Midnight in Paris (2011)

Directed by Woody Allen

Is it literary magic? Gil, a nostalgic screenwriter, is on a trip in Paris with his fiancée’s family. Each night at midnight he finds himself going back to the 1920’s, surrounded by household names such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, yet can’t begin to explain how. 

Letterboxd Rating: ✰✰✰/5

Letterboxd Statistics (subject to change): Weighted average of 3.71 stars based on 827,408 ratings. 

Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, and Tom Hiddleston

I would be lying if I said that TikTok did not introduce me to Midnight in Paris, directed by Woody Allen. As a romantic-comedy movie connoisseur, this romantic fantasy caught my interest. I was skeptical at first, but pleasantly surprised. Here is my review: 

In one of Woody Allen’s most beloved films, he tells a story that blends nostalgia, identity, comedy, and wistfulness. On the surface, it’s an imaginative story about a writer wandering through the streets of Paris at night, but underneath it explores the dangers of living in the past and finding your artistic individuality. The cinematography of Midnight in Paris is one of the film’s greatest strengths. Paris is illuminated by warm streetlights, rainy sidewalks, and charming cafes, romanticizing the city in a way that is authentic and not fake. Post-card like stills of the city throughout establishes the mood of the film, as the night scenes glow with warm tones creating an atmosphere that supports the time-travel premise. The camera movement is soft and approachable, allowing the characters to breathe. Needless to say, Woody Allen shoots Paris as a dream. The score of Midnight in Paris relies heavily on classic jazz, especially music associated with Paris and the early 20th century. Instead of a heavy orchestral score, the music helps to set the atmosphere, which can be interpreted as playful, romantic, and melancholic as we watch Gil dive deeper and deeper into the past. Jazz acts as the emotional language of the film, connecting a more modern Paris to the assumed glitz and glamour of the past, specifically the 1920’s. I am unable to say that the underlying theme of this film is nostalgia, as that is the central theme, and something that Gil struggles with as a screenwriter attempting to write about nostalgia for a new movie he is supposedly piecing together. Gil strongly believes that the 1920’s would be a better time to live, but after time-traveling and meeting people from the 1920’s, he discovers that these people also longed for earlier eras themselves. Midnight in Paris suggests that idealizing the past can prevent appreciation of the present. If I were to put my finger on a specific underlying theme, I would say growth as Gil’s journey shows him learning to trust his instincts as a writer rather than chasing approval. Towards the end of the movie, the audience finally sees Gil move towards a life that is genuine and something he is passionate about. 

An emotion to describe how this movie made me feel would be bittersweet. This film strongly reminded me of my 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Bakken, as the historical figures portrayed in this movie are those we read about in his class such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. I can’t help but to hope he has seen this, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is visually stunning and whimsical, all while being a reminder to notice the beauty in everyday life and not to dwell on the past but to be present and embrace change. 

Woody Allen and Owen Wilson on Midnight in Paris