1. As a fan of process, it’s always kind of fascinating watching a piece of art that is, in essence, trying to in some way, inspire art. Maybe Woody Allen doesn’t necessarily make movies that are meant to inspire specifically “art,” but there’s no question that a fair number of his movies are about the joy of living life. Considering the hyper self-awareness housed in Allen’s psychological makeup, it’s nice to see when he takes a break from the serious, and successfully manages to make a movie that is simply a joy to watch. Midnight in Paris is one of those Allen movies, almost a dream of writers, artists, and lovers of 1920s Paris, all funneled through the eyes and artistic sensibilities of Gil Pender, an artist who, himself, is a Woody Allen analogue: rambly, neurotic, romantic, and in a lot of ways, lost. Midnight in Paris is clearly Allen’s attempt at trying to reinvigorate something inside of himself, something to create art. And while in the end, it may be nothing more than just a light, fluffy romp through nostalgia’s rose colored lenses, it left me feeling a little more in love with the things that inspire me, and a little more willing to take long midnight walks in the hopes I can catch a glimpse of some of the magic that Gil saw. 

2. It’s funny that the same kind of pedantic, academic name dropping that Allen once mocked in Annie Hall is used here as both a villain (Inez & Paul), and in the construct of the movie, as this movie becomes a virtual “catch the reference” bonanza, that makes the movie as fun to figure out, as it is to watch. 

3. Any Woody Allen cast is going to be star studded, but it’s worth noting a few standouts. First, Alison Pill as Zelda Fitzgerald is pretty inspired. But Michael Sheen is absolutely brilliant in his role as Paul, so much so that I almost couldn’t stand it every time he was on the screen. Like, seriously, he made me livid. I wanted to rip his goddamn throat out. 

4. Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali is so much win. Need I remind you that Brody is the best?

5. So…who wants to go visit Paris?