IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS
US, 2007, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Scoot Mc Nairy, Sarah Simmons, Brian Mc Guire, Kathleen Luong, Twink Caplan.
Directed by Alex Aldridge.
A quirky independent US movie that is much better than the average romantic comedy. The central characters are flawed and live in the unreality of the American dream of success (especially in the movie world of LA) and, in their loneliness, have succumbed to a self-centred moral world where their problems and their sad moods eliminate the rest of the world. But, we know they are better than that. This story takes place over one day, New Year’s Eve, and by the time it is over, they may have taken only one small step to opening up to a fuller and better life. But, at least, it is a step.
The midnight kiss of the title is the New Year’s kiss as the old year goes on its way and the new year arrives full of hopes (or, at least, some resolutions).
Wilson (Scoot Mc Nairy) is a would-be writer who has broken up with his girlfriend back home and is glumly stuck in Los Angeles, pining for her and doing nothing with his screenplay. His chirpy DJ friend enters his name and details on a dating website. Wilson somewhat reluctantly goes to meet the first caller who fits him in as one of four men she is interviewing for a New Year’s Eve date. He seems to be OK for her requirements but waits until she meets and dismisses the fourth interviewee, which he listens into with some dismay.
She, Vivian (Sara Simonds), has come to LA with her boyfriend to be an actress (what else?) but has not succeeded and has broken up with the boyfriend (who appears later in a frantically angry phone call sequence).
What we do is follow Wilson and Vivian around the city for the rest of the day. Without quite realising it, they really do open up to each other, able to confide and confess, and feel somewhat better about themselves. They do clash but are able to talk things through. After a nice meal, then a worried rush to her apartment to rescue her things which her boyfriend threatens to burn, they go to a party where the DJ is about to propose to his girlfriend.
City atmosphere is important. Photographed in black and white, the film nevertheless brings central Los Angeles alive, makes it real. Dialogue is important. It’s the kind of dialogue that Woody Allen tended to write for his New York stories decades ago: revealing, whimsical, significant and sometimes pleasantly inconsequential.
The central characters are turning thirty. It is a film especially for that age group probably mirroring a great deal of life for those who are still searching for the midnight kiss and well beyond.
1.The title, the credits, New York, thirtysomethings, hopes, symbols?
2.The effect of the black and white photography, the city of Los Angeles, apartments and streets, restaurants? Broadway, the subway? The parties? December 31st? An atmosphere of realism? The musical score?
3.Wilson as a character, audience interest, sympathy? His story? The past, his relationship with Karen, the break-up? As a writer? His voice-over, the commentary on working on the video store? Lonely, Jacob and Min, his sexual outlet and the photo of Min, her reaction, his embarrassment?
4.The room, Jacob, energy, relationships, Min and Jacob, the two years together, her reactions to Jacob, to Wilson? The sexual relationship with Jacob? The build-up to the proposal, the fact, the party, the ring? Their future?
5.Wilson and his personality, Jacob placing the ad on the Net? The information about him, waiting for calls? The first phone call, his mother ringing – and the contrast with her liveliness and partying? His sending the email to Karen, telling the truth, deleting it and putting a bland message? Her later response on the answering machine? Answering Vivian’s call? The preparation, the clothes? The fuss, his self-image?
6.Waiting in the restaurant, Vivian watching him? The interview, brief? Vivian’s eccentricities, the other man coming for the interview, the brevity, her direct questions, his being hurt? Wilson overhearing?
7.Vivian giving him a two-hours test, walking around the city, talking, confiding in each other, her being upset, the hit, her staying?
8.Vivian and her past, would-be actress, her hopes, the tense relationship with her boyfriend, revealing to Wilson that she was pregnant, not having told the boyfriend? The break-up, living in a hotel, her dates, her manner, her reactions to Wilson?
9.Wilson brightening, telling her all the truth about himself, listening, all the embarrassing stories?
10.The phone call, her boyfriend, his anger, erupting through the phone, the threats? Vivian and Wilson going to her apartment, collecting her goods, the escape? The boyfriend and his burning things?
11.The dinner at the restaurant, enjoyable, communicating?
12.Going to the party, the crowd, Min, kissing Wilson, his reaction, leaving? The announcement of the engagement?
13.Vivian and Wilson and the night together?
14.The morning, Vivian deciding to go? The friendship with Wilson? The change in each of them? Their futures?
