Midnight in Paris
6:58 PM
*spoilers*
I have a love and
hate relationship with Woody Allen.
So much so that I
only watched Midnight in Paris because it was being played at my gym. The movie
was so interesting that I ended up working out for much longer that I wanted
to.
Midnight in Paris is
about a young Hollywood writer, Gil, who is inexplicably transported to 1920’s
Paris every night. There he gets a chance to enjoy the company of Hemingway, Dali
and Bunuel – all extremely creative people unlike the snooze that are his fiancé
and friends in the present.
While none of the
characters understands Gil’s nostalgia, the movie supposes the audience does.
I, for one, am normally
very pessimistic about the present and being in a gym where everybody (including
myself) is spending lots of money, time and energy on losing weight through
moronic exercises probably enhanced the feeling that we are all in pretty bad
shape.
Don’t expect a great
conclusion to Gil’s dilemma though.
Between a barren,
boring present and an electrifying past he will compromise. The only problem with
that is that is a bit conformist and not original. Conformist because there is a big difference
between dreaming of living in the past and looking at your present critically.
Not original because how many recent movies end with the message: “be happy in
the present, follow your dreams, don’t sell out and find a quirky girl who
loves you for who you are”? Of the top of my head I can think of Stranger than
Fiction, Little Miss Sunshine and Ruby Sparks.
What’s strange is how Gil came to terms with the present. It's only because he discovers everybody is nostalgic and unhappy with their present - whatever that time that is.
It's what Woody Allen puts in the mouth of one of his characters "The present is unsatisfying because
life is”.
It's as if life would be awful no matter what time period you live in, which is a little tricky.
On one hand, people that are nihilists like Allen would definitely be unsatisfied with the present no matter when they lived in (just like people that find a purpose in life manage to live well in any era).
On the other, it's not like all time periods have the same advantages or disadvantages. Living in one period is not the same as living in another, as any grandpa can tell you.
I wonder if deep down
Allen believes Gil will be happy.
I'd say, based on his other movies, that he thinks Gil should be happy his life is not totally horrible. But I guess anyone who thinks life is that unsatisfying cannot be happy for long.
What did you think of Midnight in Paris? What time would you like to live in? (I'm highly favorable to the 1920's myself)
4 comments
I'm not usually a fan of Woody Allen, but I ADORED this film!
ReplyDeleteIt is very charming and funny, isn't it? I really liked Adrien Brody as Dali.
DeleteI've just watched Manhattan Murder Mystery, by Woody Allen, and , hey MUCH BETTER than Annie Hall. But still, it sucked.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little boring, but at least the movie has a story. This movie, midnight in paris, is going on and on, non stop, on HBO this month. But i always catch it in the middle... If i happen to watch it, i'll come and comment. :)
I haven't seen Manhattan Murder Mystery, but I should because I love Alan Alda and Angelica Huston. I don't usually like Allen's comedies, but Midnight in Paris is very interesting and original. When you watch it, let me know what you think. xx
DeleteThanks for commenting! Do come back because I usually reply to comments here.