The nominations for the 84th annual Academy Awards were released this morning, momentarily turning the entire Internet into a video store staffed by Randal from Clerks. While everyone debates the definition of “mainstream,” we’ll be taking a look at some of highlights of the nomination list. Today: Midnight in Paris, nominated for Best Picture, Directing (Woody Allen), Original Screenplay, and Art Direction.
Midnight in Paris
2011, USA
Directed by Woody Allen
There’s no denying that Woody Allen is a brilliant filmmaker, able to mix buoyant comedy and heartfelt tragedy together like an emotional speedball. But it’s fairly clear that his last handful (or two) of films haven’t been up to the high standard of his earlier work. Yes, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) features a fantastic performance by Penelope Cruz. But Match Point (2005) was basically an episode of SportsCentre hosted by Jessica Fletcher, and watching Jason Biggs attempt to find comedy in anything other than satyriasis undermined Anything Else (2003).
Midnight in Paris isn’t a bad film by any means. Its story of a screenwriter (Owen Wilson) who travels back in time to Paris of the 1920s is reasonably interesting, and capably made. But it’s entirely too precious, and full of broad humour and cheap clichés, including a few caricatured characters that seem to be lifted from a Michael Moore documentary. Instead of light and witty, it feels disposable and affected, and the paranormal premise just comes off as if Allen tried his hand at an episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Midnight in Paris is an entertaining film, but one that’s arguably not worthy of its major nominations.
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