"It’s a place to visit” says the disdainful mother of our hero's fiance which is a tell tale clue of the obstacles charming Owen Wilson as Gil faces with his engagement to haughty Inez played perfectly by Rachel McAdams. An engagement that promises the thrilling possibilities offered by a connection into an even haughtier right wing republican family who’s catch phrase seems to be “cheap is cheap.” But a place to visit isn’t good enough for Gil in this beautiful ode to Paris. It’s in fact a place to stay and a place to make home. That is for this romantic nostalgia chasing writer so yearning to escape his own reality that he slips into a another more promising one at midnight’s stroke in the glorious world of Paris circa roaring 20s.
While struggling with the realization maybe this woman isn’t the woman for him, and that he is thoroughly unsatisfied with his present conditions, Gil willingly enters a world where promise lies in the words of Hemingway, he stumbles upon Dali in an abandoned diner, he finds an editor in Gertrude Stein. Woody Allen’s newest gem of a film captures perhaps his own whimsical fantasy of the lost era of Paris most of us wish to be found in. The movie opens with a typical Woody stunner, full of the places in Paris you either miss from your visit or know you would love if you got the chance to see the city you’ve dreamed of. As a huge Woody Allen fan I hemmed and hawed, sighed and cried through the entire film, most likely irritating the bored hipster in front of me who couldn’t appreciate beauty if it wasn’t being blown up or sexualized or if the dialogue wasn’t in the form of the speedy needs for entertainment these days. He probably came so he could say he had seen Woody Allen’s new film and really liked Sleeper in film class. The dialogue was in fact perfect, instigating empathetic groans for the common sufferings of man who doesn’t seem to quite fit in. While its pace wasn’t speedy, I languished in the fleshed out scenes that also featured the absurdly romantic streets of Paris so if you’re bored go away, grow some culture. There always is an element of “the cheese” in all the best stories, and Woody doesn’t fail to bring it with the telling of his pristine Paris and the historical genius’ it housed. I find it liberating that a writer/director feels so free in his own work that he could convincingly create a fictional tale and you can walk away feeling like you have had a chance to get to know Ernest Hemingway. Thank you Woody! I’ve always wanted to meet Ernest Hemingway.
The cast was as eclectic as the characters written in, with a special place in my heart for the beautiful Lea Seydoux and the effervescent Marion Cotillard. It almost seems unnecessary to single out one actor for as usual Woody has put together a perfect ensemble, with actors who seem to balance each others scales while at the same time work roller coasters into Allen’s inspired writing. All in all a beautiful fantasy that has you face the reality that perhaps we just weren't made for these times.
