Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!
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A modern American film screenwriter (Gil Pender) goes on a trip to Paris, France with his fiancee Inez and her parents (John and Helen). Pender believes that 1920's Paris would be the center of his artistic creation. While walking through the streets of Paris he becomes lost, and at the strike of midnight is transported to the 1920's without any explanation. While there he meets and see's the great artists that he admires; such as Alice B. Toklas, Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Salvador Dali, Man Ray, Luis Bunel, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein (the Lost Generation). Pender also meets Picasso's mistress, Adriana, and begins to fall in love with her beauty. Pender discovers his artistic self in the 1920's.
This film was written and directed by Woody Allen. This film harkens back to Allen's older work stylings. That being said, this film is amazing for fans of Allen's films. However, this film is an either you'll love it, or you'll hate kind of film. This film's genre is romantic comedy, but it also mixes in a little science fiction using the 1920's art culture, in Paris, as its centerpiece. Granted a lot of the humor is more satirical humour than outright comedic. The romance in this film is more based around passion, and it doesn't fall into the stereotypical genre of romance. The science fiction aspect remains vague leaving the films its mystery. The script uses a lot of single liners to explain a lot of the film's characters. The story also manages to explain a lot of what is happening to the characters while leaving a lot of mystery. The story is character driven, and contains a lot of sharp humor, wit, and has a sharp look on society (upper class and artists). The film styling help to support the contrast between the characters during their brief interactions. It doesn't have the quickness that modern films have, and instead builds up to a slow deep meaning. It also speaks to an age of people who would rather live in a different era than the current one.
This film features a lot of big name actors, and it works for this film. None of the actors overpower one another, but they compliment each other. Owen Wilson plays the role of Gil Pender. He manages to portray the stereotypical character type seen in Woody Allen films. He's critical on himself, and the world around him, without being too overpowering. Rachel McAdams plays the role of Inez. She was good in this role playing a general role of an upper class woman who doesn't see the passion in world. Marion Cotillard played the role of Adriana. She was great in this role. She brought the romantic passion to the film. Cotillard and McAdams represented two very different women in two different eras. It made the film believable. Corey Stoll played the role of Ernest Hemingway, and Kathy Bates played the role of Gertrude Stein. They brought a lot of power to the film. They gave the film its artistic feel. Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston played the roles of Zela and F. Scott Fitzgerald. They were good in their small roles.
I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! I greatly enjoyed watching this film. It has a lot of story and heart. Even if it isn't whimsical humour, it still carries plenty of romance. It also brings to light a dying artistic culture.
Answer to last blog: Actor/singer Will Smith and director Barry Sonnenfield worked together on the film Wild Wild West, along with the Men in Black films.
Que: What other film has Kathy Bates starred in?
The Darjeeling Limited
Fried Green Tomatoes
The Lucky Ones
La vie en rose
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