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"Did Before Sunrise actually need a sequel?" is a question that I overheard from a handful of dismissive grumps, to which I silently responded "Hell, how many movies actually need sequels? Like...none!" But while most sequels are borne from the simple concept of Part 1 was profitable and therefore so will a Part 2, Richard Linklater's Before Sunset feels a whole lot like a bittersweet reunion with two old friends.

For those who dismissed the first flick, or simply don't remember it all that well, it's about an American boy and a French girl who spend one sweet night in Vienna before going their separate ways. The flick didn't exactly 'leave things open' for a sequel, but there was certainly enough of a question mark to perhaps warrant a second volume.

And despite the fact that Before Sunrise was in no way a smash hit (grossing under $1.5 million in North America), Linklater and his friends opted to devise a follow-up...probably because they had such a good time on the first one, and maybe because they were proud of the great little movie they'd conceived. In the years since Before Sunrise's theatrical release, the film has enjoyed a quiet-yet-loyal following as a mini-cult flick. I've met more than one movie freak who considers it a beautifully romantic movie and one that was unfairly dismissed because it didn't have Meg Ryan, Sandra Bullock, stupid pet tricks, or a moronic Happy Ending.

Before Sunset is, much like its predecessor, a simple testament to the fine art of screenwriting. It takes a lot of (seemingly effortless) work to produce an 80-minute chatfest between two characters and keep it compelling, but Linklater (accepting huge screenplay contributions from his two stars) pulls it off with wit, charm, humor and honesty. This is not the sort of angst-laden, navel-gazing philosophizing that you might expect from a 2-person character study; the conversations between Hawke and Delpy ring true with an alarming and supremely satisfying consistency. In another film, we might react with "Ugh...these two chatterboxes! Who cares?" but Before Sunset is filled with conversations, character moments and familiar emotions that feel as if they've been plucked from real life. Screenplay-wise, it's a thin line between False and Banal but Before Sunset toes that line with a remarkable consistency.

Hawke and Delpy slip back into their roles as if donning comfy old bathrobes, and fans of the first film will feel an immediate spark of friendship for the pair. The end of the first film sees them making a promise to meet six months later; we quickly learn that this was not to happen. Jesse is in Paris to promote his new romance novel; Celine makes an unexpected appearance at the book store, and the tentatively lovestruck duo set off on a second session of aimless wandering and wistful chattering. Plot-wise, that's about it, but there are a few surprises to be found, and the final scene is absolutely lovely. And to overlook the beautiful Parisian settings or Lee Daniel's flawless cinematography would be to ignore the icing on an especially tasty cake.

Before Sunset is entertaining in a voyeuristic way, as if we're listening in while two ex-lovers discuss all sorts of personal things, and it's also a poignant romance because these characters walk, talk and feel like real people. They're not exciting or glamorous or particularly noteworthy in any way...which is what makes their exchanges so sincerely enticing. Sure, there's nothing wrong with having to sit through the latest Nancy Meyers estrogen-fest, but something like Before Sunset has more honesty and depth of character and reality-based romanticism than any dozen rom-coms chosen at random.

This is a quiet, thoughtful and introspective little movie, and one that's not likely to break any of the box office records. But if Richard Linklater wants to follow up a smash hit like 'School of Rock' with a movie this low-key and personal, then I think that's a filmmaker who deserves a sincere pat on the back for his efforts. Fans of 'Before Sunrise' will most likely adore 'Sunset'; those who didn't...well, they probably wouldn't bother with the sequel anyway.

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originally posted: 03/20/04 10:27:34
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