5/5 before sunrise
  by filmmaker617 (Los Angeles CA)
I love this film and found it on a whim from a friends suggestion its a great intellectual film. Peace TMU

5/5 Celine and Jesse Go Romancing
  by Muzzlehatch (the walls of Gormenghast)
The simplest of all movie stories: boy meets girl. And it's done pretty simply in this incredibly affecting and joyous celebration of young love; but simple, in this case, is a pathway to greatness. Simple, in this case, means intense, focused, and rapturous.

Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) are on a train, sitting in the same car a few rows apart. Celine is reading book in French and Ethan an English-language one; they each gaze out at the passing countryside occasionally. A couple near Celine start arguing loudly in German; she moves and sits down near Jesse. A halting conversation starts up but quickly becomes comfortable as Jesse learns that Celine's English is near-perfect, and that each is alone. They have dinner in the dining car and engage in small talk and learn a little about each other: Celine is on her way back from Budapest to Paris where she's going to school; Jesse is on his way to Vienna to fly back to the USA after bumming around the continent for a couple of weeks. They both seem by turns shy and aggressive...the train pulls in to the Vienna station, and Jesse impulsively asks Celine to get off with him and spend the evening wandering around the city, as he doesn't have the money for a hotel room. After a little hesitation, she accepts.

I don't know if Linklater or his lead actors/co-writers Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy were familiar with Jacques Rivette's 1974 CELINE AND JULIE GO BOATING or not; I suspect that the director at least was. Like Rivette's film (the first half hour in particular), this is about two people wandering around a big and beautiful city, getting to know each other, and going off in unexpected directions, and like the earlier film this was co-written by the cast and heavily improvised. The obvious similarities pretty much end there - Rivette's film develops into a relatively humorous and fanciful murder-mystery, its two female leads never developing a romantic relationship; BEFORE SUNRISE is a quite serious (though never "heavy") romance and the male/female dynamic is always in play. But the two also have in common a love of the city and of exploration, a sense of the city as adult playground that is surprisingly not all that common in cinema - at least not in our suburban world today.

I don't mean to suggest that this film is burdened with heavy European art-film tropes or that it is lacking in originality - far from it in fact. For a film with such a simple storyline and some obvious points of reference both French and American (think several Judy Garland romances from the 40s in particular) this is anything but clichéd or dry; the growing joy of our two leads is palpable and their explorations all both real and ordinary ( watching street performers, eating and drinking in old cavernous bars and beautiful outdoor cafés, a palm reading, street performers, a walk through a cemetery) and fresh because of the commitment that Delpy and Hawke bring to playing characters that are certainly reflective of themselves. Celine is the relatively mature and articulate, politically minded intellectual - Jesse the slightly more posturing and juvenile proto-philosopher whose ideas usually seem more scattered, but also perhaps the more original thinker. At various points each of them takes the initiative, carrying the budding romance forward; at various points each one retreats a little, though overall it seems that Jesse is (slightly) more pushy. There are certainly commentaries about the differences between Europe and America here, but only once does it seem over-the-top (a bar scene where an American couple rudely complain to each other about the service); generally this is a film about what we have in common, not what drives us apart.

After the long and wonderful night, it's time for parting. Celine gets back on a train home; Jesse prepares to board his flight. They've made a connection, beyond a one night stand...they vacillate over whether to keep in contact, finally deciding on a scheme that comes straight out of AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER and the childish romantic fantasies we've all had: in six months they'll meet again, at the same time, the same train station. You'll have to watch the equally wonderful Before Sunset to find out how that turns out.

If there's a more feeling and wise film about two people meeting and falling in love, I'd like to see it. I've seen this three times and it's only improved on each viewing. As I said above, it's not "heavy", it's never overly philosophical or artsy, but it's not stupid either - and given the state of American romantic comedy at the time (and since), that would be complement enough; but there's also just enough fantasy and whimsicality here (how is it that the two are so often totally alone and able to indulge in deep, uninterrupted conversations in well-lighted alleys, never disturbed; would the barman really give Jesse a bottle of wine on a promise of later payment, etc) to enliven the situations without taking away from their central truth. We can see plenty of differences between Celine and Jesse developing, but also enough commonalities and real attraction that we really wonder, and want to know, what's next between them. Not many Hollywood romantic comedies leave me wanting more (in a good way); this certainly did. For once, I'm glad there's a sequel.

5/5 Before Sunrise
  by K. Narmour
Somehow I didn't notice that this was a tape, rather than a DVD, so we when it arrived we gave it to our daughter, who still has a tape player. She loved it!

4/5 Interesting people, excellent script
  by T. Baker (st louis, mo)
Linklater did an excellent job of capturing realistic people who talk realistically about life. Delpy is captivating and carries the movie.

5/5 Captivating
  by M. B Cole (Las Vegas, NV)
Jesse and Celine are two people from different parts of the world. Jesse from America and Celine from France. Funny how time works. While both are riding separately on a train in Austria, their paths cross, and they begin to chat. The chat leads into having conversation over a meal in the lounge car. As the train comes to a stop where Jesse is to get off, he's so captivated with Celine, he asks her to get off with him and just get to know each other more while in Vienna. As the night goes on, the attraction they have for each other begins to grow. But the inevitable is on the horizon as the sun begins to rise, and their one day of happiness begins to come to a close.

`Before Sunrise' is truly one of the best romantic movies I think I have ever seen. It's not some sappy chick flick where some of the most absurd moments happen. It honestly feels real. Especially if you've ever fallen in love before. The first time meeting that special someone and how everything just clicks. How you can't get enough of each other and want to soak in everything they say and do like you're a thirsty dry sponge. The movie is littered with dialogue. It almost feels like a book on CD, but video...heh. But not once did I get bored. Sometimes their talking could go a little on and on, but in a way, isn't that how it is in real life sometimes? There have been many times where I would catch myself just babbling away at a story. And while the movie is a romantic movie, it's still filled with some good laughs. So don't think it's just one big "OH SMOOCH ME ALL NIGHT LONG", because it isn't. When Jesse and Celine kiss, it was a little goofy the way it came about, but it was, you know, cute I guess (ugh). But later Celine kind of dogs on Jesse for trying to be all romantic to get that first kiss. It made me laugh. But seriously, I can't get over how the movie brought back memories of the first time I fell in love. The awkward meeting, the constant talking, never wanting to leave each others sides, the first kiss, the goofy romance, the sweet romance, and never once thinking about time. What a great movie. I can't believe I've owned this movie for about 3 years and never even gave it the time of day. Alphabetical reviewing wins again!

If you love a good love story, own this. If you are looking for a good date movie, then definitely give this a rent. I think both guys and girls will like it. Well, I can see some guys out there rolling their eyes at it...hehe.

P.S. - One of the biggest reasons why I never gave this a shot was because of the stupid cover. Looks like Ethan Hawke is choking Julie Delpy out! But then you realize its some goofy hair flip maneuver. GAG!