This New Year’s Eve my family watched a most fitting movie: Midnight
in Paris. As time relentlessly marches forward and 2011 refuses to
stay, we hung out with a narrator who is immerses in nostalgia and wishes he
could roll back the clock.
This Woody Allen movie is a lovely tale with a picturesque backdrop.
The story’s message, given a bit heavy-handedly at the end, is that the best
time is the time we’re in. At any rate, we don’t have a choice in the matter.
Until a reliable Time Machine is invented, this is where we are, and the
forward march continues undeterred.
Or does it? It occurs to me that in literature you can, in
that special way we inhabit stories, really be in any time and any place. We
can even take others with us. They’re called readers.
I’m not smart enough to think of time in terms of physics,
or metaphysics. But I know stories.
I look at Father Time in this old fashioned card, and
suddenly I don’t feel oppressed by him.
Cheers!
14 comments:
Here's to another year of taking readers back in time, entertaining them in the present, or accompanying them into the future with our stories. Cheers to you, too!
I keep hearing people talk about this movie--I'll have to check it out. Happy New Year! :-)
Since I esp. love historical fiction, I travel back in time on a regular basis. Here's to enjoying the present!
We watched this movie over the holidays. I just loved the soundtrack and the stunning shots of Paris.
Please tell me the Paris movie is less creepy that what he did with Barcelona! I was sooooo disappointed in that, especially since it was my first Woody Allen film since, you know, that thing with not-his-wife's daughter...
Midnight in Paris is lovely, Ann. I would not have watched the other one (that “B’ movie…) with my kids.
And speaking of my kids, neither will watch R rated movies if you paid them. I know some will say, "That's what they want YOU to think." (Wink-wink) But I know them well and they are squeamish about lots of stuff. Midnight in Paris is rated PG-13, for some sexual innuendo (barely) and smoking. Growing up with two parents who smoked, I never thought I'd live to see the day this will be rated for parental guidance...
Time really does not stand still.
I've never seen this. I'm going to have to start a "to be watched" list beside my "to be read" list.
I've heard that this is a good movie. It is part of the magic of books that we can be transported in time and place- as you say. A lovely way to express it.
I thought about it but never watched it. Maybe.
I enjoyed Midnight in Paris, it was a great movie to see on the plane (to London, alas, not Paris). I stopped watching the Barcelona movie in the middle, couldn't take it with or without kids... and I hardly ever leave in the middle of a movie.
My favorite Woody Allen movie is "Eveybody says I love you" in the style of 1940s musicals - Goldie Hawn and Allen Alda sing and dance like Broadway pros!
"It occurs to me that in literature you can, in that special way we inhabit stories, really be in any time and any place. We can even take others with us. They’re called readers." <--Love this! So true.
Happy New Year!
I LOVED Midnight in Paris. My daughter and I went to see it on impulse, knowing nothing about it. What a delight to find out it was (a) about a writer, and (b) an homage to literary icons of the 20s. You're right, it's a very fitting movie for New Years Eve.
I'm way behind when it comes to movies, but I now want to see this too. And after reading Hava's comment, I REALLY want to see the one she mentioned, with Alan Alda and Goldie Hawn singing Broadway-musical style.
Happy New Year!
Midnight in Paris! great movie the story,soundtrack and the place! perfect...
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