Review of Before Sunset (2004) by Joe C — 10 Jun 2015
You've got to admire Richard Linklater's patience and persistence for authenticity. To simulate a nine year advancement in time, anyone else would slather the leads with aging makeup, crank out a ham-fisted pastiche of a screenplay, and release the sequel in a year, two tops.
Linklater literally waited nine years to film Before Sunset, tweaking and perfecting the screenplay and releasing five films in the meantime. And, especially in the context of Before Sunrise, the result is epically fitting.
Jesse and Celine meet up again in Paris, briefly, getting another chance to talk about love nine years after the events depicted in the first film. Sure, it doesn't offer much in terms of narrative drive, and it's all talk and not much else, but Sunset us an out-and-out joy to watch, a subtle, atmospheric slice of life, perfectly capturing the naivety, the delight, and the mystery that is part of being in love.
How many sequels are made for artistic reasons and add meaning, rather than strip it away?
This review of Before Sunset (2004) was written by Joe C on 10 Jun 2015.
Before Sunset has generally received very positive reviews.
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