Before Sunset (2004)

Ethan Hawke comes across as an unattractive, total idiot in this pathetic film. Why he hasn't had his teeth fixed, I do not know. His speech is punctuated with "I mean", "Y'know" and similar interjections so popular with the lazy-speaking pretentious Hollywood set, and hardly worthy of a supposed top author. His girlfriend is an irritating, smiley-smiley waif, probably well-matched with him, frankly. Together, they are nauseating beyond belief. She is the sort of gal who begins sentences with "So". Ughhh! Definitely NOT recommended.

Reviewed November 2011This is more like a romantic version of earlier Kevin Smith's comedies. Very well written and it's quite mandatory that it is as the entire movie is just one conversation. I would've rated it a bit higher had it not dragged a bit somewhere in the middle. Jesse (Ethen Hawke) has a one day encounter with a French girl Celine (Julie Delpy) during his college days and has a wonderful time. They decide to meet again on a set date in the future when Celine doesn't show up. After 9 years, Jessi writes a book on the incident and gets quite famous. On the Paris leg of his book tour he meets Celine again and strikes conversation which is the content for the rest of the movie. For a wafer thin story like this, it requires excellent screenplay and a tremendous chemistry between the leads. The talent behind this movie sure delivers the required goods and a special mention should go to Julie Delpy for her excellent presence and contribution to writing. Only problem is that, it feels a little long to reach what it wants to show. There is a little drag just before they both get on the cab which spoiled my mood though it picks up soon after and ends fantastically. It operates on a shoe string budget and never deviates from the core of what it wants to show. It is extremely enjoyable and a good opportunity to showcase the writer's prowess and they do it with great panache.

It's not very typical of me to be delighted the moment before I've seen a movie. Actually, I like to think properly about the movie I just saw. In this case I have to admit to myself that this movie, and the whole trilogy, has been one of the best choices I've ever made.The story is absolutely beautiful, the dialogue is brilliant and the characters are just wonderful. I love Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in their characters, I think they play them perfectly. This is not another typical love story, this is THE love story. It is contemporary, fresh and full of wonderful thoughts. The way the three movies were made, with the time periods between them, also helps to create a wonderful and believable story. This movie, and their story, will make you smile, feel, laugh and dream.Thank you to Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (and to Richard Linklater!) for making us happy.

Before Sunset is the sequel to the romantic movie Before Sunrise. Like its predecessor, it takes place strictly in real time. Again, there is no action or any other elements that are supposed to be present in a typical movie. The movie just focuses on the meeting of the two lead characters after a gap of 9 years since they met on the train. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy return and in addition to acting they also helped with the screenplay and are credited for the effort. The acting is effortless and the fact that the characters as well as the actors have aged exactly the same way adds to the realism that this movie aims for. Richard Linklater does not disappoint with the sequel that manages to stand as a great film on its own without comparing it to Before Sunrise. My only grievance for this movie is that it tends to get overdramatic in certain moments like when Julie Delpy breaks down while explaining that she always fails at relationships. The ambiguous ending keeps us wanting more which is just brilliant.