Alison Pill and Tom Hiddleston star as Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald (Image via andrewsidea.wordpress)

The favorite film:
Midnight in Paris (2011), a time-hopping romantic comedy directed and written by Woody Allen

The synopsis:
Gil, a Hollywood screenwriter working on a novel, and his fiance Inez have decided to tag along on her parents’ business trip and spend a little vacation in Paris. Inez doesn’t exactly buy into Gil’s romantic perspective of the city, or his infatuation with Paris in the ’20s. One night, Gil takes a midnight walk alone and gets picked up by a ’20s car, which takes him to a party. At the party, he meets Scott and Zelda, sees Cole Porter perform, and realizes that this is no ordinary get-together: he has traveled back in time to what he sees as Paris’ “golden age.” Gil continues his midnight walks, going back to the ’20s every night, and finds a new perspective of both his life and his work.

The cast:
Owen Wilson as Gil, Rachel McAdams as Inez, Marion Cotillard as Adriana, Alison Pill as Zelda Fitzgerald, Tom Hiddleston as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway, Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein, Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali

(Image via studenthandouts.com)

Fun facts:

  • Midnight in Paris was the opening film at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. This was the second of Allen’s films to be given the honor of opening the festival.
  • Woody Allen first attempted to shoot the film in 2006.
  • Marion Cotillard was Woody Allen’s first choice for Adriana, as was Rachel McAdams for Inez. Allen reportedly told McAdams, “You want to play some bitchy parts.”
  • Carla Bruni was the First Lady of France during the time that she filmed her role as the museum guide.
  • The film received four Oscar nominations and took home the award for Best Original Screenplay. However, as usual, Allen did not attend the ceremony.
  • The character of Gil was rewritten by Allen to better suit Owen Wilson when he was cast in the film.

Favorite things:

  • The soundtrack and score are consistently beautiful.
  • Even though the film argues for living in the present, I can’t help but be jealous of Gil’s ability to visit the 1920s every time I watch the film.
  • The extremely talented cast filling the roles of literary giants and historical figures carry out their roles effortlessly. As a fan of many of the figures portrayed in the film, I was impressed. Adrien Brody and Corey Stoll are particular favorites.
  • Owen Wilson’s portrayal of Gil’s bewilderment the first time he realizes that he isn’t in the 21st century anymore
  • Adriana’s wardrobe (and the styling of the 1920s characters in general)
  • Gil pitching the idea for The Exterminating Angel to Luis Buñuel
  • The incident with Inez’s earrings
  • Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec making an appearance in the Belle Epoque scene, looking suspiciously identical to Jose Ferrer’s portrayal of the artist in 1952. (Did Woody Allen time travel and bring Ferrer back for the role?)
(Image via allgussiedup.com)
  • Quotes:
    • Paul: “All that’s missing is the tuberculosis.”
    • Hemingway: “No subject is terrible if the story is true.”
    • Hemingway: “All cowardice comes from not loving or not loving well, which is the same thing.”
    • Adriana: “The past has always had a great charisma for me.”
    • Adriana: “You’re interesting, too… in a lost way.”
    • Gil (speaking of his relationship with Inez): “We both like pita bread.”
    • Gertrude Stein: “We all fear death and question our place in the universe.”
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