Midnight In Paris

              Nostalgia. It's quite something when you think about it. How something, such as a memory, object, or even a perception of something from the past can make you miss and want that time to happen again so badly. Think of a happy moment in your own life about anything at all. Does it make you happy? Do you wish you could perhaps live that moment again to feel that original happiness the moment brought you? If you could, would you? In Midnight In Paris, a man is given the opportunity to do just that as the undeniable yearning for the past we all get now and then over whatever it may be is the film's major theme.
              Midnight In Paris centers around Gil, played by Owen Wilson (How Do You Know?). Gil is a successful screenwriter, who is at a bit of a mid-life crisis as he tries to transition from screenwriting to novel writing. Or as he puts it, write something of actual artistic value. He is enamored with the era of the 1920s and the artists from it, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein.
             The film begins with Gil and his fiancee Inez, played by Rachel McAdams, vacationing in Paris with her wealthy, conservative parents. While there they run into Inez's friend Paul (Michael Sheen of Frost/Nixon) and his wife. They spend some time together and while Inez adores him, Gil can't stand another minute of his company (Who can blame him? Paul is a pseudo-intellectual. Barf). To break off from their new found friends Gil decides to walk home one night. As he wanders the streets of Paris an old car drives up next to him at midnight and the people in it, all dressed in '20s clothing, invite to come along. Gil accepts and they go to a bar where it doesn't take long for him to notice that he has all of a sudden traveled back to the '20s. He is surrounded by the people and artist's he idolizes. From here Gil is off on a search of self discovery as he continues to visit the past and write his book.
             This movie has the potential to really connect to certain viewers, while perhaps shunning others. Fans of history (such as myself), or perhaps old writers and artists like Gil, will surely be intrigued and delighted by the constant cameos and drop ins of all the old well known artists that appear throughout the movie. I, myself highly enjoyed it, though I must admit I didn't know of everyone that popped up. Though I was constantly Googling names to learn about who I didn't know and I think that's another great affect this movie can have. You may not know all of the historical figures, but if you're interested than I can safely bet you'll probably be trying learn who they are.
            A huge piece to making this movie good goes to the acting of Owen Wilson. His enthusiasm and sincerity he brings to Gil's character is perfect in reflecting how excited he is to meet the people he idolizes, while also how confusing and complicating it's making the rest of his life. His Golden Globe nomination was well deserved, and in perhaps a lighter year with not so many strong candidates he could have scored an Oscar nod as well. But, if he had I don't think many critics would be saying anything against it.
            Rachel McAdams as always is charming and delightful in playing Inez, who though loves Gil, is just not on the same page with him in much of anything. Marion Cotillard (Inception) is wonderful as Adriana, a mistress of Picasso who begins to fall for Gil. Sheen is also perfect as Paul, who is just a tool. Though brief, the cameo roles are great as we get to see Kathy Bates (Revolutionary Road) play Gertrude Stein, and Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali, both of which just seem to fit perfectly.
            This review cannot be complete without mentioning Woody Allen. The great writer/director has done it again with this movie. The story idea is very fresh and original, not to mention well written and funny. Being shot on location in Paris makes it that much better as it really helps the audience get in with the feel of the city and connect with the characters more. It's no surprise this movie is up for 4 Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Allen, as well as the biggie, Best Picture.
            Overall, I have to give this movie 3.5 out of 4 stars and a thumbs up. I believe it is a story many can enjoy, but can see others not connecting with it and thus not enjoying it as much. However, I recommend you all see it first before you judge. This movie is out on DVD and Blu-Ray now and is also available at your local Redbox. Enjoy!

Editor's Note:  My next movie will be on the Best Picture nominee The Descendants starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

           Having never read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories myself, it's hard for me to cast any sort of judgement of comparison between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation and Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal. Though I believe it is safe to say the two don't add up to closely, and the same can probably go for the original stories and the movies. However, with such an iconic character as Holmes, to continue to retell and/or create new stories about him means people must be willing to change and adapt the character so it can seem fresh and new. Plus, the audience must be willing to accept this as well. The BBC did this just this past year with a mini series that placed Holmes as a detective in today's world and not the 1800s. This was a fresh new look and I'm glad to say that Director Guy Ritchie's version, though still in the 1800s, is still just as fun and fresh as the one we watched two years ago.
            Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows kicks off pretty much where we left off when the first one ended. Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) is finished helping Holmes solve cases as he is preparing to marry his fiance Mary. Holmes is as eccentric as ever as he's working on a new case. A case that if not solved could lead to the outbreak of World War I, only 25 years ahead of time. Holmes suspects well renowned Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris of Mad Men) to be behind all of it, which naturally no one else can seem to believe as it looks implausible. Of course Holmes doesn't take no for an answer, and sets out to stop Moriarty. Along the way he tricks Watson in to doing this one last case with him, all the while picking up the help of a gypsy woman named Madam Simza Heron (Noomi Rapace, who you might recognize as Lisbeth Salander from the original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), whose brother seems to be mixed up in the situation. Unlike in the first movie which stayed in London, this story takes the trio outside of England into France, Germany, and Switzerland as they race against time to try and prevent the outbreak of war.
            A Game of Shadows is nothing short of what you should expect from the Holmes sequel. With Guy Ritchie at the helm again as director you get the same kind of style, camera work and story telling that we received from the first one, as well as many of his other movies. For example, the great decision making on when to use his patented sudden slow motion in the middle of an action sequence that then quickly speeds up to the high speed action it was just in. The writers do a good job of keeping the personalities of the Holmes and Watson portrayed in the first movie the same, and thus allowing the back and forth done by Downey and Law to do most of the comedic work.
            Law is great again as Watson, the upper class doctor, but with an itch for danger and adventure that he just has a hard time staying away from, especially with Holmes around. Enough can't be said however about Downey's portrayal of Holmes. Yes, he's eccentric and self centered, but he's also hilarious and a bit of a bad ass as he is able to fight. Not many, if any other versions of Holmes go around having to fight their way out of jams when solving cases.
            Plenty of people reprise their roles from the first film in this installment, though most in a limited capacity. One such being Rachel McAdams' character Irene Adler whom sadly isn't seen enough. But that's just the way of the story and thus does no harm to the movie. In this film we also meet Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's brother, who is played by Stephen Fry (Known more for his voice work such as the Cheshire Cat in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland).
            Overall, this movie had a lot of the same elements that were fun and enjoyable in the first movie. Thankfully, they didn't rely on just this as the plot was new and clever on its own and would have made for just as an enjoyable movie if it was the first one and not a sequel. Plus, as far as I'm concerned whenever you can go into a sequel and its just as good as the first, then you have a winner.
             I give this movie 3 out of 4 stars and a thumbs up. This movie is still out in theaters now and I recommend you go see it there as it's probably one of the few out there worth spending ten dollars on. With the action and quality you can't go wrong. Enjoy!

Editor's Note:  Sorry for being out of the loop the last couple months. It's just been pretty crazy plus didn't really have much to review. Anyways, my next movie will be One Day, based on the book of the same name, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.