An entertaining and relaxing film about the splendors of Paris in the 1920s

Rating: Null/10 (23 October 2011)

Being a Woody Allen film, I entered this film with high expectations. The beautiful cinematic beginning set the tone for this movie, with about 3 minutes of beautiful music set to a back drop of the lovely Parisian streets. The start set the tone for the relaxing yet thoroughly engaging film, that enabled us to view he wonders of Paris, that artists were privy to in the 1920s. The casting of Owen Wilson as the main protagonist was wonderful, and he was able to redeem himself for atrocity that was Hall Pass. His relaxed and 'take it as it comes' demeanor set the tone for the movie, and the casting of Rachel McAdams, as the beautiful, yet extremely materialistic and self absorbed wife made Wilson's characters desire to move to Paris understandable.
The introduction of the famous artists, that included Hemingway, Picasso, T.S Elliot, and Scott and Zelda Fitzpatrick was remarkably done. It was obvious that, Allen respected the audiences literary knowledge, by not introducing the background to the characters, but instead, slowing including their subtle nuances, which provided many laughs, especially that Picasso's erratic nature.
Marion Cottilard was once again brilliant, as the beautiful and enticing mistress of Picasso. The on screen chemistry between Wilson and Cottilard was a redeeming quality throughout.
The only negative thing I could say about this movie, is that it seemed to finish with too many stories unanswered. The movie thoroughly deserves its 8.0 rating as it is beautiful directed and written.