Before Midnight is the 3rd (and so far, last) in the series, and was produced in 2013. Again - 9 years after Sunset.
This movie opens with Jesse saying goodbye to his son at the airport, and we learn that he and his family are vacationing in Greece for 6 weeks. His family is now Celine and their twin daughters, and his son with Jesse's first wife who lives in Chicago.
As the movie progresses we learn about how he missed his flight at the end of the previous movie, and eventually, he left his wife for Celine. They lived together in New York for awhile, but eventually moved to Paris, where she has a successful career, and he is still a writer. He wrote a follow-up book about their second meeting.
During an early conversation that Jesse has with some of his male friends, we also learn more about Jesse's writing career and some other ideas he has for new books. I must say some of these ideas are fascinating, and I'd love to actually read these books!
This movie is somewhat different than the first 2 in that it incorporates more people, mostly friends they are vacationing with. They have some good, in-depth, conversations with these people at dinner. It is very interesting adult conversation about sex and relationships and marriage. After dinner, Jesse and Celine walk to a hotel where they have been given a room for the night as a gift - without their daughters. It is on their walk to the hotel and during their time in the room that we see them as they were in the previous movies - focused on each other and their relationship.
Both characters have aged (they are now 41) and have matured. Both of these changes show in their conversations. However, the basis of who they are together really hasn't changed. A large part of their conversation is a fight which ends with Celine boldly telling Jesse that she doesn't love him any more and walking out the door.
As was the case with the first 2 movies, the primary focus here is on their conversation with each other in real time. However, to me, this movie felt even more real than the first 2. It is sexy and funny in places, and these 2 people really seem like a couple. (They are not married.) It is clear that Jesse is head-over-heels in love with Celine, and he has made huge sacrifices to have a life with her, while she remains a bit strong-headed and temperamental. At one point he calls her "The Mayor of CrazyTown", and that is pretty accurate.
One clever writing bit from this movie is when he is making up with her after the fight, he picks a napkin up off the table and says it is a letter she wrote back to her younger self from her 82 year old self. He "reads" it to her, and through it is able to soften her and get her to talk to him again. As the movie ends, they are "together" once again.
Another thing I liked about this movie was accurate and realistic references to cell phones, computers, Skipe, etc.... and some realistic references to the role that computers now have in relationships. This movie doesn't try to pretend that the internet has not affected life as we know it. I found that refreshing. (Especially after Nebraska which was supposedly set now and yet no one had cell phones!)
It seems to me there HAS to be another movie in 2022. Right? And every 9 years until they are both dead. There just HAS to be!
Well, again, I highly recommend this trilogy, and I recommend watching all 3 in short succession. Then you can wait another 8 year with the rest of us!
Happy Viewing, and thanks for reading my reviews!
:)Amy
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