Monday, June 3, 2013

Before Midnight

A few months ago, upon learning that Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy had trekked off to Greece to shoot Before Midnight in relative secret, my first thought was “Why?” Why do this? Why risk tarnishing something so pure? And then I realized that was my exact thought upon hearing of Linklater’s Before Sunset nine years ago. Before Sunrise, the first film in this unlikely franchise, released in 1995, is as heartwarming a film of love as I’ve ever seen. Nine years later, Linklater and his stars made Before Sunset, and why? “Why take the risk of ruining it,” I thought then.

Needless to say, I was not let down by Before Sunset. It improved upon an already perfect cinematic love, and it did it with one 80 minute long conversation. Fade to black. Bliss.

So, to bring this full circle, while my initial apprehension toward Before Midnight was identical to how I once felt about Before Sunset, it’s only appropriate that now, having seen Before Midnight, I am at ease in the best, most familiar way imaginable.

I’m not going to discuss the story of Before Midnight. It deserves better than that. I was very fortunate to watch this film without one shred of knowledge as to what it is about. I avoided on-set production pictures, purposefully missed the film’s trailer, dodged reviews, festival chatter, you name it. All in an effort to witness the love of Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) anew. So instead of dissecting what the film is about, I’ll spend my time detailing what makes it so great.
And make no mistake, Before Midnight is a great film. Perhaps a truly great one. I’m always hesitant to issue hyperbolic praise mere hours after watching a film, as I think all movies reveal themselves in the days, weeks, and months after we first see them. But know that, as it sits now, I consider Before Midnight a triumph.

I’ve always felt there were two main types of movie going audiences. Those who want to escape, and those who want to be reminded. Most people watch movies to escape. Of the current top 10 highest grossing films in America, only one film could actual happen. Everything else is physics-ignorant action sequences, super heroes, doomsdays and on and on. I’m not knocking it, I’m simply pointing out that most people who pay good money to see a movie want to be entertained.

They don’t want to watch two people talk about life, love, and hardship possibly because they can experience that first hand. Watching a bunch of cops and criminals spend dozens of minutes fast and furiously attempting to stop a plane from taking off is something you can only see in a movie. Watching two people bitch about their relationship is something you can do at home. Escapism over realism.
And trust me, I know how crudely I’m generalizing here. Of course there are other kinds of moviegoers. There are people who enjoy everything and will see anything. But my point is: what is good film acting? Is it acting that is blatantly obvious, or is it something that we write off as real? (Or is it both?) I love Daniel Day-Lewis and I love his performance in There Will Be Blood, but that dude is acting. For every frame of that film, I’m watching an actor work, and work damn well.

Conversely, when I watch Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy argue, I think I’m watching Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy argue. I assume this is how these two people behave in real life. Old friends who bicker endlessly, with no resolve in sight. But I’m not watching that. I’m watching Jesse and Celine argue. I’m watching actors who are so genuine that I forget I’m watching a movie. It’s not the kind of acting that wins awards, but it’s the kind of acting that doesn’t get enough credit. Because it’s so true, we often forget how difficult it is to pull off.

I’ve spent most of my time here detailing the acting of this film, because that is what anchors the three films in this franchise. Sure, they often implore impressively long unbroken shots and precise writing, but above all, Hawke and Delpy are our guides. Our guides to truth. Our guides to love. Our guides to filmmaking at its most authentic.

And you can be sure, nine years from now, that’ll still be the kind of movie I want to see. A

Click here for my profile on Richard Linklater's entire career

21 comments:

  1. Dying to see this movie, was really hoping to sneak it in last weekend, but wound up catching up on 'other stuff'. Sounds great, definitely the kind of movie we need between all the summer crash fests...

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    1. Yes, definitely! It is So. Good. Especially if you're a fan of the other films. I can't wait to see it again.

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  2. Man, I can't wait to see this! I've been putting off seeing the previous two films for months just so I could watch all three in a short span of time and really grasp them fully. Glad to hear it's amazing!

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    1. That's awesome! Really good idea in fact. Please stop by again and let me know what you think of all three. They're delightful.

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    2. Finally watched all three of these wonderful films! Sunset/Sunrise are just amazing and are both funnier and more romantic than 98% (give or take) of romantic comedies out there today. Midnight was great as well, though I did find it a bit more depressing because of that extended scene in the hotel room. I understand that this is how real people act and behave and I love how it ended at that little cafe table, but that extended scene just broke my heart.
      But it's among the best trilogies I've ever seen (Dark Knight and Toy Story). Thanks for the recommendation.

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    3. Nice man! So glad you watched them and stopped back to let me know how you felt. I agree that Midnight was devastating at times, but I do think it is one of the most accurate movie relationship arguments I've ever seen. Life ain't always pretty, you know? And this movie really captured that evenly.

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  3. This is definitely one of the five films I'm eager to see more than anything else this year. I love the Before films and I was wondering if they were going to do a third one. Maybe this is it or will we have another one nine years from now. If this is the final one. Please, get all three films out on a Criterion boxset.

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    1. I really think you're going to like this one. Very true. Very real. In Linklater's reddit AMA he said he hopes to release all three in a Blu-Ray box set soon. But Criterion would be amazing.

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  4. Great work, Alex. Interesting points your kicking around here, the whole escapism vs realism.

    Personally, as I've gotten older, I find myself enjoying the latter, though hitting the theater for the former.

    I'm very interested in seeing this film, but I feel like I might like it just as much at home, then say...making some epic journey to go see it! (100 miles? Well done, my friend! [I think my personal record is 85])

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    1. Thanks man. Oh my god, yes. You've just basically described my current viewing habits. I find that I, more often than not, go to the theater to escape because that's all that most theaters offer. Occasionally, yeah, I'll drive 100 miles to see a flick I'm dying for. The life of a movie slut.

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  5. "I avoided on-set production pictures, purposefully missed the film’s trailer, dodged reviews, festival chatter, you name it" - that's how I approach most of the movies nowadays. I approve this method. :D

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    1. Nice! That's always the best way to go into a film. But damn do studios make it difficult, you know?

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  6. Your review gives me hope! Thank God it lives up to the first two. I need to see this like now!

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    1. It totally lives up to the first two. There is hope in the world!

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  7. I'm avoiding as much as I can (although I've seen the trailer) before I see it, so I'll be back to read your review then. So glad to see an "A" here.

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    1. The trailer doesn't give away too much at all actually. But yeah, I wouldn't read any review before seeing it either!

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    2. Great review man! Glad you loved it as well.

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    3. Thanks! Loved your review as well. Best Pic, here we come!

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    4. Thanks man! Fingers crossed!

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  8. This film explores the complexities and complications of modern love and life in an international setting with dialog that is smart and elegant, but it lacks the romance and sense of place featured in the first two films.

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    1. I agree that this one lacks the romance of the first two, but that was definitely the intention of everyone involved.

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