Before Sunset Review

"Linklater gives his characters something we rarely get in real life: an opportunity to resolve the sense of loss and regret created by a blown chance at love and happiness." - John Beifuss, COMMERCIAL APPEAL (on Before Sunset)

I’ve heard extremely different comments about this movie. Some say it was a good one to see, while others didn’t even bother to finish it. But these really didn’t matter to me because I was planning to watch it since day one. Why? Three reasons.

1 I love Ethan Hawke

2 I liked Before Sunrise

3 I love good conversations.

First and foremost, I think everybody likes (if not loves) Ethan Hawke ever since he starred opposite Winona Ryder in Reality Bites. Second, you actually don’t need to have seen Before Sunrise to understand Before Sunset. The two can very well stand apart, both equally enthralling. But I guess the sequel is more interesting maybe because the characters have grown wiser and more mature. Lastly, my third reason is very vital. Before Sunset is far from the formula-based plot. I can’t even figure out its plot! To appreciate the movie though, you have to be a fan of good conversations. I mean, you just have to!

You see, it’s a talkathon where the art of conversation is fully put into a movie. You just have to keep up and pay attention to the film. The flow of the conversations can be really fast though. Sometimes before you can even absorb the last sharp line from Celine (Julie Delpy), Jesse (Ethan Hawke) would easily come up with a line with just as much, or even more, impact. The dialogues are full of richness. Very real, witty, and revealing. They glorify the minuscule things in life, love and relationships that actually matter most. There was no melodramatic punch lines, action-packed scenes, more so end-of-your-seats ending. (Sorry guys, but there's no erotic love scenes here either.) Just the poignant and honest conversations are enough to bring about excitement and interest in the film.

Tips:

1 Watch it with people who can appreciate good conversations as much as you do, the ones whom you can engage into good conversations with. Realistic, sensible, witty and lasting conversations on practically anything under the sun.
2 Detach yourself from your cellphone or anything that, you know, can divide your attention from watching. I tell you, you don’t wanna miss those well-delivered lines.
3 after the movie, talk about your favorite catchy one-liners over coffee and realize how they hit you in different ways. They are good topics to exchange ideas about.

* Recommended for people who want to see both something different and something more from a movie. *

For more, check out PDI's review on their website, Entertainment Section dated November 2, 2004 (yata). my link to it doesn't seem to work pa eh.