In Search of a Midnight Kiss

I think everyone who loves movies has a few of them. The movies that seem to be speaking directly to them. They don't come along often but that makes them all the more special when they do. From the opening moments of "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" I knew this was to be such a film for me.
Wilson (Scoot McNairy) is a struggling screenwriter whose move from Austin to L.A. hasn't worked out as well as he'd hoped. It's New Year's Eve, the most depressing year of his life is coming to an end, and all he wants to do is crawl into a corner somewhere and forget about it. But Wilson's best friend Jacob (Brian McGuire) won't let him. Against his better judgment, Wilson takes Jacob's advice and posts an ad on Craigslist. "We're inviting total insanity into our house," Wilson laments. But Jacob insists, "That's a good thing!"
It's not long before Wilson's phone rings. Not knowing what he's getting himself into Wilson reluctantly agrees to meet with the pushy woman on the other end who tells him, "I'm meeting three other guys today and I'm gonna decide in five minutes whether I like you or not." The awkwardness that follows in the next few scenes is very true to life. Wilson insisting he's not comfortable in the ridiculous outfit Jacob has picked out for him and the moment Wilson meets Vivian (Sara Simmonds) are very funny and realistic.
Vivian talks fast, chain smokes, and is giving Wilson until six o'clock to make an impression. The two are not sure where this is all going but their conversation is lively and engaging as they walk through the surprisingly photogenic streets of Los Angeles. While we may think we know where this is going (and up to a point we do as you'll see from the trailer) the film actually ends up somewhere we don't expect. The subplot involving Jacob and his girlfriend Min (Kathleen Luong) plays a part in that as well. It's a subplot more interesting than the main plot of a lot of films.
Written and directed with black and white photography by Alex Holdridge, "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" is a great film sharply focused on character and dialogue, similar in spirit to "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset." There are a couple moments that feel a little too Kevin Smith, but for the most part this is great dialogue that sounds unique. Comedy, drama, and romance all flow together beautifully here. Holdridge casts well too. McNairy is likable throughout and he's so natural that you really can't catch the man acting. Simmonds has a bit of a tougher task with a character that could have ended up a cliche in the wrong hands. She does a wonderful job displaying the many sides of Vivian to Wilson and the audience.
This is the kind of movie that makes writing these reviews worthwhile. I'm guessing most of you have never heard of it but I really really want people to find this one. It's a terrific movie that you won't soon forget. It is currently in limited release. In Seattle it plays at the Varsity through Thursday. 9/10.