Before Sunset (2004)

In 1994, director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Waking Life) made Before Sunrise, a gorgeous poem of a movie about two strangers (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) wandering around Vienna, talking, and falling in love. Ten years later, Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy have returned with Before Sunset, which reunites the same characters after Hawke has written a book about that night. Delpy appears at the final book reading of his European tour; they have less than two hours before Hawke has to catch a flight to New York...and in that time, they walk around Paris, talk, and fall in love all over again. It sounds simple, perhaps dull, but it's written with such skill and care and acted with such richness that it's a miracle of filmmaking. On its own, Before Sunset is moving and wonderful; seen right after Before Sunrise, it will break your heart. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

A major disappointment.

I loved Before Sunrise, which really surprised me. I'm not usually one to sit through a whole stereotypical chick flick, but I'll admit, Before Sunrise was an excellent movie. Unlike most romance films it seemed very real, and the acting was genuine. The plot was plausible, and for once I found myself able to feel a connection to the characters instead of just laughing at their stupidity and corny lines that no one actually says in real life. The dialogue made the movie great.

I'm disappointed I can't say the same things about the sequel, Before Sunset. I expected this movie to be everything the first one was, but it was almost the opposite. Ethan Hawke's performance was slightly convincing at best. Because this movie takes place 9 years after Before Sunrise, his role was supposed to be that of a more matured person than he was in the first film, but he comes across as the same 20-something (though not in physical appearance) trying to have conversations about serious things that he has no real knowledge of. In only a few scenes did he seem to be able to pull off his intended role.

On the other hand, Julie Delpy did a very good job in her role as Celine, the slightly neurotic girl who constantly worries. Although her acting in Before Sunset didn't match that of Before Sunrise, she did a much better job than Ethan Hawke. Her performance earned Before Sunset an extra star in my book.

The biggest problem with this film was the lack of "real" dialogue. The two characters haven't seen each other in 9 years and only have a couple hours to spend together, but we're supposed to believe one of the first subjects they talk about is politics? Not only this, but they waste a good 5-10 minutes of the movie discussing world issues? Uhhh, yeah, right... There are numerous instances in this movie of the same sort (somehow in their conversations they always end up talking about sex).

Bottom line, this film had a few bright spots, but it can't even be compared to it's counterpart, Before Sunrise. To sum it up in one sentence, it reminded me why I don't watch romance movies. July 14, 2008

If you don't like 'talky' movies

If you don't like 'talky' movies, skip this one. Loved the characters but when all they do is talk through the entire movie about nothing, I kept hoping it would get better. Then again, I don't like 'talky' movies. June 11, 2008

Love Love Love It!

I stumbled onto Before Sunrise & Before Sunset on HBO late one night while I was sick. I DVR'd them and watch them both a ton, and now I have bought the DVD's just in case I loose them on my DVR.
Both characters are so real and complex, and while in someways the same, in others they are totally different. I love the way Celine's outlook on life and things changes so much over the years they are apart, but meeting Jesse again in France I think really centers her back to her true self.
I love both of these movies and they are in my hall of fame. April 18, 2008

Before Sunset

This small film needs a second look. More than ten years after they made Before Sunrise, [[ASIN:B00002E224 Before Sunrise] Delpy and Hawke meet again, this time in Paris. Don't expect a travelogue, although there are some nice scenes around the Seine. It's adult talk about their relationships, life since the first one-day meeting in Vienna, and it demands full attention. It has more in common with "My Dinner with Andre" than the usual romance movie. It could not have taken many days to shoot and has the look and sound of dialogue that was off the cuff at times. But for the most part it works and his earnestness and her quirkiness keep our interest. It ends suddenly, but about the only way it could. Nice way to spend part of an evening. March 8, 2008

Awesome sequel to Before Sunrise...

We found these DVDs and bought Before Sunrise / Before Sunset together as a birthday gift. Before Sunset is the second installment to a rather intelligent relationship of what were two complete strangers. The roles are played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who return after 9 years to share with viewers, chapter two of their romantic encounters.

In 1994, Before Sunrise initiated with both actors reading books on a train ride through Europe. She sits close by the young American and after a few looks of interest, they engage in conversation, candidly sharing ideas, intimate views on life, and past experiences. She decides to stop in Vienna to spend the night getting to know one another. For the next 14 hours, Vienna provides a marvelous setting for their relationship and viewers take part on what is a wonderful tour of this historic city.

Now, Before Sunset brings these two together again, after a 10 year span. They are reunited at a book store, where Hawke, who has published a book about their romantic encounter in Vienna, is giving a lecture on the theme of his book.

They have just a few hours to spend together and this time, the setting is in beautiful Paris. You can sense unresolved issues of love, betrayal, abandonment, grief, guilt... but a certainty that the spark of love ignited 10 years ago has endured the test of time and is now an ardent fire of unrequited love.

The conversations are intelligent, up-dated; their lines are written with great skill and engage us in topics that are foremost in our minds. It is wonderful to be part of the lives of two individuals, now for over 10 years, and hopefully with a third installment in the future, for the movie leaves us again not sure of where these two will take their love relationship.

Jesse [Ethan Hawke] and Celine [Julie Delpy] are simply magnificent. The special features are great for we learned that the actors are allowed to write most of their own lines, their discussions now, as then, are centered around deep subjects we all confront at one point or another, and when Celine plays her guitar for Jesse... that only one song she promises before he returns to New York City... we know that if he leave her again... he is a fool, for their love is simply... magnificent!

Don't miss it!

February 24, 2008

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