American traveller Ethan Hawke and French student Julie Delpy meet while on a Vienna-bound train and share a mutual attraction. With less than 24 hours before having to go their separate ways, the two decide to explore their feelings and Vienna at the same time. A change of pace for director Richard Linklater, this delicate romance features affecting performances and gorgeous scenery. 101 min. Standard and Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, French; theatrical trailer; interactive menus; scene access.

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This is just a very good movie. Perhaps one of the best I have ever seen. Not sure why it's rated "R". Perhaps some of the language but I have heard worse in my son's Jr. High School.

Watch this movie and experience a wonderful feeling that you probably haven't experienced in years or maybe never experienced but want to. It makes this guy appreciate the woman that I have a little bit more than I did.

30 of 32 found the following review helpful:

Rare Honesty and Hypnotizing ConversationsNov 19, 2004
By Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review"
In a world where characters seem to cautiously approach a tentative friendship before diving into an impulsive romantic relationship, it is almost refreshing to see both happening at once. From the moment American Jesse meets the luminous French Celine there is a soul connection that defies definition.

At first, Celine seems to overwhelm Jesse with her intellectual wanderings and yet she playfully allows him to tease her. The chemistry is phenomenal and the sheer beauty of various scenes made me realize how the simplicity of the settings actually enhanced the emotional aspects.

Throughout the entire movie you never feel that you are on the outside looking in, although I think that is the underlying attraction. I was so mesmerized by the script I felt I became each character as they were speaking. This is bliss for anyone who loves the sheer honesty of life itself. Jesse and Celine delve into philosophy, creatively describe their first romantic feelings and enjoy a spontaneous merging of the minds.

When they meet on a train heading to Vienna, neither imagine they will encounter a reality that is better than any fantasy. There is a sweet innocence pervading this entire movie with an underlying erotic tension that never seems to find complete fulfillment on screen. While the ending of this movie is more melancholy, the ending of Before Sunset is more than delicious.

~The Rebecca Review

18 of 20 found the following review helpful:

Sunrise/Sunset: a perfect day at the moviesNov 14, 2004
By Bill
Can you think of another film and sequel that are as uniformly excellent? I sure can't. "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" are each jewels in their own right.

I saw "Before Sunrise" when it came out in 1995 and fell head over heels. Some films become instant favorites but lose their luster after repeated viewings through the years -- it's natural for our response to change as we age and evolve. But with true movie classics, our affection only grows. "Before Sunrise" is one of those. It has remained among my favorite films these past nine years, and subsequent viewings have brought just as much, if not more, delight and wonder.

Unfortunately, I've been less than thrilled with Richard Linklater's subsequent films -- particularly "Waking Life," which I thought was pretentious and annoying (despite animated cameos by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy).

So, I approached "Before Sunset" with both trepidation and excitement. Amazingly, the sequel is just as enjoyable and satisfying as the first. The tone is somewhat different, as you would expect because of the characters' greater maturity and share of disappointments. The performances, script and direction remain perfect.

These are the most European American films I can think of, and yes, that's a compliment. (Sometimes, you almost expect to see subtitles.) They are particularly reminiscent of Eric Rohmer's films in that they rely on real-time effects and lengthy conversations to tap into what it means to be human and connect with others. And in fact, if you love the "Before" movies and you don't mind subtitles, you might want to also check out Rohmer films like "Boyfriends and Girlfriends" and "Summer."

The "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset" DVDs have excellent picture quality. There are no extras to speak of, except for a short behind-the-scenes documentary on the "Before Sunset" DVD. At first, I was disappointed, but then I realized that adding a commentary or deleted scenes to either film might only risk taking away some of the magic. Both movies stand on their own. They are, in my opinion, the most perfectly realized romantic films in American movie history, bar none.

12 of 13 found the following review helpful:

A Romance that All Can Relate ToJan 05, 2000

As many other reviews have said, this is truly one of the most underrated films of the 1990's. I saw this film on TV and taped it. I love it. I've watched it propbably two dozen times. When I first saw it, I asked all my friends if any had seen it, only to be answered with no's. When I finally met someone who had seen it, and when they loved it too, I felt like my secret was shared. Now I'd like to share that secret with you. Goddess Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke are truly fantastic. Julie is absolutely divine. The way she claimed relationships that lasted forever were "stupid" in the cafe hoping, yearning for Hawke to argue, was pure genius. The brilliancy of this film is the fact that Vienna becomes a metaphor of their relationship. The scene in the cemetary with "Elizabeth" is spellbinding. The stolen glances in the listening booth resonate every time. I recommend this movie both for any who have ever dreamed of love at first site and for those who disregard it.

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