Review of Before Sunset (2004) by In Your D — 18 Apr 2011

The heartbreak movie that 500 Days of Summer wants to be. No flashy graphics or "clever" editing, just two unique people with a strong personal bond crossing paths unintentionally, but not quite accidentally. (It's a chick flick for special chicks.) Delpy contributed the soundtrack and co-wrote the screenplay with Hawke and Linklater. Gen-X "romantics" who admired the quality first entry (released in 1994, approximately 10 years previous to the events in Sunset) and have since turned into the "hopeless" or "disappointed" variety will appreciate the darker, more serious tone of their reunion.

Aesthetically the film is much better made than the first; the shots are tighter, the takes are longer, the dialogue layered and more mature, the two leads older and wiser. The story itself is more a tragedy of love, but also a celebration of imperfection. The conversation between Celine and Jesse flows logically and is again quite thoughtful. This is an honest, bitter, and intellectually exciting continuation of an earlier fling, one gone too far then left to simmer for a decade.

Complimentary props for the naturalistic production values and attention to detail; nothing "showy" in the traditional Hollywood sense, just lots and lots of brooding, meaningful talk. Before Sunset is methodical and lumbering like the first, asking you to sit and listen patiently and get swept up in the characters. If you liked Sunrise this is a great continuation of the story (and a possibly open-ended one at that...) but don't expect any happy endings or neat little bows.

If you consider yourself even remotely sophisticated when it comes to film you'll probably be able to appreciate something in this package. Be warned: may compel you to drop everything and fly to Paris.