{"id":9988,"date":"2014-11-02T22:45:29","date_gmt":"2014-11-02T20:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pinartarhan.com\/blog\/?p=9988"},"modified":"2017-01-19T19:26:25","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T17:26:25","slug":"before-midnight-starring-ethan-hawke-and-julie-delpy-the-sequel-id-so-wanted-to-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinartarhan.com\/blog\/before-midnight-starring-ethan-hawke-and-julie-delpy-the-sequel-id-so-wanted-to-like\/","title":{"rendered":"Before Midnight starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy: The Sequel I\u2019d So Wanted to Like"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"before<\/a>
Image via eksiil.net.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s essential to remember where we are coming from, and before diving straight into my review, I want to talk a bit about the two movies that came before. But you can head straight to the Before Midnight part if you like. Just scroll down a bit;)<\/p>\n

Before Sunrise: A Romantic Haven for The Realistic Romantic<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1995, Jesse and Celine met on a train, and connected like they haven\u2019t connected with anyone. They were both cute, young (in their early 20s) and, as much as Jesse was more obviously so, romantic. They got along so well, in fact, Jesse didn\u2019t want to get off at his temporary station in Vienna (he was flying back home the next day) so he persuaded Celine to get off with him and spend the day\/night in Vienna (Before Sunrise). You can read a more thorough, spoiler-free review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course Celine and Jesse fell in love during their spontaneous and romantic day, and we fell in love with their story (as well as the city.) Now, I\u2019ll spoil the ending, so you might want to avoid this post if you haven\u2019t seen Before Sunrise.<\/p>\n

Hell, you shouldn\u2019t be here if you haven\u2019t seen Before Sunset <\/a>(sequel to Before Sunrise, which we\u2019ll talk about shortly). But please do come back after you\u2019ve seen it.<\/p>\n

OK, so Before Sunrise has a semi-happy, semi-vague ending. Celine and Jesse agree not to exchange numbers or addresses (which is pretty dumb and naive, considering how they felt about each other), but to meet in Vienna in six months. They say their goodbyes and go on their separate ways. But don\u2019t get me wrong, Before Sunrise is one of my favorite films, and I pretty much love everything about it.<\/p>\n

Before Sunset: A Little Darker, More Realistic and Just As Good Sequel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Come 2004, we get\u00a0Before Sunset<\/a>, the sequel. This is where we are disappointed in the beginning to find out that that planned meeting never happened. Jesse has gone on to publish a bestseller about their day in Vienna, and is on a book tour in Paris, which is where Celine lives. Celine drops by at his book signing, and from then on, the movie is about them catching up 9 years later.<\/p>\n

As they mostly walk around Paris, we learn what they\u2019ve been up to. Professionally, they\u2019ve chased their ideals. Romantically, they\u2019re a mess. Celine is in a kind of relationship with a guy she doesn\u2019t care much about. Jesse is unhappily married with a young son; he would probably have bolted if not for him.<\/p>\n

Here, because they are in their mid-30s, things are, or at least seem to be, a bit bleak. And not just because of their current disappointing relationships, but because we learn they couldn\u2019t meet at their designated time and that they still have feelings for each other.<\/p>\n

The ending is still a bit vague, but basically, this time we kind of, sort of know they stayed together. OK, let me put this way: we guess they stayed together at that moment, but we aren\u2019t sure if it lasted. Well, we weren\u2019t sure for 9 years, until Before Midnight came out.<\/p>\n

Before Midnight: Bleak, Hostile, Insensitive, Bitchy, Toxic \u2013 Is this the sequel about Celine and Jesse\u2019s dumber, more aggressive and ultra\u00a0insensitive clones?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love Before Sunrise <\/a>to bits, and in some ways, I love\u00a0Before Sunset <\/a>even more because it seems more realistic and sincere. It\u2019s easy to relate to the disappointments and missed opportunities and what-ifs of being a grown-up.<\/p>\n

The dialogue also sounds more natural than the first movie. Director\/writer Richard Linklater, and co-writers\/lead actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have done splendid jobs capturing a genuine, second part of a love story.<\/p>\n

Before Midnight has a lovely trailer<\/a>. It looks like you\u2019ll look into the marriage of one of our favorite couples in movie history, and what years have done to their relationship (we know it has been years because they have kids and they\u2019re on vacation together as a family).<\/p>\n

And it starts well enough: Jesse is at the airport saying goodbye to his now teenage son Hank who has spent the summer in Greece with them. Then it takes a while we can get some quality time with just Celine and Jesse. Sure, it\u2019s just them talking in the car while their twin girls sleep at the back of the car but it\u2019s more talking at each other and making jokes about their kids instead of really sharing \u2013 not the type of Jesse and Celine exchanges we\u2019ve gotten used to. Yes, we get it. They are married. Things are different. But are you really ready for just how much things have changed?<\/p>\n

Then they\u2019re back around the writer\u2019s residence, Jesse talking to his friends, and Celine helping out in the kitchen (Celine in the kitchen???) and then it\u2019s everyone at the house having dinner together. The stuff our duo would discuss among themselves is discussed together here, where Celine does her usual (in this movie!) putting-Jesse-down routine.<\/p>\n

So 35 minutes in, and they still haven\u2019t taken a walk around town just the two of them.<\/p>\n

OK, about 47 minutes in or so, we\u2019re finally with the two of them, only their conversation revolves mostly around their kids, and Celine\u2019s insecurities. There are some delightful moments and smiles, but it\u2019s very limited.<\/p>\n

After a few minutes of Before-Sunrisey moments, we go to the hotel Celine was so reluctant to go to, and all hell breaks lose. This is where the movie puts me further off long-lasting relationships and having kids. This where I say forever goodbye to the Celine and Jesse I know, wishing I can forget this movie, so that I watch the first two movies again, without being haunted by this one.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

Remember that beautiful scene by the fountain, little after dawn, in Before Sunrise where Celine was talking about how she\u2019d grow to love someone more after she has gotten to know them entirely…Well, turns out, she just grows to resent them. Yay! Celine is another woman who has grown to resent her husband who shockingly didn\u2019t change at all.<\/p>\n

Now, I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m super awesome and Celine\u2019s a bitch. We all have our own demons, problems and neuroses. But Celine here is making me miss Ally McBeal; and at least Ally was likeable and well-meaning most of the time. And she was funnier than she was irritating.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong, I wasn\u2019t head over heels with Jesse either. The last thing I want is a guy with a bitchy ex-wife and a teenage son, who plans a whole summer according to his needs, doesn\u2019t include loyalty in his definition of being fully committed and who openly checks out younger, perkier women who happen to be dating his friend!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just that next to Celine, he wins the lesser of two evils award.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying I hated it. It had its moments. It had the trademark gorgeous scenery of a foreign country. But it didn\u2019t have passion or romance. It didn\u2019t have faith in the relationship and love story we grew up to love. There was no respect on Celine\u2019s part, and don\u2019t get me started about their lackluster ideas of being fully committed to each other…<\/p>\n

So to sum it up all three movies\u2019 reviews:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

During Before Sunrise, you want to be Celine or Jesse.<\/p>\n

During Before Sunset, you hope you don\u2019t miss out on chances, and you wish you have the guts to follow your heart if you do happen to miss out on chances. You still don\u2019t mind being Jesse or Celine.<\/p>\n

During Before Midnight, you just want to go to Greece.<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

And I really didn\u2019t want them to stay together, because that relationship became as harmful as toxic waste. I\u2019m not some naive romantic that expects everything to be perfect. But I do expect an insult-free, loyal, passionate and respectful relationship. Otherwise, what the hell is the point? Speed had more romance than Before Midnight, for crying out loud!<\/p>\n

*<\/p>\n

This is a good, decent, honest movie. It\u2019s just a highly disappointing sequel.<\/p>\n