In “Midnight in Paris.” Owen Wilson time travels back to Paris in the 1920s. The film’s famed director, Woody Allen, must think he’s time travelved– back to 1977.
Woody--75 years old–hasn’t been this popular since he released “Annie Hall” in 1977. He may think he’s time traveled back to that era. His “Midnight in Paris” has now earned over $14 million in the U.S., and $32.2 million worldwide. At the rate it’s going, “Midnight in Paris” will be Woody’s biggest hit ever. Ever. Who’d-a thunk it? Even with “Vicki Cristina Barcelona” and “Match Point” in Woody’s recent group of films, nothing prepared anyone for this. Owen Wilson is no doubt a help. But it’s the movie itself– people love “Midnight in Paris.” It’s Woody’s first ever across the board crowd pleaser.
Next up for Woody, besides his Rome movie, is a one act play that will run with one-acters by Elaine May and Ethan Coen. I’m told that Woody’s and Ethan’s plays will share casts because of their large sizes. Marlo Thomas is still set just for Elaine May’s contribution. John Turturro, a Coen buddy, directs all three under the name “Relatively Speaking,” next fall on Broadway. By the way. if you’re enjoying all the great little moments in “Midnight in Paris”: at the Tony Awards, Nina Arianda, who plays Michael Sheen‘s odd wife, told me that she and Sheen just improv’d their whole bit, especially Arianda’s character’s propensity for saying French words twice because she thinks she’s mispronounced them. Genius!
