Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen delightfully explores literary-themed time travel, as well as his usual art/love/money conflicts, in "Midnight in Paris". The film is reminiscent of several of his best short stories ("The Kugelmass Episode" especially) and his film "The Purple Rose of Cairo" in the seamless transition between times and realities to comedic and romantic effect.

"Midnight in Paris" opens with views of Paris lit like vintage postcards with washed out color and classic tourist locations. The present is dull, the past shines through. We meet Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a successful Hollywood screenwriter who wants to write novels, and romanticizes Paris in the 1920's. He is engaged to a mercenary and superficial woman, Inez, (Rachel McAdams) who lives to shop. Conflict ensues between glitz and art, pedantic superficiality and authentic experience.

Once Gil stumbles into actual 1920's Paris, the fun really begins. The lighting shifts to a rich, golden quality, and the dialogue takes on a hilariously literary tone. Gil meets Scott and Zelda, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and a host of creatively inclined characters, all portrayed with humorous brilliance. There is an aside on Djuna Barnes that amuses for those that recall her classic novel "Nightwood". Allen credits his audience with literary historical knowledge, and plays on that awareness with great wit.

Owen Wilson is surprisingly good as the rather lost and deeply romantic Gil. Marion Cotillard is lovely as his 1920's love interest. Kathy Bates is terrific as Gertrude Stein. Adrian Brody does a fabulous and funny Dali. Throughout, the dialogue is both credible and hilarious.

Woody Allen is back in good form with "Midnight in Paris". His portrayal of relationship remains limited, however. Why would a romantic like Gil be involved with a dedicated shopper like Inez? Their relationship rings very falsely, even if it provides a means for Gil to find his way to creative risk. It is all a bit too obvious and predictable.

And the above is a small criticism, really. The film is great fun, a romp through various "golden ages", with an underlying theme of living life fully, with love and art and creative connections.