The third in Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy finds Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) having grown up but not necessarily matured. If Before Sunrise explored the late adolescent notions of romance and sex, and Before Sunset addressed humanity’s deeper questions about love and destiny, then Before Midnight is the trilogy’s meditation on marriage and vocation, dreams colliding with realities. It is also a trilogy about the passing of time, the never-ceasing movement away from the past and into the future while always trying to remain present in the moment. As the couple’s commitments clash and the final act of the film culminates in a raw, painful confrontation, Before Midnight invites us to consider our own aging process, to reflect on where we’ve come from, where we’re headed, and how that journey has shaped us. Whether or not we get a fourth Before film in 2022 remains to be seen; in any case, it’s been a lovely conversation. – Joel Mayward
- Directed by: Richard Linklater
- Produced by:
- Written by: Richard Linklater Julie Delpy Ethan Hawke
- Music by:
- Cinematography by: Christos Voudouris
- Editing by:
- Release Date: 2013
- Running Time: 109
- Language: English
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2019 Top 25 Films on Growing Older — #12