Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight make up a trilogy of the lives of two people over the course of almost 20 real years. Let me say this: They're some of the best movies I have ever seen! The first was released in 1995, in which a young American man (played by Ethan Hawke) meets a young French woman (Julie Delpy) while traveling in Austria. The second movie was released in 2004 and the third in 2013. Each film consists of the same two characters walking and talking, which would be boring in the context of a play, but with the way it's shot, mixed with the dialogue, and their impeccable acting talent, it doesn't feel like you're watching a standard movie. The scenes go minutes without any cuts, allowing the actors to really live in their environment.
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| Their chemistry is hypnotically realistic. |
Despite the fact that these aren't conventional blockbusters with action sequences with stereotypical film archetypes (aside from "boy meets girl"), they're extremely entertaining. When they laugh, you want to laugh. When they ask each other personal questions, you have no idea what the other might say. And if they argue, it's gut-wrenching.
Richard Linklater, the writer and director, is a master of his craft. He's up there with Wes Anderson, Tarantino, the Coen brothers, etc. I can't wait to see his newest movie, Boyhood (which took literally 12 years to make).
