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Curious pair review the rough-cut of Linklater's sequel to BEFORE SUNRISE... IF NOT NOW!!!
Hey folks, Harry here... I don't know where you are on BEFORE SUNRISE, but I love the film... love it just completely. To me, its never-ending conversation about life, love, passion, laughter and the joy of discovering that person across from you... well, BEFORE SUNRISE captured that. Ordinarily, I would loathe a sequel to a film so exquisite, except that I also know that Linklater would also tend to loathe unnecessary sequels, so this one must be necessary to him. The following reviews will make your heart soar if you loved the first film, as it seems that Rick bottled intimate lightning again... I can't wait to see this sucker... Here ya go...
Harry,
Yesterday night I had the pleasure of seeing the
sequel to Before Sunrise, right now titled "If Not
Now."
Let me first start off by saying that I'm a big fan of
the first one, it's a film I can watch no matter what
mood I'm in... and that these characters are just
people I could watch all day long.
The sequel does not disappoint. I actually wasn't
expecting it to be what it was. Without giving too
much away, the story picks up pretty much today... 9
years later. All of the questions that the first one
left us with-- did they meet up 6 months later, where
are they in their lives, did they find all the things
they were talking about in the first one, EVERY single
thing we would want to know after seeing the first one
was answered, and with such depth. I haven't seen a
film since Raising Victor Vargas that has drawn me in
so much.
Linklater is in his element here too. It's very very
simple. Where School of Rock was the perfect
commercial comedy, this is the perfect art house
drama. He knows where to put the camera, even if it
is leaving a scene alone in a two shot. He has
respect enough for the audience that he doesn't need
to do anything manipulative, I mean, the dialogue is
so strong that we can simply watch an unbroken 5
minute take and don't need other stylistic elements to
keep us intrigued.
If you didn't like the first one, then by all means,
don't go see this one. It is very talky, and true to
form. That being said, those who have missed the
first one... first off, you should run out and rent
it, but I could see people who liked Lost In
Translation having a great time with this one. Both
are very rich character-driven films about people
unsure of where they are in their lives... the type of
thing I think everyone can relate to. Me and my
girlfriend on the way home were finding that there
were pieces of each character, in the things they
said, that we felt but were unable to articulate like
the characters did onscreen.
I don't want to go too much into detail because there
are surprises with these characters along the way, and
the subtle build with how these characters re-unite
and where their conversation goes... that's the whole
fun of it. Kudos to Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy for
being able to fall right back into those roles, and to
be able to keep the dialogue so naturalistic, even
though they must have done so many takes.
The photography and locations were beautiful, and can
only get better (this screening was off of video). I
don't think they'd change it too much just because the
nature of the film is to be a slow dialogue piece, so
I'm not too worried it'd get hacked up like some test
screenings. I just hope it finds it's audience,
because it's a very very rewarding film.
call me, PriesnerThen there is Wooderson's review which is far more spoiler filled, so be warned, though he also just loves the film, albeit with hesitations regarding the conclusion. Can't wait to see this...
Harry,
just got back from a test screening of Richard Linklater's "If Not Now," the
sequel to his exquisite romance, "Before Sunrise," which shares, along with
his "Slacker," a permanent slot on my ever-expanding list of top ten
all-time, can't live without 'em, favorite films (a disparate list of gems
ranging from "Star Wars" to "Bicycle Thief" to "Lenny" to "Singin' in the
Rain," which I mention only to give you an idea of where my cinematic tastes
lie... basically, in greatness of every genre).
Be warned, some spoilers follow...
While the tentatively-titled "If Not Now" can't help but somewhat disappoint
in comparison to the perfection of "Before," it's nonetheless a
beautifully-realized, emotionally affecting, and absolutely worthy
follow-up, one which I'm thrilled was made so we fans of the first film have
a chance to revisit its compelling, believable, and fascinating characters,
Jesse and Celine, 9 years after their initial one-night romance in Vienna.
Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy once again bring vibrancy, humanity, and passion
to the characters, who re-unite in Paris when Jesse travels there for a
signing of his first book. Like in "Before Sunrise" and "Slacker" (among
others), Linklater demonstrates his unparalleled (okay, Rohmer does it well,
too) ability to strip away all artifice and create poignant drama simply by
putting the camera on his characters and letting us in on their interaction,
with little or no intervention. His uncommon insight into relationships and
romance, coupled with vaguely autobiographical contributions from Hawke and
Delpy (e.g. Hawke's character comments on the emotional failure of his
marriage), and the gradual renewal/reawakening/reacknowledgement of the
characters' sublimated feelings for one another plays with all the effective
tension, suspense, and promise of a masterful thriller; anyone who's ever
been in love or lost in love and wondered if the other person still loves
them can't help but be moved by this wonderful film.
I can't stress enough what a joy it is to watch these two characters -- now
a little older, a little wiser, a little more world-weary -- rediscover each
other, and how thoroughly enchanting they are together. How can you not
fall in love with Julie Delpy in both "Before Sunrise" and "If Not Now?"
Impossible. And were I inclined that way, Ethan Hawke's adorable too (he's
never been better than when working with Linklater).
My only real let-down was the movie's conclusion, which felt somewhat abrupt
and arbitrary, in comparison to the beautifully realized and bittersweet
ending of "Before Sunrise," which perfectly capped Jesse and Celine's brief
encounter in a manner just ambiguous enough to appeal to both cynics and
optimists (which Jesse himself comments on in this movie, while discussing
the end of his book, a fictional account of his Vienna romance with Celine),
as the two parted company after promising to meet again in six months.
Would they meet again? Or not? It worked brilliantly.
Here, however, after an entire movie of unfulfilled desires, spirited
interaction, insightful conversations, and beautiful Parisian scenery, the
film sort of peters out at the last instant, fading out with the admittedly
pleasing implication that Jesse and Celine will indeed get together, but
doing so somewhat abruptly and unexpectedly during a scene in Celine's
apartment, which left me feeling emotionally unsatisfied. Nothing wrong
with ambiguity and subtlety and certainly no need to explicitly get them
together via a make-out session or something equally Hollywood, but somehow,
when the lights came up, I didn't feel the sense of dramatic satisfaction
and resolution I did with "Before Sunrise."
I don't want to play up my problem with the movie's ending too much, and I
hope the studio doesn't impose damaging changes upon the film based on the
screening feedback (the post-screening questionaires concentrated on the
film's conclusion, suggesting some indecision, perhaps by the producers or
execs, that the ending is problematic), and in fairness, my girlfriend, who
also loved "Before Sunrise," dug the ending of "If Not Now." So maybe it's
just me. And in fact, I didn't warm to and fully appreciate the ending of
"Dazed and Confused" when I first saw that film, but eventually grew to love
it. And my problem with the ending is ultimately small potatoes given what
a treat this movie is, a paean to love, romance, and hope.
Hopefully, the audience and focus group's sensibilities were attuned to the
movie, which is the polar opposite to the insipid sitcom-style romantic
comedies Hollywood often turns out. It seemed odd to me that they would
test this film, since its quiet, low-key, character-focused style might not
appeal to audiences weaned on dreck like "Forces of Nature." Ideally,
people are starved for Linklater's brand of gentle, carefully observed
character study/romance and will appreciate the joys of two characters
actually talking at length, free of the distractions of exploding cars and
CG aliens. The test audience did seem to dig the movie.
I forgot to mention what might have been the highlight in a consistently
wonderful film: Julie Delpy's guitar waltz, a song about a lost love which
she sweetly sings near the movie's end, accompanying herself on guitar.
Beautiful and haunting, the best song I've heard since Tara's "Under Your
Spell" in the Buffy musical ep.
Anyway, just thought I'd write in to plug this movie, the best I've since
since "Finding Nemo," and worth putting up with the annoyance of being
scanned by security for metal and recording devices prior to entering the
theater. IMHO, Richard Linklater and the geniuses at Pixar are the biggest
and most consistently creative talents currently working in film.
Okay, have I drooled and supplicated myself enough at the altar of
Linklater? Can't help it. Now if they'd just release "Slacker" on DVD.
If you use this, call me "Wooderson."
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+ Expand All
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BEFORE SUNRISE is my favourite love story, and a stunning creature like Julie Delpy should be ONLY seen on crisp 35mm film stock.
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hmm. wasn't this site all about giving out spoilers to movies? here we get two reviews and not a single one of them actually TELLS US ABOUT THE MOVIE. christ. two talky, lengthy, blah blah blah reviews praising linklater and whatnot -- but neither one bothers to tell us what the hell the movie is about. stupid. why even put the "SPOILER" tag at all? these assholes didn't spoil shit. ergh. at least it's not another stupid WAKING LIFE, where people walk around repeating shit they read and heard and whatever. god, that was a stupid "movie".
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.. and what's to know what this one is "about". Like a serial killer who just vomited all over an asinine fellow subway passenger, I can't stop laughing.
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When i saw the rewiews posted my heart skipped a beat. This film has been with me a long time and will forever remain in my top three films of all time.I first heard about the film when i was 14 and was desperate to see it after watching Dazed and Confused stony eyed and laughing my tits off. I was completely in love with this girl in my class and desperately wanted to watch this film with her but she was all shy and it never happened. About two years later it came on tv at 12.00 on a school night but i watched every delicate beautiful detail of that film and it filled me with happiness and love for the world. I know this makes me appear some blubbering nancy boy but for me those long beautifully articulated speeches set against the boheimian splendor of venise touched me in a way that only a handfull of films ever could. The embarasing silences and snatched glances in the listening booth the first kiss on the ferrace wheel , i swear there is not one aspect of that film that i feel could be improved upon. Anyway by the time it was on tv i was with my childhood sweetheart, 7 years later were still together and we must have watched that film together more than any other film i own. i litterally can not wait to see this with my girlfriend and be absorbed into the lives of the two protagonists again. Nice one Linlaker you just made my year.
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I loved the first one to death. It is one of my all-time favorite films as well. I first watched it after my own personal heartbreak in College, and this may be why it has stuck with me for so long. Leading up to today I have watched it every Valentine's day, wheather by myself or with my girlfriend, now wife. Before I met mey wife, I watched this at least 3-5 times a year. A great film. Any news on a release date? Right around Valentine's day might be nice.
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Dec 15, 2003 10:30:02 AM CST
I really didn't want this movie to have a sequel but I want to t
by big bad clone
I skipped over that spoiler review but saw the bit about Tara's song in the Buffy musical. That and the chance to see the glory of Julie Delpy on the big screen again and I can't not go.
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I sent this info to this site last month, but no one deemed it worth presenting to everyone. The producer of WAKING LIFE visited my college last month and gave a presentation about the animation in Waking Life and talked about a future project he is working on with Richard Linklater. They hope to adapt the Philip K. Dick novel "A Scanner Darkly" in animated form, the same way that Waking Life was animated. HOLY SHIT, that will be awesome.
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Dec 15, 2003 10:50:38 AM CST
It's be interesting to see Linklater revisit these characters ev
by nordling
See how age, and life, and loss take them. It would be like Apted's 7-year documentary but in fictional form. I love BEFORE SUNRISE and I'm sure I'll most likely love this one.
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I like Richard Linlater bt BEFORE SUNRISE fucking bored me to death. I'd much rather see a sequel to DAZED AND CONFUSED. That first review was a PLANT, by the way.
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"Harry here,... Before Sunrise... To me, its never-ending conversation about life, love, passion, laughter and the joy of discovering that person across from you..." Harry that person across from you is your Ben & Jerrys server, now stop smilling wistfully and hurry the fuck up and order your three gallons of Chunky Monkey.
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Calm, modest, warm, respectful, intelligent, incisive. ...A fine critic, in my opinion.
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Hawke and Delpy's characters have a sequence in Waking Life. Where does that fall in between Before Sunrise and If Not Now? Is it something that never happened between the two because it was animated? Just wondering.
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It was a dream.
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Ooooh now that WOULD be clever now wouldn't it... eh?? eh??.... No?.. oh Okay sorry.
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Dec 16, 2003 9:25:40 PM CST
Crowe is like Richard Linklater,but without the talent or the wr
by rupee88
Comprae POS Vanilla Sky to Before Sunrise and tell me which is better...even compare Almost Famous to Tape and you still come up with Linklater being the master.
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I'm a guy and a fairly regular guy when it comes to sex and romance. Most romantic movies are stupid and bore me to tears. Of course any dumb chick is going to like most any romantic movies, but guys are more discerning with that genre. So for a movie like Before Sunrise to genuinely touch me and move me somehow is a testament its quality and precision in capturing the true essence and magic of romance. I'm curious about this sequel, but I hope it doesn't taint the original like Reload/Revolutions did with with The Matrix.
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In the movie "waking Life"
Julie and Ethan had a short scene with a dialogue that it seemed right of the "Before Sunrise" movie, they were in a bed togehter
discussing some pretty neat stuff,
it gave you the sensation that they did meet up after six months and got back together.
Coincidence?
Prequel?
Let me know your thoughts...
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