Review of Before Sunset (2004) by Ali M — 28 Jun 2011

With an excellent first entry already in its wake, it's nearly impossible to avoid watching the sequel. In many cases, the mere existence of a sequel is enough to turn most audiences off, but in this case, you were left with such a blank slate as a result of the previous entry that it will be hard to move on without giving yourself some closure. As a point of beginning, it's hard to get any better than this.

Without question, this is one film that follows the format of its predecessor with astounding results; you can go in expecting the same type of story and preparing to be bored by it, but if you've had any sort of emotional response to the first entry, you'll be locked in from minute one. Of course the characters have grown, but as an opening, this is one brilliant key to the story that is about to unfold; the characters will have to update each other on their life stories, and they must be prepared to see how the other has changed.

By the time all the walking and talking against a beautiful backdrop has finished, you may think you've been cheated by the ending. Alas, you have not. A simple change in the terms of departure from the narrative should be enough to clue you in to each character's ultimate fate, negating the use for another sequel that might have put them in the realm of disinterest. Any victories or defeats here are paramount; you may not be treated to any explosive eruptions of romantic fanfare, but the actions of the characters, and in particular their gestures and body language, should give you enough vocabulary to surpass an ending that is honest, simple, and beautiful.