I guess when you’re young, you just believe there’ll be many people with whom you’ll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.
I just watched Before Sunset and I was completely mesmerized. Having watched Before Sunrise a couple of nights previously, I have something to compare it to and I can see how far Richard Linklater has come. Now Sunrise is a good film, I’d have definately included it in any list I compiled of my favourite films, Sunset however, storms straight in as my numero uno.
Besides the form of the film (it takes place, pretty much in real-time) the dialog, photography, the acting, everything comes together to show just how much Linklater has matured as a film-maker. You can see how his influence has developed looking over his previous work with films such as Slacker and Waking Life. Its a triumphant work and you could plan no better weekend than one spent with the Before Sunrise/Sunset films basking in the glow you get at the end of each part - of course it does help if you are something of a romantic.
The films have reinvigorated me somewhat as Linklater was one of the directors who inspired me to get into this line of work in the first place. I had began to wonder if he had gone off the boil and perhaps was not living up to his early promise. Before Sunset has made everything right in the world though.
P.S. I have developed a major crush on Julie Delpy as a direct result of the final scene.