A Disappointing Continuation

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Great movie and one of my favorite trilogies of all time

Because of the great reviews, I expected a profound film that delved into the emotional life of two, long-married people struggling with children, work, and life. What a mistake! Very superficial story line, where we are tortured into seeing two people bickering through the whole film without feeling connected to why they are so bitter and arguing; except that they are.How many writers do most of us know or people who have the time, money, and luxury to travel back and forth to Europe? I don't know about you, but I can't recall the last time I could afford a vacation or even a motel room for that matter. Conversations in the film are so contrived like the characters that no one can take either the characters or the lines they utter as realistic. Discussions on pop culture, politics, and feminism are discussed on the most superficial levels possible. For example, Celine hates her job, but argues about the importance of a woman having a job, because it's empowering? First of all, most women don't have that luxury; economically they are forced to work. Second, who argues that having a job that you feel exploited and hate is empowering? Gorbachev as an amazing statesman. Really? Wasn't he the charlatan who argued against the affordability of bread, destroyed the Soviet Union, and prostituted himself in Louis Vuitton commercials. If the writer had delved a little into politics beyond the superficial headlines maybe he would have known something about Gorbachev. The only likable scene in this whole film is at a banquet among friends. It is the only time you hear any meaningful or interesting banter and dialogue. Thanks of course to the writer ripping off lines from Bergman's film Private Confessions. My recommendation: don't rent this film unless you are a masochist.

So, this movies is supposed to show us how people in "mature" relationships behave. Maybe it's appealing for people, who as these two didn't find true love in their lives and by watching this movie, they can say- hey, our relationship isn't THAT bad. Or some people may like, that this movie sort of proves a point about long lasting love not being possible in this world. Boo-hoo. This movie would be believable if we didn't got to know the characters in the previous movies. Those two seemed perfect for each other- they could talk about little things and just enjoy life. Or so it seemed. I can't imagine such chatty and open people to not be able to talk about their feelings, fears and insecurities for 9 years of their relationship. And the fight seemed, like it was the first one after 9 years together! I'm really sorry for the person, whose life this movie describes. I would rather just listen to their friends life stories at the dinner table for the whole movie, than this. And the ending? If it's supposed to show us, how people can overcome even the worst fights, because of love, then it has totally missed the point. If it shows us how we can expect a breakup after the movie, than what't she point? I think it's painful to see people praising such a movie for being so realistic. It just shows the state of mind of so many people, that is sadness, hopelessness and egoism.

Before Midnight is the third of three movies, shot about a decade apart each, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as lovers with a very push-pull dynamic. It's not necessary to see the first two movies to follow Before Midnight. The movie features long takes (sometimes not cutting for 10 minutes at a time) the story takes place over a day, and dialogue and naturalistic acting are paramount. There's a complexity to their characters and relationship that refuses to fully romanticize or demonize them. It's something of a realist romance in (deliberate) contrast the beautiful settings. Careful viewers will notice a handful of ironies that ground the romance in reality. I won't give examples here, or go into the details that keep me from giving this a 9 or 10 as many critics do. The movie is the proverbial breath of fresh air, though. I'd say that the main weakness of the movie stems from its strengths, in that when artists set out to make something so true to human nature (as opposed to fluffier rom coms or Nicholas Sparks movies) it's easy to hear the (few) false notes that are played. There are very few; and unless you're jonesing for a mere-nonsense 'entertainment' movie, this movie should appeal to practically anyone.