Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

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"Midnight in Paris" – Pleasing But Not Compelling

June 12, 2011

(courtesy: Sony Pictures Classics)

I didn’t love it.

I wanted to, because the reviews have been good and a few of my friends gave it raves. I thought it was a moderately enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon, but I wasn’t nearly as enthralled as I’d hoped.

Yes, the setting is lovely. What’s not to like about shot after shot of Paris? That said, I thought Nancy Myers’ cinematographer did a better job in “Something’s Gotta Give” in the scenes where Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson find their way to the city in the movie’s third act. Now those were magical. Woody’s could have been shot with a cell phone.

I get a kick out of Owen Wilson when he’s in a buddy flick with Vince Vaughn (as in “Wedding Crashers”), but not when he has to carry a movie and appears in virtually every scene. A little of him goes a long way with me. He’s just not an appealing leading man IMHO.

The plot gimmick of the time travel (spoiler alert) wears thin after the third or fourth time Owen is whisked away after midnight. I knew from the second he met the girl selling the Cole Porter record that he’d end up with her in the end.

The good news was that Marion Cotillard was in the movie. I could watch her read a grocery list. She elevates every part she plays (mostly what she does here is look alluring and smoke cigarettes). Rachel McAdams was a hoot as the acquisitive fiancee – much more fun than when she plays saccharine.

For anyone who hasn’t seen “Midnight in Paris,” here’s the trailer.

 

 

Filed Under: Mainly Jane, Movies Tagged With: Marion Cotillard, Midnight in Paris, Nancy Myers, Owen Wilson, Paris, Rachel McAdams, Something's Gotta Give, Woody Allen

I Wish I Were At Cannes

May 12, 2011

Yeah, I know. Who wouldn’t want to be in France for the annual film festival. I’m just thinking that this year sounds like an especially good one to check out because of its eclectic crop of movies, starting with Woody Allen’s new offering.

Woody isn’t as laugh-out-loud funny as he used to be, but his stories have an unmistakable charm and he never ceases to load up his casts with interesting actors.

The other reason I wish I were at Cannes is that workmen will soon begin to renovate the rotted out deck/porch of this house, which means three weeks of noise, interruption, stress. I’m trying to get back to a writing routine after surgery and the last thing I need is a bunch of guys showing up at 7 am, blasting their boom box and making a racket. But such is life. Maybe I’ll invest in a good pair of headphones. Either that or I’ll spend a lot of time at my local library.

Filed Under: Mainly Jane, Movies Tagged With: Cannes Film Festival, Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen

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About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.

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