Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. The story follows Gil Pender, a screenwriter and aspiring novelist played by Owen Wilson. Gil feels stuck in his relationship with his fiancée, played by Rachel McAdams, and is worried about their different dreams for the future.

Each night at midnight, Gil mysteriously travels back in time to the 1920s Paris, a period full of artists and creative energy. This journey helps him see the value of following his passions and being true to himself.

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

The movie received much praise from 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 important 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 is very interested in the art and history of Paris, especially from the 1920s. Inez is not as interested and thinks it's silly.

One night after midnight, Gil finds himself mysteriously taken to a party in the 1920s, filled with famous artists and writers like Ernest Hemingway and Zelda Fitzgerald. He meets a woman named Adriana, who loves his writing and shares his passion for the past. Each 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 after discovering she has been unfaithful. In the end, Gil chooses to stay in Paris, appreciating its charm just as it is today.

Cast

The film features many talented actors. The main cast includes Owen Wilson as Gil Pender and Rachel McAdams as Inez. Other key 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 includes 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 the performances of many actors in the film.

Production

Woody Allen wrote the screenplay for Midnight in Paris by starting with the title and then 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 a special collection of music called a soundtrack. You can listen to the songs that were used in the movie to enjoy the styles and feelings from the time the story takes place. The music helps bring the world of the film to life.

Marketing

Sony Classics got creative with their advertising for Midnight in Paris. They invited reporters who were covering another movie, Cars 2, to ask Owen Wilson questions about Midnight in Paris instead. Wilson was happy to talk about his role, which helped create many stories about the film.

The movie was made by Woody Allen’s company and a Spanish company called Mediapro. It was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. The movie poster was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, The Starry Night. Because the budget for promoting the film was small, Sony Classics had to be clever with their advertising strategies.

Release

Box office

The film began showing at the Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011, and was released in France the same day. It then 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.