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Is there a better indie franchise than Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy’s “Before” series?
If so, there surely isn’t a more romantic one. The saga of Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), which began in Vienna with 1995’s “Before Sunrise,” continued in France with 2004’s “Before Sunset,” and now hits a bittersweet peak in Greece with “Before Midnight,” should go down in history as one of cinema’s most dramatically fruitful (and unlikely successful) experiments. Director Linklater and his stars never planned to follow the central couple so far, but something clicked with this trio (all three serve as co-writers), and sparked an organic evolution.
The latest installment catches up with Jesse and Celine in the southern Peloponnese, where they’re wrapping up a six-week vacation with their two young daughters. They’ve never wed, but their signature chatter now has the ring of that of an old married couple, and to complicate matters, Jesse has a teenage son living in the States with his scorned ex-wife. All this and more boils beneath the surface as we get reacquainted with these life-thirsty lovers, whose bond and discourse has matured to reflect the growth of the film’s creators. There is love, but also weariness, resentment, and discontent.
And yet, while the proverbial thrill may be gone for the pair (who, as is alluded to here, capped off the last chapter with round-the-clock fornication), it’s certainly alive and well for the viewer, who’s unlikely to see a better, truer expression of love on screen this year. “Before Midnight” shows an uncanny understanding of the complexities, compromises and tugs-of-war of a life shared, always aware that these are two vivid individuals as much as they are a devoted unit.
People are often surprised to learn that these films aren’t improvised, but rather intensely rehearsed by the actors, who then perform their scenes in lengthy takes that feel uncommonly naturalistic. The process is comparable to live theater, and the language certainly has a comparable poetry. The result is both rugged and polished, and the kind of filmic storytelling of which there’s hardly enough.
Before Midnight
R
Four reels out of four
Opens Friday at the Ritz East
Recommended Rental
Oz the Great and Powerful
PG
Available Tuesday
Those deeply loyal to “The Wizard of Oz” will have their qualms with Sam Raimi’s effects-heavy sequel, which casts James Franco as the titular trickster before he became Dorothy’s “man behind the curtain.” But while there’s plenty to sneer at (like a miscast Mila Kunis as a certain wicked witch), this is a film that’s all about showmanship and illusion, both of which have always been Raimi’s strengths. The black-and-white first act alone is worth the journey.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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