Review of Before Midnight (2013) by Stewart S — 11 Aug 2013

8.4.

Artistically, this is the best film of the three (Before Sunrise - 1995, Before Sunset - 2004, Before Midnight - 2013). The acting by Hawke and Delpy is superb if not flawless. Every scene is believable. Every reaction real. Every dialogue entertaining, insightful and meaningful. The screenplay is brilliant. Both Delpy and Hawke deserve nominations for best actress and actor. Linklater for best director. The three of them for best adapted screenplay. I hope they sweep but that is highly unlikely because it is such a small budget film grossing less than $10 million and that just usually isn't the Academy's style.

While I recognize that artistically this is the best of the three and was more engaged in this film than the other two (I gave it a higher rating) , it is challenging for it to be my favorite. When it comes to the depiction of life and what life can truly be, Before Sunset is my favorite. Before Sunrise is about hope of what romance could be. Before Sunset is about what romance could have been but then in the last ten minutes is rescued by the hope of what romance could be again but a bit more maturely than its prequel. The third is about the reality of what romance is. True romance.True life. Reality. Facts - not fiction. But true romance nonetheless.

The three films together are a treasure. A gift given to us by Robert Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. I cheer them for it because they did it for art and hopefully the joy of their craft.