Sigh. Woody Allen once again creates a masterpiece of American filmmaking with his latest film, “Midnight in Paris.” I waited for the film to come out on DVD, so excuse me for just now writing about a film that was in theaters last year.

From watching the trailer, Owen Wilson’s character, Gil, is believed to be cheating on his fiancée, Inez—played by the lovely Rachel McAdams; we witness Gil leaving his hotel room at night to walk the streets of Paris alone. It is presumed that he is rendezvousing with a glamorous Parisian woman. While this is partially true, the film is, in fact, much more complex than your average romantic comedy.

Gil is actually leaving his hotel at night and being transported back to 1920s Paris. In his current life, he is unfulfilled by the lackluster American city in which he lives. His relationship with Inez is strained, and she doesn’t seem to understand his psyche. As a writer, Gil is nostalgic about the great writers who emerged during the early 20th century in Paris, and the era and city itself. When he is transported back in time, he encounters some of the literary greats, and truly feels like he has found his place. The idea of time travel can be hokey, to say the least, but “Midnight in Paris” works it in seamlessly and with comedic freedom—as only Woody Allen could do.

The film closely mimics the era, when up-and-coming American writers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, flocked to Paris for inspiration—usually leaning on each other for camaraderie while simultaneously being each other’s competition. Every party that Gil attends is like the Who’s Who of the Roaring Twenties. For the audience, it’s like a literary trivia game.

Intentionally or unintentionally, the film’s greatest attribute is its underlying theme of nostalgia. Although the film is ultimately a love story, it is the nostalgia premise that will resonate with anyone who has an appreciation for literature, the arts or history. In truth, you’ll become nostalgic about the film that is about nostalgia; although, the youngsters will undoubtedly be hard-pressed to grasp the essence of what makes “Midnight in Paris” so mesmerizing.

The film is Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, although I believe either “The Help” or “The Artist” will beat it. Woody Allen is nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, both of which would be a well-deserved win.

All in all, “Midnight in Paris” is a truly heartfelt and whimsical film that will leave you wanting to be transported to the Jazz Age with Gil to drink a stiff drink with Fitzgerald and Hemingway … and then maybe get in a boxing match with the latter.