Reviews: The "Before" Series - Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight

Three Films, Eighteen Years, and One Magical Encounter

By Chris Sabga

Five other people were with me in the theater when I went to see "Before Midnight." All five walked out. Life can be tough, and this movie pulls no punches about that. From the moment Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) appear together again, it feels different in the air somehow; their dialogue carries with it a much a sharper edge this time. They are no longer the lovestruck young pups we first met eighteen years ago. They've had time together, and the comfort that comes along with it – but that can be a double-edged sword. In one scene, Celine remarks that men believe in magic. We do. Jesse still does too. After the incredible chance meeting he had on a train when he was only 23, it's easy to see why.  

Before Sunrise (1995)

Rarely is a film's promotional material anything more than mere marketing fluff with a few carefully chosen buzzwords – but whoever wrote the back cover for the DVD of "Before Sunrise" understood its allure and conveyed it perfectly.

"Love is their destination. On the way there's the mutual sharing of hopes, jokes, dreams, worry and wonder. It's a day to linger in their memories. And a valentine to young love forever."

An experience so magical, it obviously managed to capture even a random ad-writer's heart. It certainly captured mine.

The story of two young people, Jesse and Celine, randomly meeting on a train and exploring Vienna together cannot help but fascinate, inspire, and warm even the most jaded of hearts.

There are no big twists or turns. There isn't an explosion anywhere in sight. There's simply a conversation.

Two strangers walking and talking, getting to know each other, and becoming more smitten with each passing syllable and step.  

Hawke and Delpy are perfect in their roles. Not just good, not just excellent, but perfect.

As I wrote previously: When "Before Sunrise" was released in 1995, there was nothing else quite like it. It was and remains one of the truly great "silver screen surprises."

At the time, no one could have ever imagined that Jesse and Celine would ever meet again on screen. Movies like this simply didn't get sequels. This one did.  But it took nine years.

Before Sunset (2004)

Jesse has never forgotten that night in Vienna with Celine. Neither has anyone else who's ever seen "Before Sunrise." Nine years later, Jesse is an author – and his book about that one magical encounter brings Celine back into his life. This time, they're in France.

They were supposed to meet again much sooner. Why didn't they? That particular conversation is beautifully awkward and feels incredibly true.

Jesse and Celine are almost a decade older now. "Before Sunset" expertly uses the realities of life to subtly chip away at the picture-perfect connection they shared in "Sunrise" – something that doesn't become as obvious until viewed through the lens of the third film, "Before Midnight."

In a telling scene in "Sunset," Celine criticizes Jesse for acting like a "little boy" at one point during their previous meeting in Vienna. It's such a quick flash of pettiness – over almost in an instant – and yet it seems so jarring and out of place. Little did we know at the time that such clouded judgmental thinking would eventually come to dominate Celine's entire personality.

However, "Sunset" never erodes the gentle love shared by its two characters. Their chemistry remains as magical as ever.

But magic is an illusion.

Before Midnight (2013)

The film opens with Jesse and his almost 14-year-old son Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) walking through an airport. Celine is nowhere in sight. That alone is telling. It becomes immediately obvious that everything has changed.

When Jesse and Celine finally do meet up, they don't actually get to be alone with each other until the second half of the film. That's another monumental difference between "Before Midnight" and its previous chapters.

Some of their conversations – especially with other people – border on being overly pretentious, but those moments are fleeting and entirely forgivable from such a dialogue-driven film. Maybe the other "Before" movies were that way too and I'm just more jaded now – much like Jesse and Celine themselves.

In "Midnight," Celine is obnoxious, unbearable, and impossible to please – a drastic and depressing change from her sunny sweetness in "Sunrise" and "Sunset."

She has become the kind of person who makes blowjob jokes inside a church, even though the love of her life is a "closet Christian."

There is a conversation about the tragic fate of Joan of Arc at one point. With the way Celine is carrying on, it's easy to wish the same for her.

But I'm a man. Women who see the film might find fault with Jesse instead. Of course, he is far from flawless himself. That's the point, I think. Regardless of whose perspective you lean toward, these characters have created enough goodwill over the past eighteen years and two previous movies that I ultimately wanted both of them to succeed – together.

Life is full of disappointments. In some ways, this movie is one of them. I don't want to watch people argue for two hours! Listening to an angry couple sniping and bickering about family issues is simply not my idea of a good time. That certainly wouldn't be considered entertaining in any other setting.

Still, the acting remains as breathtaking ever and the dialogue once again kept me glued to the screen from beginning to end. It's real. It's raw. Life can't always be the fairy tale presented in the other two films (especially the first). If there are still several more "Before" movies to be made, this could end up becoming a very important and necessary part of the series. Until then, though, I can only view "Midnight" and its characters as they are currently.

Yet, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I actually feel flashes of real anger at times. I almost wish I could go up to Jesse (a fictional character, mind you) and offer him my support and a listening ear. A movie that inspires such raw emotion in its audience – especially when most don't – is obviously doing something right. It's challenging and conflicting. Isn't that what great cinema is supposed to be?

___

The title of each film expresses more than I previously realized. In 1995, Jesse and Celine were 23 and about to enter the sunrise of their lives. Nine years later, the optimism of youth was still present, but they were older now. That meeting was perhaps their last before they entered the sunset phase that inevitably comes with age and experience. But midnight is a dark time. It's when the magic wears off for Cinderella. It has, too, for Jesse and Celine. The slipper is off Celine's foot – metaphorically but also literally in one pivotal scene. However, midnight is also a time filled with mystery and wonder. Can their relationship regain that, or will it indeed be darkest Before Dawn?

Some Silver Screen Surprises Coming to Theaters in May

Beyond the Blockbusters: Movies Off the Beaten Path

By Chris Sabga

Everyone knows about the massive blockbusters coming our way this summer. This month, "Iron Man 3," "The Hangover Part III," and "Star Trek: Into Dreams" will be among them. Beyond that, there's "Man of Steel," "The Wolverine," "Monsters University," and many others to look forward to. But there's more to summer than just the "summer blockbuster." There are many other movies being released in May – and beyond.

Some of these you might have heard of; others you might not have. A few of them are limited releases, which means they may be a pain to track down right away if you don't live in a major metropolitan city. If that's the case for you, check to see if you have a second-run theater in town. They start showing movies a few weeks after their original release date. The ticket prices are usually significantly cheaper (but then again, so are the amenities).

The following films are just the ones that have caught my eye. Of course, I have no surefire way to guarantee that all of them – or any of them, for that matter – will actually be good. The only way to know for sure is to see them – or wait for me to see them and check this site after I have. I go out on a limb with a couple of these choices (including one being promoted as "Tyler Perry Presents"), but what fun would it be if I didn't?

And now, here are some of the potential Silver Screen Surprises being released in May:

The Iceman (May 3rd): Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter," "Premium Rush," the upcoming "Man of Steel") will bring his steely gaze to the true story of Richard Kuklinski, a father and husband who worked hard to provide for his family. That isn't anything out of the ordinary, except for one thing: Kuklinski was a contract killer. With Winona Ryder, Chris Evans, and James Franco also in the lineup, Shannon will be going against some pretty heavy-hitters.

Peeples (May 10th): Craig Robinson ("Zack and Miri") makes a surprise appearance at the Peeples Reunion to ask Kerry Washington for her hand in marriage, but her family isn't even aware of their relationship. The movie is being marketed with the tagline "Tyler Perry Presents," but that sort of advertising language is usually misleading. He didn't even write or direct it (he does have a producer credit). The actual writer and director, Tina Gordon Chism, was mentored by Perry though – who just about everyone seems to have a strong opinion on – but with a cast that also includes David Alan Grier ("In Living Color"), S. Epatha Merkerson ("Law & Order"), Diahann Carroll ("Dynasty"), and Melvin Van Peebles ("Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song"), "Peeples" certainly has the right people(s) involved. 

Before Midnight (May 24th): My most anticipated film of the summer! Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) met in the original "Before Sunrise" eighteen years ago – all the way back in 1995 – and then reunited nine years later for the improbable sequel, "Before Sunset." They spent the entire duration of both movies walking around and chatting, and it was mesmerizing. I wrote more about all three here.

Now You See Me (May 31st): Magicians robbing banks! The premise practically sells itself. I predict this will be the surprise hit of the summer. The trailer shows an elaborate three-part magic trick. 1. A group of magicians perform in Las Vegas. 2. During the show, they somehow simultaneously rob a bank three thousand miles away in Paris. 3. And then they give that money away to their audience in Vegas. How? Like all great magic tricks, I'm hooked and want to find out. "The Social Network's" Jesse Eisenberg leads a cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrselson, and Isla Fischer.

The Kings of Summer (May 31st): A group of teenage boys (Moises Arias, Nick Robinson, and "Super 8's" Gabriel Basso) run away from home and build a house in the woods. A concept like that really could go either way (the silly character names – such Joy Toy and Biaggio – aren't exactly promising), but the movie looks like it could be light fun.

The Purge (May 31st): For one night of the year, people are legally allowed to commit any crime they want. A family – led by "Before Midnight's" Ethan Hawke – has to protect themselves from the madness just outside their doors. It's a tantalizing idea. Horror movies these days are usually hit or miss, but Hawke rarely appears in junk. 

The East (May 31st): Major corporations are being attacked by a group of anarchists, which include Alexander Skarsgård ("True Blood") and Ellen Page ("Juno"). It's up to Brit Marling ("Arbitrage") to infiltrate them. The movie seems to have a very creepy vibe. Patricia Clarkson ("Good Night, and Good Luck") and Jason Ritter ("A Bag of Hammers") are also in it.

Blockbusters: Iron Man 3 (May 3rd), The Great Gatsby (May 10th), Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17th), Fast & Furious 6 (May 24th), The Hangover Part III (24th), Epic (24th), After Earth (May 31st)

Of these, I am most excited about "The Hangover III" and "Star Trek Into Darkness," but the "Iron Man" Trilogy is on my to-see list as well. "Gatsby" is growing on me, too – my bad memories of the tepid Redford version notwithstanding (the book, of course, was better). I'm about half and half when it comes to the Jaden Smith-Will Smith vehicle "After Earth" (and yes, they're billed in that order).

Which ones are you looking forward to? Comment below or discuss it on Facebook or Twitter.

Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and the Announcement of Before Midnight

A Chance Meeting That Will Forever Change Their Lives

By Chris Sabga

A young man and woman meet on a train and decide to spend one enchanted evening in each other's company. Presented almost in real-time, Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" follows them as they walk, talk, and explore the stunning streets of Vienna together.  

Their names are Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy), and virtually all of the film's 105 minutes is devoted to their conversation. There are no grandiose quotes or clever quips, just two real people talking about real life – and it's absolutely enthralling.

When "Before Sunrise" was released in 1995, there was nothing else quite like it. It was and remains one of the truly great "silver screen surprises."

Hawke and Delpy briefly reprised the same characters in Linklater's 2001 animated film, "Waking Life," where they appeared in a dream. However, the likelihood of a true follow-up to "Before Sunrise" seemed to be just that – an impossible dream.

"Sunrise" was a niche favorite beloved by everyone who had seen it, but in commercially-driven Hollywood, sequels are usually reserved only for the biggest blockbusters.

Miraculously, it happened in 2004 with the release of "Before Sunset." Jesse and Celine reunite for the first time in nine years. What have they been up to since their original meeting? 

As they walk around France, they once again engage in a long, in-depth, fascinating conversation. Lingering questions are answered and new ones are asked as they reminisce about their short time together in Vienna almost a decade before and fill each other in on the current state of their lives.

"Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" are beautiful travelogues with lovely characters and engaging dialogue, but they're also wonderful meditations on life, love, and those unexpected forks in the road.

Several months ago, there were rumors that a third movie, "Before Midnight," was being filmed in Greece. Still, its sudden premiere this week at the Sundance Film Festival caught everyone by surprise.

Will "Midnight" be the final chapter in this amazing series?  Ethan Hawke considers it a possibility. In an interview, he stated, "we may have come to the end of the story." I hope not. I would love to see these characters meet again every decade or so for the rest of their lives.

• Reviews: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight