Midnight in Paris

No, no. Not The Kooks (I wish).

Woody Allen’s latest film, Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy with a little French oooh la. The story of an American couple in Paris is one entertaining on-screen love story. Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her husband-to-be Gil (Owen Wilson) was the film which opened the Cannes Film Festival this year.

Basically, Gil is a successful Hollywood writer but is struggling on his first novel. He falls in love with the city and thinks they should move there after they get married, but Inez does not share his romantic notions of the city or the idea that the 1920s was the golden age. When Inez goes off dancing with her friends, Gil takes a walk at midnight and discovers what could be the ultimate source of inspiration for writing. Gil’s daily walks at midnight in Paris could take him closer to the heart of the city but further from the woman he’s about to marry.

The film has been very well received in Paris as it’s very much about Allen’s own love affair with the city. “Of course I’m partial to New York because I was born and grew up there,” says Allen. “But if I didn’t live in New York, Paris is the place I would live.” The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and the first lady of France, Carla Bruni, among others.

“Midnight in Paris is a wonderful love letter to Paris,” said Cannes Film Festival director Thierry Fremaux. “It’s a film in which Woody Allen takes a deeper look at the issues raised in his last films: our relationship with history, art, pleasure and life. His 41st feature reveals once again his inspiration.”

Midnight in Paris opens in Australia October 20.