Directed By: Richard Linklater
Written By: Richard Linklater, Kim Krizan, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Starring: Ethan Hawke as Jesse, Julie Delpy as Celine
So I’m not really big on romance films, but not because I don’t like sweet things. Contrary to popular belief, I do (occasionally, when it’s working) have a heart; it’s just that the writers in the genre too often and too enthusiastically throw out meaningless, obvious platitudes and predictably follow one of 3 formats:
1) Illicit lovers that look soooooooo cute together (their faces are drenched in orange light for much of the film, sensuous close-ups are generously employed, both the lead actors are ridiculously attractive, and one or both have unfairly hard lives) but are doomed to tragedy
2) The funny/adorable/awkward couple (most commonly involving a nerd and a hot girl — to satisfy the decidedly impossible fantasies of professional WoW addicts across the globe — but variations include the boss and the new employee, the outcast and the cheerleader etc.) that slowly but surely hook up. This is usually the PG13 variety so the horrifically awkward sex scenes don’t distract from the adorableness.
3) The sad, miserable couple that re-discovers their love after a tedious process of hedonistic cavorting with younger, more attractive and/or cooler people
These films, however, aren’t like any conventional romance films you’ve ever seen before. They have no plot, no contrived trials for the determined protagonists to pass. These films consist of 2 people talking. Just talking. In Before Sunrise, they talk about their hopes, their sex lives, childhoods, desires, politics, religion, feminism; in Before Sunset, they talk about their jobs, their love lives, their frustrations, age, maturity, happiness and emotions. Just talking. And these two are the best romance films I have ever seen. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have such natural, vibrant chemistry, it’s almost like they’re not even acting. Ethan Hawke, in particular, has a preternatural understanding of his character, and his self-unconscious display of Jesse’s insecurities and obnoxiousness is absolutely delicious. They occasionally have raw, startling bursts of genuine emotion, yet one must realize that this is a performance. Their dialogues are often light and meandering, yet their personalities still manage to constantly take helm. Their conversations feel spontaneous, unforced and natural, yet everything is supposedly scripted. It really is quite bewildering. As with all great films, I really don’t know what to talk about. The acting, writing (ESPECIALLY THE WRITING), directing jobs are uniformly excellent, and save for two problems, the films are perfect.
One problem in the Linklater/Krizan-penned Before Sunrise is that Celine is made much angrier, much saucier than Delpy can handle; this makes her performance occasionally forced and her execution occasionally awkward. In Before Sunrise, however, Celine is a lot less angsty (if a lot more unstable), and this change suits Delpy’s execution perfectly — probably because Delpy wisely contributed to the script to make Celine more effortless and natural a transformation for herself. Another problem is that the ending feels rather obvious in that we are naturally convinced by Hawke and Delpy’s chemistry that their characters will meet again. But at least the obvious ending led to Before Sunset, which in every way is superior to its prequel; it unravels with even more ease, it has even more focus, and its ending demands a standing ovation.
Before Sunrise KevinScale Rating: 4.5/5
Before Sunset KevinScale Rating: 5/5
therein, Therin. 