In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Not one for any elderly relatives, containing what might be described as "language (of a sexual nature)", this is actually a bittersweet indie romantic comedy filmed in sumptuous black and white. It manages the near-impossible feat of making LA look like an unknown place, possibly because it's a film that follows characters mostly walking around the city rather than driving. Rather than the glittering, glamorous image presented by Hollywood, we see the more rundown parts, where beautiful old theatre lie empty and subway stations are as glacial as anything in a sci-fi movie. Wilson is in search of a New Year's kiss, egged on by his housemate after a *very* embarrassing incident involving a photo of said mate's girfriend. Vivian is speed dating for the same reason and they spend most of the running time bickering, talking, upsetting each other and generally not-quite falling in love. It would be misleading to say that all ends well but you feel the two characters end the film more self-aware than they began it, which counts as progress of sorts.