Paris Can Wait is a 2016 comedy film written, co-produced, and directed by Eleanor Coppola in her narrative directorial debut, as all of her previous directorial efforts had been documentaries and short films.[4] It stars Diane Lane, Alec Baldwin and Arnaud Viard [fr].

Paris Can Wait
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEleanor Coppola
Written byEleanor Coppola
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyCrystel Fournier
Edited by
Music byLaura Karpman
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • 12 September 2016 (2016-09-12) (TIFF)
  • 12 May 2017 (2017-05-12) (United States)
Running time
92 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[2]
Box office$13.2 million[3]

Plot edit

Anne (Diane Lane) is in Cannes with her husband Michael (Alec Baldwin), a prominent movie producer. As the festival ends, she learns that the vacation she and her husband were supposed to go on in Paris will be slightly delayed as they need to go to Budapest first. They plan to fly to Paris, but the pilot suggests Anne not fly due to an ear infection. Michael's producing partner Jacques (Arnaud Viard [fr]) offers to drive Anne to Paris himself.

What is supposed to be a short car ride quickly develops into a pleasant leisurely trip as Jacques, a French foodie, can't resist taking any opportunity he can to stop every hour or so to sample new food. He is also openly flirtatious with Anne, but she begins to question his intentions when he repeatedly uses her credit card to foot the bill for the gourmet meals they are sampling.

They visit a church (the 11th-century Romanesque Basilica of St Magdalene in Vezelay, France) where Anne grieves the baby she lost, and tells Jacques she wears her locket necklace in his honor. They share a romantic dinner together where Jacques admires Anne's photography, and asks why she doesn't share it with her husband.

Later, on the road, Jacques confides that only he knows his brother's death was a suicide, and he carries that burden so his nephew doesn't have to know. They finally reach the place where Anne is staying and almost kiss, but the elevator doors close in on them. Anne sees Jacques has driven away, but he returns to kiss her passionately and ask her to a rendez-vous with him later in San Francisco.

The morning after, just before her husband is meant to arrive in Paris, she receives a package from Jacques with chocolate roses and the money she had lent him on the trip. It includes a note that reminds her of the restaurant they will be meeting at, and she smiles at the camera, pleased.

Cast edit

Production edit

In February 2015, it was announced Eleanor Coppola would direct the film from a screenplay she had written, with Diane Lane, Yvan Attal and Nicolas Cage joining the cast of the film, with Fred Roos producing under their American Zoetrope banner.[5] In September 2015, it was announced Arnaud Viard and Alec Baldwin had joined the cast of the film, replacing Attal and Cage, respectively, with Lifetime joining as a co-producer.[6][7]

Filming edit

Principal photography began on June 15, 2015[8] and concluded on July 31, 2015.[9]

Release edit

The film had its world premiere in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2016.[10] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American distribution rights to the film, releasing it on May 12, 2017.[11]

Reception edit

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 47% based on 111 reviews, with an average rating of 5.39/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Paris Can Wait's likable stars are ill-served by a film that lacks interesting ideas or characters and has little to offer beyond striking travelogue visuals."[12] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 48 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Paris Can Wait (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "Paris Can Wait – PowerGrind". The Wrap. May 11, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Paris Can Wait (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "Paris Can Wait". Protagonist Pictures. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  5. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 5, 2015). "Protagonist boards Coppola road movie Bonjour Anne". Screen Daily. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  6. ^ McNary, Dave (September 11, 2015). "Toronto: Sales Launch on Diane Lane's 'Bonjour Anne'". Variety. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  7. ^ A. Lincoln, Ross (September 11, 2015). "Diane Lane Pic 'Bonjour Anne' Wraps Ahead Of Sales Push; Jonathan Rhys Meyers To Topline 'Shambhala' – Toronto Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  8. ^ "On the Set for 6/15/15: Martin Scorsese Starts Shooting "Free Fire", Matthew McConaughey Finishes "Free State of Jones" & More". SSN Insider. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "On the Set for 7/31/15: Chris Pratt Wraps 'Magnificent Seven', Dwayne Johnson Completes 'Central Intelligence', Chris Hemsworth Finishes 'The Huntsman'". SSN Insider. July 31, 2015. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Paris Can Wait". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 19, 2016). "'Paris Can Wait' Lands At Sony Pictures Classics: Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "Paris Can Wait (Bonjour Anne) (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "Paris Can Wait reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 10, 2017.

External links edit