well the actors bios..if your interested.

Zelda Fitzgerald (blonde) & Gil * Via

F.Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda with Gil and party goers. *via

Gertrude Stein as played by Kathy Bates  *via

Adriana as played by MARION COTILLARD walking the streets of Paris in 1920 with Gil

ADRIEN BRODY (Salvador Dali) 
* Via

Adriana ... cocktail party at Deyrolle *via

The final dance before parting...one to stay in yet another era...the other to go back to another. *via 

Click here for more photos from the movie