Overall Rating
  Awesome: 76.14%
Worth A Look: 14.77%
Average: 0%
Pretty Bad: 1.14%
Total Crap: 7.95%
7 reviews, 46 user ratings
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| Before Sunset |
by Dennis Swennumson
"I am going to ride on trains in Europe and hit on every woman I see."
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Romantic films usually feature characters that have generally accepted qualities that appeal to potential wide audiences. What makes “Before Sunset” and its predecessor “Before Sunrise”, a great romance comes from the unique connection between its two main characters, the American writer Jesse and the French activist Celine. As their relationship develops the viewer may see aspects in both characters that they personally could not co-exist with but at the same time understand that this a specific bond between the two people that is right and just. They have discovered a link with each other that some people try to capture their entire lives. “Before Sunset” is a film that wholly recognizes all of the obstacles and pessimism involved with love by showing two characters slowly realizing its optimism and sanctity.It’s been nine years since “Before Sunrise,” when Jesse met Celine on the train, persuading her to accompany him in Vienna, spending the rest of the night exploring the city. Jesse is in Paris on the last stop of his book tour, promoting his novel based from that night’s events. As he wraps up an interview with the press he sees her standing quietly off to the side. They begin their reunion by going for a cup of coffee; the conversation begins modestly and awkwardly, the two finding themselves in disbelief of meeting up again. The first film ended with the promise to meet again, we learn what happened six months after that departure. Eventually the bittersweet feel wears off and they begin a conversation that lasts throughout the entire film. “Before Sunset” is a simple, talky and deliberately paced movie, those who have seen the first will love this continuation.
The writing credit for “Before Sunset” is divided equally amongst director Richard Linklater and the two leads, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The movie is an 80-minute long conversation in real time, credit goes to all of the writers for giving the script a quality that keeps the film alive, with natural and interesting dialogue throughout. Most of what is discussed pertains to what they both have been doing the last nine years; topics include the environment, imperialist governments, sex and parenthood. One of the film’s most memorable scenes comes with the realization that they both were living in New York during the same period of time. Jesse talks about the weeks leading up to his wedding and how much he thought about Celine, swearing that he saw her walking into a deli on the car ride to the ceremony. There are many more details and revelations uncovered throughout the film, our interest and genuine care for the characters growing with each new direction.
A lot of the subject matter in “Before Sunset” deals with the bitterness and frustration that comes with failed relationships. These discussions are acted out so naturally by Hawke and Delpy, who pretty much fell of the radar after the first film, it’s clear that this is a sequel that was made for incredibly personal reasons. “I feel like I'm running a small nursery with someone I used to date,” is how Jesse matter-of-factly sums up the condition of his marriage, topics like this and the profession of writing obviously mirror Hawke’s life as a published novelist and his caput marriage to Uma Thurman. The conversation eventually becomes more complex and even wounding; some scenes show exactly why Jesse and Celine were afraid to exchange numbers or addresses. In this brief window of time everything seems right, but eventually they are forced to confront matters of the past and the future.
Richard Linklater is one of our most talented and eclectic directors, a filmmaker who shows passion what he examines and presents in all of his films. His 2001 experiment in animation “Waking Life”, which included a brief sequence with Celine and Jesse, was one of the first great films of the decade. His last movie, the very funny “School of Rock”, besides featuring a hilarious performance from Jack Black, had a lot to say about the importance of the arts and the positive influence it has on children. “Before Sunset” has long, uncut takes in some beautiful locations around Paris, Linklater makes the movie vivid in a reserved, simple way.Jesse and Celine were obviously two characters Linklater was eager to get back to, it’s invigorating to see a sequel, released in the summer no less, not aimed for huge box-office receipts but for the genuine love for the characters and what they represent, “Before Sunset” is simple with its romanticism and brilliant in execution.
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link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=8925&reviewer=338
originally posted: 08/03/04 11:04:26
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OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2004 SXSW Film Festival. For more in the 2004 South By Southwest Film Festival series, click here.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival. For more in the 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival series, click here.
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USA
02-Jul-2004 (R)
DVD: 09-Nov-2004
UK
N/A
Australia
19-Aug-2004 (M)
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