Before Midnight (2013) – 8/10 – Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows
Film one of ‘Before…’ trilogy – Before Sunrise (1995)
Film Two of ‘Before…’ trilogy – Before Sunset (2004)
‘Before Midnight’ is the conclusion to a romantic drama trilogy that began in 1995. This film wouldn’t make much sense to watch before the first two, ‘Before Sunrise’ and ‘Before Sunset’, because character development is central to everything. While each film has a standalone story at different points in the lives of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), there’s still a continuity in their progression and philosophy that carries over. The first was about two young people meeting for the first time and getting taken aback by each other’s ideas, philosophical discourse, and similar natures. In the second one, they pick up where they left off nine years later, more mature and experienced. Midnight takes place nine years later, further in their lives after being together for all that time. They begin losing touch with one another. They have different ideas of what their future looks like, and each has a very different vision. While they may be together, which they wanted, an emotional brick wall has separated them. They must grapple with other factors, but I won’t spoil it. They must reconcile their differences and find a way back through the mud while facing life-altering decisions.
This follows the continuity built by the first two, but I felt this was the weakest. In the first two films, the charm was oozing off the screen. This one felt more serious and contained too much bickering and arguing to feel as charming. However, there are still enough captivating scenes, brilliant dialogue, and chemistry to maintain much of the charm. Keep in mind the focus of the trilogy is not on the plot but on each other. The plot, setting, and side characters are supplementary elements that help the story along but are not an end in itself. They themselves are the plot, the crisis, and the story, which is why it works on a thematic level. The dialogue consistently maintains its wittiness across all three films. I always marvel at the chemistry between Hawke and Delpy, which is mindboggling. Their brilliant delivery feels so real, making them a perfect fit together. One thing I appreciated about Jesse and Celine’s journey is their ability to keep cynicism from taking root in their relationship, despite their issues and arguments. I found a few shots astounding, lasting for extremely long stretches without a single cut. Hats off to director and writer Richard Linklater for a solid film.
Would I recommend this? Yes. By this point, you will have seen the first two, and you’ll want to bring the journey to a close. Even though this is the weakest link of the three, I think it’s still worth going full circle. While I rarely watch romantic dramas or romantic comedies, this trilogy was definitely worth it.
