Before Sunset
Richard Linklater's "Before Sunset" is my top choice for movie of the
year to date, not that the competition's that close. I suppose the
conventional wisdom is that its talky, plot-light nature means this film
isn't for everyone, but that saddens me. I think everyone should see
it; it's a deeply heartfelt film. The other recent film I can think of
with such genuine emotion is last year's "In America". (I've also read
comparisons to last year's "Lost in Translation", but I haven't seen
that one yet.)
Ethan Hawke was great, Julie Delpy was unbelievable, and the writing (by
all three, plus story credit to Kim Krizan) and cinematography and camerawork
were top-notch.
Without the heavy-handed Hollywood orchestra browbeating you into
emotion, without stupid and gloriously dumb plot twists that inject
artificial drama into the story, they've combined to build a story
presented with such honest and heartfelt emotion that I'm still stunned
a day and a half after watching it.
I cannot wait until the Ridge theater picks this up with Before Sunrise
for a double bill.
