Cinema of the City

Woody Allen has a muse whose influence surfaces in nearly every film he has ever made. It's not Diane Keaton or Scarlett Johansson--even they take second billing to his real love: New York City. Anyone who has sat through an Allen flick can tell you that many of his stories operate as though NYC is the center of the universe, or even its own little universe. It takes quite a place to inspire the paeans that New York has, and I'm hard pressed to think of too many other cities that are as romanticized in film as the Big Apple. Wong Kar-wai's vision of Hong Kong in Chung King Express comes close to Allen-style city worship, but the one metropolitan area that really gives New York a run for its money in the cinematic reverence realm is Paris. It's been portrayed as equally historical and modern, glamorous and gritty, sinister and romantic. The City of Light has a skyline full of potential, and it offers unlimited inspiration and revelation for the film auteur. Director Cedric Klapisch pays homage to the city in Paris, a story about a brother/sister relationship that features the lovely Juliette Binoche, but ultimately shines a spotlight on the city itself. Paris plays as part of the Magnolia at the Modern series on Friday at 6 and 8:15 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 4:15 p.m. Tickets are $8.50. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is at 3200 Darnell St. Visit themodern.org/magnolia.
Fri., Nov. 6, 6 & 8:15 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 7, 5 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 8, 2 & 4:15 p.m., 2009