Thursday, March 13, 2008

by Ari

Before Sunset is a perfect movie. I'm still amazed by this intimate classic by Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. It's such a simple movie on the surface, but the depth of the characters and the emotional honesty it conveys is something far more profound than most of what's out there today, especially for "romantic" stories. The film rewards on subsequent viewing in a way that I can't fully express. It's not just the realism of the characters or the immediacy of their connection, it's something to do with what they represent, not just in this film, but also in Before Sunrise.

I feel like I know these people, that the lives of these two characters was created with such detail and truthfulness that it surpasses what you find in most movies. There's a poignancy to their story that hits me on the same level of Wayne Wang's brilliant drama, Smoke (my pick for the best film of 1995), it's a feeling that lingers with me long after I finish watching it. The characters are not just identifiable and attractive, it's more than that. These two people have a tangible sense of the pain and regret and love and happiness that fuels their particular bond. Whether certain details are completely fictionalized or based on actual experience, the personal authenticity of the writing is extremely powerful. It's also beautifully directed in the sense that the director is basically invisible. It's a touch of brilliance that the film allows the performances and writing to be front and center, and to not be too showy or visually complex. That level of restraint and subtlety is something that separates Linklater from many of his peers. Even a stylized film like A Scanner Darkly is subtle for what it is. That type of skill is something to appreciate, it doesn't happen too often.