Before Sunset ***** (2004, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff) – Classic Movie Review 858

It’s 2004, and nine years on from their first tentative but passionate encounter in Richard Linklater’s 1995 romantic drama Before Sunrise (1995), Jesse (Ethan Hawke), now a writer, is back in Europe for a book publicity tour. And just before he flies back to his wife and child in America, he bumps into Céline (Julie Delpy) again at his book-signing at a Paris bookshop.

The book, of course, is the story of their first meeting. And, now, perhaps they have a second chance with the one that got away.

The sequel is just as wonderful and magical as before, but now it seems even more poignant. As the old flame is rekindled, it‘s again bravura stuff, with marvellous, truly affecting performances by the two, who have the entire movie to themselves. Can’t wait for part three!

Delpy’s dad, Albert, has a cameo as the man at the grill. The screenplay was developed in improvisations, but was all later learned and recited from memory. The two stars are credited for the screenplay along with Linklater. It was honoured by being Oscar nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Linklater and his original 1995 co-screenwriter Kim Krizan are credited for the story.

The bravura, seven-minute sequence of the couple in the car was filmed in one take, a total tribute to the skill of the actors. The brief flashbacks to 1995 are very bitter-sweet: the once very boyish Ethan Hawke has aged considerably in the nine years since then but still looks good and Delpy still looks young and is lovelier thinner. The producer Anne Walker-McBay and the director of photography Lee Daniel are the same as in 1995.

Vernon Dobtcheff plays the Bookstore Manager

The prolific veteran character actor Vernon Dobtcheff plays the Bookstore Manager.

It turned out that there was part three but that there was a nine-year wait for it. The sequel Before Midnight was released in 2013. Ethan Hawke returns for Linklater in 2014’s Boyhood.

http://derekwinnert.com/before-sunrise-1995-richard-linklater-classic-film-review-857/

http://derekwinnert.com/before-midnight-film-review/

http://derekwinnert.com/dazed-and-confused-1993-richard-linklater-classic-film-review-856/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 858

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com