”I don’t want to live a boring life, where two people own each other, where two people are institutionalized in a box that others created because that is a bunch of stifling bullsh*t.”
Correct me if I’m wrong. But I wish that today’s movie trilogy doesn’t always associated with superheroes or robots fighting. I am one of the people who enjoyed deep conversations, and that applies for seeing it on the movie. I am thankful for my early-20-year old self who accidentally found Before Sunrise on late night TV and was hooked watching it until the end, didn’t care that it was too late to watch a movie. It was a solid proof that to make a great movie, you don’t have to put lots of twists or lots of visual effects. It simply need two people with great chemistry and they can talk for hours, without making us viewers left behind.
Perhaps about a year go, we all heard that Richard Linklater will direct the third movie of the Before Sunrise series, after Before Sunset. It is called Before Midnight. Some people confused about what’s left to offer. I, on the other hand, was excited for it. Finally, I can rest my tired eyes (I’m not that old though) to watch something that have a big potential to be meaningful. Not just that, the movie was set in Greece. It is my big travel dream to go there. What made me curious was that the director invited the two leading actors to discuss about this third installment. When was the last time an actor involved to a pre-production? Last thing I recall was Drive (2011), Ryan Gosling picked the director. Look how well the movie turned out to be.
So Before Midnight starts right when Jesse (Ethan Hawke) takes Hank, his son from his divorced wife, to an airport in Greece for him to get back to Chicago. It is implied from Jesse’s attempt to still be close with him, that Hank’s mother hates Jesse. After Hank takes off, Jesse goes back to his car. There standing next to his car with her phone, is Celine (Julie Delpy). The couple is now a couple, with twin daughters. They have a lovely time being on vacation in Greece. But Hank’s visiting give more impact to Jesse, as he feels like he should be around him more. The idea doesn’t please Celine, because it means that she should follow him living in Chicago.While now Jesse is a famous novel writer and now they have been in a relationship for years, where does it go from there? And, do they still have what it takes to be together?
Giving what the fans have missed and longed from Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, Before Midnight have a similar formula. Hawke and Delpy still have a great chemistry, they can have a laid back, smart and deep conversations for hours maybe. Of course they are now in their 40s, matured and more realistic. They have passed their wedding and couple of firsts, like first having child and taking care of them. Of course, the conversations sometimes linked to being a woman or a man (as Celine is a feminist). Also, achieving dreams, as they are passed their idealistic years in 20-30s. But their passion together and their compatibility still does not age. It is probably what mostly people want with their companion.
It was more of a battle of Celine’s critics, worries and concerns, with Jesse’s patience and dreamy-romantic traits, that produced the heated intense talk in the end that may cause the end of their relationship. I think there’s more changing to Celine as a woman, now she have gone through a lot as a wife and mother. Again, even with their fights, the two actors can create a soothing-calm talk to be a battle of war. Not much props, too much sets and music.
Invite yourself to Celine and Jesse’s visit to Greece in Before Midnight. Or better, watch the two first movies, to see their befores and compare how far they have gone through. If you love smart and meaningful talks like I do, you’ll be loving this one a lot.
And, I also loved the music score.
Movie Score :
