In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008) 8/10
It seems that every year, there is a little indie gem that comes out of nowhere and charms the hell out of everyone. Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Once etc. In Search Of A Midnight Kiss is this year’s breakout indie movie. With a largely unknown cast, shoestring budget and hardly any hype except for an impressive 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this beautiful film blends the talky charm of Linklater’s Before Sunrise with a dash of adult humor and sizzling chemistry between the leads. Director Alex Holdridge manages a film that takes a lot from similar films like Before Sunrise while creating something wholly original and refreshingly real. It is the most beautifully shot and heartfelt romantic film of the year. There is refreshing chemistry between leads Scoot McNairy and Sara Simmonds who play two disenchanted souls desperately seeking connection on New Year’s Eve. As they meet, argue, flirt and fall in love within the space of a day, the audience gets drawn into their lovely banter and connects with them. So much so that when the movie ends, you feel like it has ended too fast. Lensed in beautiful black and white, Los Angeles provides a scenic backdrop for this whimsical and beautifully crafted little film. Proof that you don’t need obscene amounts of money to make a good film, In Search of A Midnight Kiss is one of the best movies of 2008. This is a film about two lonely souls desperately seeking a connection on New Year’s Eve, and you the audience will certainly be drawn into this modern day tale of misanthrope seeking misanthrope.
“It’s about the heady intersection in the lives of two lonely people who may never again see each other but, in the instance, there’s nowhere else they would rather be and no one else they would rather be there with. In Search of a Midnight Kiss is wonderfully romantic and romantically bittersweet. It’s not about forever; it’s about now. “- James Berardinelli
“Beautifully shot, brilliantly written and superbly acted relationship drama that single-handedly restores your faith in indie movies.”- Matthew Turner
