Alex Holdridge has written and directed a sweet, funny little indie movie.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:57
Fresh:48
Rotten:9
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: Funny, quirky, and bittersweet, In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a romantic comedy with a heart and a brain -- and stands as a sharp debut for director Alex Holdridge.
Theatrical Release:13-06-2008
Synopsis: If Woody Allen had been in his 20s in Los Angeles in the new millennium, he might have made IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS. This ode to technology-fueled romance and indie filmmaking features some of... If Woody Allen had been in his 20s in Los Angeles in the new millennium, he might have made IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS. This ode to technology-fueled romance and indie filmmaking features some of the hallmarks of Allen's early career: a neurotic and lonely "hero," an unhinged but nevertheless attractive love interest, witty dialogue, and black-and-white cinematography. As New Year's Eve approaches, Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is close to age 30 and far from where he wants to be in life. And if it weren't for the efforts of his roommate Jacob (Brian McGuire), he might be content to spend the holiday alone on his couch. But with some prompting, Wilson posts a personal ad on the online site Craig's List, which leads him to a date with Vivian (Sara Simmonds). The seemingly mismatched pair wanders the streets of Los Angeles as midnight--and the possibility of a kiss--approaches. Fans of earnest indie romances such as BEFORE SUNRISE and ONCE will find it hard not to fall in love with IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS. There's an honesty here that is immediately appealing, and it's easy to identify with the film's mix of romantic cynicism and hope. Director Alex Holdridge (SEXLESS) has created a film that lacks the sheen and shimmer of Hollywood romantic comedies, and the audience is the lucky beneficiary of this heartfelt gift. [More]
Starring: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire, Katy Luong
Starring: Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds, Brian McGuire, Katy Luong, Bret Roberts, Twink Caplan, Robert Murphy, Nic Harcourt
Director: Alex Holdridge
Director: Alex Holdridge
Screenwriter: Alex Holdridge
Producer: Seth Caplan, Scoot McNairy
Studio: IFC First Take
Reviews for In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Lovingly photographed in a monochrome that recalls Woody Allen’s Manhattan, this is a slickly scripted rom-com.
Obviously heavily influenced by the likes of Swingers and Before Sunrise, it nevertheless manages to find its own voice, combining sentiment with cynicism to create a very modern romantic comedy.
Beautifully shot, brilliantly written and superbly acted relationship drama that single-handedly restores your faith in indie movies.
A terrific example of how no-budget filmmaking often produces the most effective romantic dramas. And this film has humour and charm to spare.
A very funny, talky and kvetchy film about loneliness and connections, mixing romance with frank sex talk and building into poignancy.
It's a great feeling, isn't it, falling in love with a movie about falling in love?
In Search Of A Midnight Kiss shows enough flashes of brightness that its more conventional business is all the more dispiriting.
There is no magic here. This is not Paris, these are not Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, and Holdridge's script does not give us a reason to care what happens to these characters.
Holdridge is clever enough to keep his characters from slipping into outright narcissism, or when they do, he’s familiar enough with the art of mainstream moviemaking to balance the exhausted with the ecstatic.
What follows - walking, talking, flirting, fighting - is a charming piece of low-budget, improv-y filmmaking in the tradition of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise.
An offbeat looking-for-love comedy with enough fresh notes to please even jaded viewers.
Shot in black and white and edited extremely well, Kiss is funny and consistently credible.
In Search of a Midnight Kiss is a surprising charmer, a wandering modern romantic comedy with enough bittersweet aftertaste to give it substance and enough wit to keep you entertained.
Writer/director Alex Holdridge maintains the intrigue of Wilson and Vivian's dance through a combination of naturalistic dialogue and a magical-realist style.
A naturalistic mix of vulgarity and romanticism gives this independent effort a mainstream appeal.
How incongruous that while veteran studio heads prepare slates of comic book movies, the slackers behind this $12,000 gem have made one of the most mature films of the year.
Latest News for In Search of a Midnight Kiss
August 11, 2008:
Lonely hearts rendezvous on New Year's Eve in offbeat romantic comedy. ![]()
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August 01, 2008:
Alex Holdridge Is In Search of a Midnight Kiss ![]()
Just in time for the limited release of In Search of a Midnight Kiss, indieWIRE has posted its profile of director Alex Holdridge -- including a look at the strong similarities... More...
June 29, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
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June 12, 2008:
Crafting a Midnight Kiss - Behind-the-Scenes of a Lo-Fi Indie
It brought audiences to tears at Tribeca, kept them coming back at Edinburgh and warmed stone-cold critics' hearts at Raindance. In Search of a Midnight Kiss was described as... More...
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