Susan Granger’s review of “Before Midnight” (Sony Pictures Classics)
This third chapter in Richard Linklater’s emotionally vibrant examination of a constantly evolving
romantic relationship follows “Before Sunrise” (1995), in which an American novelist, Jesse (Ethan Hawke), met a spunky Frenchwoman, Celine (Julie Delpy), on a train, and “Before Sunset” (2004), in which the star-crossed lovers reunited a decade later.
Nine years later, Jesse and Celine are now in their 40s, living together in Paris. Jesse is seeing his adolescent son Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) off at Kalamata Airport in Greece, returning him to his hostile ex-wife in Chicago after summer vacation with Jesse, Celine and their twin daughters. Then – after dropping the girls off with friends – Jesse and Celine spend what’s supposed to be an idyllic, festive night at a picturesque seaside hotel in Messinia. But a marital crisis erupts. Jesse feels guilty that he can’t spend more time with Hank – but that would involve moving back to the United States – and Celine, an environmental activist, has been offered an exciting, career-changing
opportunity. They’re both feeling the pressures not only of family but also of work. Add to that, the inevitable challenges, resentments and disappointments of raising children and facing middle age.
As with the first two installments, this is about two fully-developed characters talking with one
another, communicating their deepest feelings and frustrations. Written by director Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, it rings painfully true, particularly since Jesse and Celine, while not making a commitment to marriage, have, nevertheless, taken on added responsibilities which curtail their creativity and their freedom. And make no mistake – the teasing, taunting dialogue is carefully scripted, not improvised, and delivered with impeccably naturalistic timing in long, uncut takes.
FYI: while they’re good friends/collaborating partners, Delpy has been in a relationship with
composer Marc Streitenfeld since 2007 and they have a son, while Hawke has two young children with his second wife, Ryan, and two from his first marriage to Uma Thurman.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Before Midnight” is an awesome, authentic 10 – a
definite “must see.”
