Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Before Sunset (2004)

Magnum's review-

I first caught this film at a special screening at SXSW 2004 down in Austin, Texas and just watched it again via my favorite thing ever (Netflix) with Wendibular the other night. Of course at SXSW the film was introduced by Linklater himself and actress Julie Delpy, so there really is no comparison. This is without a doubt a very amazingly good film, not just because of its entertainment value, but because it is so simple. It's basically an 80 minute walk and talk and it never ceases to be interesting. While watching it for a second time, I was expecting the bubble to burst considering the kick ass circumstances in which I first saw the film (hello...Linklater sitting there introducing it). But it never did, the film was just as solid and entertaining the second time around. No car chase, no explosions, no sex, just two people who haven't seen each other in years, reuniting and chatting for over an hour. Its' so good though, I'm telling you, see this film!

First I suppose we should get the summary out of the way. This is a sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) where a grad student (Ethan Hawke) meets a young French woman (Delpy) on a train ride and they spend a day and night in Vienna before they have to part. Instead of exchanging phone numbers and falling into the usual long distance relationship, they agree to meet again in Vienna later that year without any contact info in case something happens. They will leave it to fate. Before Sunset picks up about a decade later in a bookstore in Paris where Hawke is promoting his latest novel which happens to be about his fling with the French beauty. The two spend about two hours on a beautiful late Paris afternoon, walking the streets, parks, sipping coffee at a cafe and riding the river boats, just catching up and chatting about everything and anything. They never miss a beat and neither does the film.

The converstations are very realistic and fluid, not in a flawless Sorkin way but very fly on the wall. In part I think due to Linklater bringing Hawke and Delpy in on the scripting process early on to create the believable cadence. Techically the film is basic, mostly steadicammed, simple lighting setups, warm colors, good location scouting. I believe is was a very short shoot, like just over two weeks and they could only film for like 4 hours each day so that late afternoon lighting always matched. Interesting behind the scenes tid bits. The acting was superb but I expected it to be as Linklater gets so much out of his cast in every movie.

Magnum's grade: A (94)

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Magnum,

Good review! You summed up the two movies very well. I agree with you all the way to the period at the end. Wonderful movies!

6:38 PM  

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