In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Year: 2008
Director: Alex Holdridge
Stars: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: IFC Films
Running Time: 101 Mins
Official Website: http://www.insearchofamidnightkiss.com/
In Search of a Midnight Kiss has had the privilege to play at some of best festivals out there before being picked up by IFC Films. These festivals include, the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, 2007 Chicago International Film Festival and winning Best Narrative Feature at the 2008 Florida Film Festival.
The film takes places on New Year’s Eve where a twenty-nine year old
, Wilson (Scoot McNairy), who hasn’t had a good year, as he has no date for the biggest night of the year. His best friend feeling sorry for him suggests that he should go on Craig’s List to find his date. Soon he meets up with Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a woman who is very hell bent on finding the right person to spend her New Year’s eve with. They would spend the day and night through a journey into the streets of Los Angeles, as it will be a night that they both would soon not forget.
While, watching In Search of a Midnight Kiss, I couldn’t noticed the fact that it reminded me of Cameron Crowe’s Singles, which was released in 1992, where the film was about a bunch of twenty-somethings who were looking for love in Seattle. That film looked at everything from the club scene to video dating services. Fast forward to today, you have In Search of a midnight Kiss. This film here also focuses on relationships. But this time unlike in the film that I just mentioned it, this film examines on how people put personals on the Internet, while also focusing on how they feel the need for love and companionship.
I
n Search of a Midnight Kiss is the Best Independent film and one of the best films overall that I’ve seen this year, period. Alex Holdridge’s direction is one the best directing jobs of the year, so far. The direction was just great. Holdridge does great job with directing his two main leads, Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds. He lets, his actors develop a bond between their characters, which leads to very good chemistry with each other. Holdridge also lets the city of Los Angeles become a nice backdrop within the film. Some of that credit also goes to the film’s Cinematographer, Robert Murphy, as he shoots Los Angeles in a beautiful way that’s not seen in many films, as you feel at times that the city is a character in the film.
Another thing that makes this film enjoyable was the acting. Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds give great performances here. One of the things that they do to make their characters interesting was that they made their characters opposite from each other and interesting. It really made me care for the characters, as the day went on. They also handled the humorous parts very well. They did that by, adding quirks to their characters, which made the experience and the time watching this film, a joy to watch.
The other thing that makes this film a major success was Alex Holdridge’s screenplay. His screenplay develops these two characters and the day that they spend together. Holdridge does that, by focusing on the character’s relationship, during the course of the film. He does that, by starting them off, as two characters with different personalities wh
ere you think that this relationship that would not last. But during the course of the film, you’ll see that they are alike in someway-strange way. Also, the subplots in the film were done very well with Wilson’s best friend and his relationship along with Vivian’s problem with her ex-boyfriend, as they were both entertaining while not hurting the warmness this film has. What also made this film entertaining and very enjoyable was the humor that Holdridge uses. The humor was done in way, where it’s funny and enjoyable, while not losing your interest, in the main characters and the development of their relationship.
I highly urge you to check this film out, if playing in your local area because this one of those films that cannot be missed, if you are looking for a great date movie. In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a funny and heartwarming look on how people can be desperate for love and companionship.
The film is currently playing in New York City at the IFC Center. The film will also open in limited release, This Friday. Check the film’s official website, to see where it’s playing. Also, if you can’t wait that long, you can check the film, right now through IFC on Demand. Check your local cable company for availability.
Review Rating: 5 Stars.
The film takes places on New Year’s Eve where a twenty-nine year old
, Wilson (Scoot McNairy), who hasn’t had a good year, as he has no date for the biggest night of the year. His best friend feeling sorry for him suggests that he should go on Craig’s List to find his date. Soon he meets up with Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a woman who is very hell bent on finding the right person to spend her New Year’s eve with. They would spend the day and night through a journey into the streets of Los Angeles, as it will be a night that they both would soon not forget.While, watching In Search of a Midnight Kiss, I couldn’t noticed the fact that it reminded me of Cameron Crowe’s Singles, which was released in 1992, where the film was about a bunch of twenty-somethings who were looking for love in Seattle. That film looked at everything from the club scene to video dating services. Fast forward to today, you have In Search of a midnight Kiss. This film here also focuses on relationships. But this time unlike in the film that I just mentioned it, this film examines on how people put personals on the Internet, while also focusing on how they feel the need for love and companionship.
I
n Search of a Midnight Kiss is the Best Independent film and one of the best films overall that I’ve seen this year, period. Alex Holdridge’s direction is one the best directing jobs of the year, so far. The direction was just great. Holdridge does great job with directing his two main leads, Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds. He lets, his actors develop a bond between their characters, which leads to very good chemistry with each other. Holdridge also lets the city of Los Angeles become a nice backdrop within the film. Some of that credit also goes to the film’s Cinematographer, Robert Murphy, as he shoots Los Angeles in a beautiful way that’s not seen in many films, as you feel at times that the city is a character in the film.Another thing that makes this film enjoyable was the acting. Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds give great performances here. One of the things that they do to make their characters interesting was that they made their characters opposite from each other and interesting. It really made me care for the characters, as the day went on. They also handled the humorous parts very well. They did that by, adding quirks to their characters, which made the experience and the time watching this film, a joy to watch.
The other thing that makes this film a major success was Alex Holdridge’s screenplay. His screenplay develops these two characters and the day that they spend together. Holdridge does that, by focusing on the character’s relationship, during the course of the film. He does that, by starting them off, as two characters with different personalities wh
ere you think that this relationship that would not last. But during the course of the film, you’ll see that they are alike in someway-strange way. Also, the subplots in the film were done very well with Wilson’s best friend and his relationship along with Vivian’s problem with her ex-boyfriend, as they were both entertaining while not hurting the warmness this film has. What also made this film entertaining and very enjoyable was the humor that Holdridge uses. The humor was done in way, where it’s funny and enjoyable, while not losing your interest, in the main characters and the development of their relationship.I highly urge you to check this film out, if playing in your local area because this one of those films that cannot be missed, if you are looking for a great date movie. In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a funny and heartwarming look on how people can be desperate for love and companionship.
The film is currently playing in New York City at the IFC Center. The film will also open in limited release, This Friday. Check the film’s official website, to see where it’s playing. Also, if you can’t wait that long, you can check the film, right now through IFC on Demand. Check your local cable company for availability.
Review Rating: 5 Stars.
Awesome review. This opens here very soon-- I think the end of the month. Can't wait to see it.