Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a 2011 romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, and Michael Sheen. The film features a range of famous figures from the Lost Generation, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Pablo Picasso. Set in the City of Light, the film explores the artistic and literary world of Paris in the 1920s, with references to Shakespeare and Company, Les Deux Magots, and Café de Flore.

Plot

The film follows Gil Pender, a young Hollywood screenwriter, as he travels to Paris with his fiancée, Inez, and her parents, who are friends with Paul Gauguin's grandson. One night, while wandering the streets of Montmartre, Gil stumbles upon a mysterious St. Etienne du Mont and is transported back to the 1920s, where he encounters a range of famous figures, including Cole Porter, Django Reinhardt, Josephine Baker, and Man Ray. As Gil navigates this new world, he becomes infatuated with Adriana, a Moulin Rouge model and Pablo Picasso's mistress, and begins to question his engagement to Inez, who is more interested in Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea than in Gil's own writing. Along the way, Gil meets Gertrude Stein, who introduces him to Alice B. Toklas, and Ernest Hemingway, who is working on The Sun Also Rises at Shakespeare and Company.

Production

The film was produced by Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum, and Jaume Roures, with financing from Mediapro and Versátil Cinema. Principal photography took place in Paris and Giverny, with locations including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, and Palace of Versailles. The film's cinematography was handled by Darius Khondji, who has worked on films such as Se7en and Evita, and the score was composed by Stephane Wrembel, who has performed with Django Reinhardt's grandson. The film's production design was inspired by the works of Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro, and features references to Impressionism and Cubism.

Cast

The film features a range of actors, including Owen Wilson as Gil Pender, Rachel McAdams as Inez, Marion Cotillard as Adriana, Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Adrien Brody as Salvador Dalí, and Carla Bruni as Museum Guide. The cast also includes Michael Sheen as Paul, Nina Arianda as Carolyn, and Kurt Fuller as John. The film's cast is rounded out by Yves Heck as Cole Porter, Emmanuel Pallly as Django Reinhardt, and Sonia Rolland as Josephine Baker.

Release

The film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on May 20, 2011, by Sony Pictures Classics. The film was released in France on May 11, 2011, by Warner Bros. and in Spain on June 3, 2011, by Warner Bros.. The film was also released in Australia on June 2, 2011, by Hopscotch Films and in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2011, by Warner Bros.. The film's release was accompanied by a range of promotional materials, including a trailer featuring music by Stephane Wrembel and a poster designed by Columbia Records.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its Woody Allen's direction, the performances of the cast, and the film's nostalgic portrayal of Paris in the 1920s. The film holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising the film's Oscar Wilde-esque wit and its references to F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $151 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of Woody Allen's career, alongside Annie Hall and Hannah and Her Sisters.

Themes

The film explores a range of themes, including the nature of art and creativity, the power of love and relationships, and the tension between tradition and innovation. The film also touches on the idea of nostalgia and the ways in which the past can inform and shape our understanding of the present, with references to Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time and James Joyce's Ulysses. Through its portrayal of Gil Pender's journey, the film suggests that the pursuit of artistic expression and personal fulfillment is a lifelong journey, one that requires courage, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks, as embodied by the lives of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Frida Kahlo. Category:2011 films