The Nostalgic Woody Allen Movie You Have To Watch On Amazon Prime Video

Woody Allen has been in the spotlight again lately, thanks to Allen v. Farrow, a four-part documentary that covers the allegations of child molestation made against the filmmaker in the 1990s. But, if you're still not sure about his guilt or innocence, or if you're curious about how Allen got the kind of power he has over the imaginations of moviegoers around the country, you might wish to indulge in the craftsmanship that his movies offer to countless film fans.

Love his work or hate it, Allen has been involved in the writing or direction of over 50 films and TV shows since the 1950s, including classics like Annie Hall, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Stardust Memories. They're often quirky, neurotic romantic comedies set in New York that feature an existential bent. And one film that's considered one of his best works is now available through Amazon Prime Video. You can rent it starting at $2.99 (for the standard version) or purchase it for $12.99.

Released in 2011, Midnight in Paris was a sleeper hit, becoming Allen's top-grossing film in North America after first opening in only six theaters and then moving on to a nationwide debut. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the more artistic film resonated with audiences because of its "everyman" main character, the way it embraces Paris as a setting, and the great reviews. 

The film received four Academy Award nominations in 2012, including Best Picture, ultimately winning for Writing (Original Screenplay). On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 93 percent Tomatometer score out of 224 reviews, with an 83 percent audience score. Reel Talk Online called the film "extremely imaginative and invigorating," while Empire said it was "light, assured, and utterly charming." 

The fantasy comedy-drama featuring time travel elements delves into themes of nostalgia and modernism. The main character, Gil (Owen Wilson), and his fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) come to Paris with her parents on vacation. He's a disillusioned Hollywood scriptwriter, trying to finish his debut novel. She starts spending time with some other friends who've also shown up in Paris, Paul (Michael Sheen) and Carol (Nina Arianda). He takes up wandering the streets late at night for inspiration and soon finds himself whisked off to hobnob with cultural icons of the 1920s, including F. Scott Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston), Zelda Fitzgerald (Alison Pill), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), Salvador Dali (Adrien Brody), and Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates).

Like many of Allen's best films, Midnight in Paris strikes a personal chord with viewers, and this may be because, as critic Patrick Nabarro says, "In its unadulterated submission to the fantasy-life of its protagonist, it does offer an uplifting ode to the notion that honoring the idealistic sides of ourselves is often the best therapy."