MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Owen Wilson, Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates

AFTER some pretty intense movies in the last few weeks, it’s was great to sit back and enjoy Woody Allen’s latest project - a time travel romance.

Allen’s film career has seen a lot of good movies, but only a handful of great ones.

Midnight is certainly one of the best ones, with its gentle comedy and sharply observed dialogue.

Owen Wilson plays Gil, who has come to Paris with his fiancee Inez (McAdams) and her very rich and domineering parents.

While Gil gets wrapped up in the romance of the city, Inez only sees it as a decent place to shop.

On a late night walk on his own, Gil is transported back to the 1920s - a period he believes is the golden age of art and literature.

There he meets all manner of famous folk (including Dali brilliantly played by Adrien Brody) as well as a young lady Adriana (Cottillard).

The strength of the film is that Allen doesn’t take the obvious routes and endings which provides a far more satisfying conclusion.

The director/writer is too old to appear as the lead character but he does the next best thing - Owen Wilson does a pretty close impersonation of Allen’s voice, dress sense and even his walk.

It’s a charming film full of enjoyable cameo roles, with Hemingway (Corey Stoll) ready for a fight and Cole Porter (Yves Heck) happily playing at the piano.

Even France’s first lady Carla Bruni has a small role as a museum guide (and is pretty good actually).

Michael Sheen is also good as a know-it-all art expert who acts as a perfect opposite to Gil’s character.

At 94 minutes it’s a perfect length and overall adelightful entertaining movie with Allen back to his best.

four out of five stars

Steve Payne

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley