Midnight in Paris

Plot

Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The story is about Gil Pender, a screenwriter played by Owen Wilson. Gil feels stuck in his relationship with his fiancée, played by Rachel McAdams.

Every night at midnight, Gil travels back in time to 1920s Paris. This helps him learn to follow his dreams and be true to himself.

Production

The film was produced by Mediapro and Gravier Productions. It stars many actors such as Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Tom Hiddleston, and Marion Cotillard. The movie premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on May 20, 2011.

Reception

The movie was praised by critics. In 2012, it won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay. It was also nominated for several other awards.

Plot

In 2010, a screenwriter named Gil Pender and his fiancée, Inez, are on vacation in Paris with her parents. Gil is trying to finish his first novel and loves learning about Paris, especially from the 1920s. Inez does not think this is very interesting.

One night after midnight, Gil is mysteriously taken to a party in the 1920s. He meets famous artists and writers like Ernest Hemingway and Zelda Fitzgerald. He also meets a woman named Adriana, who loves his writing and shares his passion for the past. Every night at midnight, Gil travels back to the 1920s and spends time with Adriana and other famous artists.

Back in 2010, Inez becomes upset with Gil’s strange behavior and disappears. Gil decides to break up with her. In the end, Gil chooses to stay in Paris, enjoying its charm just as it is today.

Cast

The film has many talented actors. The main cast includes Owen Wilson as Gil Pender and Rachel McAdams as Inez. Other important actors are Marion Cotillard as Adriana, Tom Hiddleston as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Alison Pill as Zelda Fitzgerald, Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway, and Adrien Brody as Salvador Dalí.

The supporting cast has actors such as Sonia Rolland as Josephine Baker, Marcial Di Fonzo Bo as Pablo Picasso, and Gad Elmaleh as Detective Tisserant, among others. Director Woody Allen praised many of the actors in the film.

Production

Woody Allen wrote the screenplay for Midnight in Paris by starting with the title and building the story around it. The story includes time travel to the 1920s in Paris, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s book A Moveable Feast. Characters meet famous people like Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and the Fitzgeralds.

Allen changed the main character, Gil, from an East Coast intellectual to a Californian after casting Owen Wilson. Filming began in Paris in July 2010. Allen wanted the film to have a warm, romantic feel, using warm colors and soft lighting. This was the first Woody Allen film shot entirely in Paris, featuring famous locations like Giverny, Montmartre, and the Palace of Versailles.

Soundtracks

This film has special music called a soundtrack. You can listen to the songs from the movie to enjoy the feelings and styles of the time the story happens in. The music helps make the world of the film come alive.

Marketing

Sony Classics had new ideas for advertising Midnight in Paris. They asked reporters who were writing about another movie, Cars 2, to talk to Owen Wilson about Midnight in Paris instead. Wilson enjoyed talking about his part in the movie, which helped make many stories about it.

The movie was made by Woody Allen’s company and a Spanish company named Mediapro. It was shared by Sony Pictures Classics. The movie poster looked like Vincent van Gogh’s well-known painting, The Starry Night. Since there was not much money to tell people about the movie, Sony Classics needed to use smart advertising plans.

Release

Box office

The film started at the Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011, and was released in France the same day. It had a small release in six theaters in the United States on May 20, earning $599,003 in its first weekend. Later, it expanded to many more theaters and did very well at the box office.

Midnight in Paris made the most money of any Woody Allen film in North America, earning $56.3 million there. Worldwide, it made $151 million, which was much more than its $17 million budget.

Critical reception

The film was very well liked by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 93% approval rating from 224 reviews, with an average score of 7.8 out of 10. Many critics praised the film's charm and humor, calling it a delightful and romantic movie. Reviewers liked the way the story was told and the beautiful scenes of Paris.

Woody Allen's direction and the performances of the actors were highlighted as strong points. Some reviewers felt the film was very entertaining and a nice return to form for Allen. Others enjoyed the magical and whimsical feel of the story, especially how it showed life in the 1920s.

Faulkner estate

The estate of writer William Faulkner sued the film's producers for using a line from his book without permission. The line was changed slightly but still resembled his original words. A court later decided that the use was allowed, ending the lawsuit.

Accolades

Home media

The music from the film was released on December 9, 2011. The movie was also made available on Blu-ray and DVD on December 20, 2011.