RICHARD LINKLATER

watched BEFORE SUNRISE tonight and was pretty disappointed, having put off watching it for some time just to build anticipation after reading a little about it and figuring it would be my kind of film. I’m usually not the type to dismiss a movie because I “didn’t like” a character, but every time ethan hawke opened his mouth I winced — and it wasn’t only his teeth

I suppose this is how real life is, we’ve all dated people, fucked people we weren’t all that interested in — had aimless conversations we could actually picture enjoying with someone who we vibed a little better with... I did like the listening booth, and the pretend telephone conversation, and the times where she’s roast him for being dumb and adolescent... maybe I’d have liked this a little better if I were 20 when I saw it instead of 30. it was a nice-looking movie, I’ll give it that

Definitely a movie best to experience for the first time somewhere between sophomore year of high school and senior year of college.

Would Before Sunrise Hawke be as hateable without Reality Bites Hawke? (Probably, but maybe not.)

I watched the first two movies at the perfect time in my life to relate to but the third one I couldn't relate to at all. Maybe I'll see it again if/when I get to that point

My Mom loved the book. Didn't realize the trailer went out last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKvOud9GcRQ

Watched this movie on a plane knowing nothing about it except it was Linklater. it was like a Disney channel movie

if you're ever capable of relating to these, that's a worry

Part of Linklater's strategy is to frame Celine's reactions such that "Can you believe this callow fucker?" is never far from her mind. I found Jesse ridiculous at twenty too -- a teleological reason, I guess.

he's supposed to be seen that way, right? (I don't remember this movie well enough anymore.) but I still related to the excitement they both have

in fairness Jesse is a lot less obnoxious than actual American youngsters traveling in europe

Would Before Sunrise Hawke be as hateable without Reality Bites Hawke? (Probably, but maybe not.)

before sunset >>>> sunrise

they’re more interesting as actual adults (jesse, obviously, is still a dumbass)

re: not being able to relate to before midnight, have you ever been in a really terrible fight with someone you know and who knows you really well. alternately have you witnessed one among your married friends

i'll still love sunrise forever though. i watched it for the first time when i was 15 and it exerted undue influence over my terrible life

Exiting the theater after watching Before Midnight was an experience shattering enough to still make me tremble at the memory: a movie so amateurish (I couldn't get past how the camera in the airport scene was in the wrong position; hadn't he learned this yet?) and so transparently false that I doubted my responses to the first two films, both of which I still, thankfully, love (like Brad I too prefer Before Sunset). I understood the fights, I accepted the structure -- I didn't buy the dialogue, the performances, nothing.

who was it who said never trust memory

still i think your initial reaction is prob fair. movie managed to get through my defenses

and jesse talking about his writing... woof

yeeeaaah

that's still pretty real to me though! have you ever listened to a writer

It didn't help that Hawke as an actor was already past the constrictions of Jesse; his dad in Boyhood was a sharper, deeper portrait of a similarly callow guy and bad thinker.

i do agree with that, he's sooo good as the deadbeat boyhood dad it's ridiculous

managed to make an old guy talking about the fucking beatles my favorite scene in a movie

one of these days i'll buy the before trilogy but i'm really waiting for the criterion collection school of rock

have you ever been in a really terrible fight with someone you know and who knows you really well. alternately have you witnessed one among your married friends

My worst fights (or the worst fights I've seen others have) have not been like this movie. they've been as cold and had some yelling but never escalating into the level of rage and contempt here. I'm sure that kind of blowup does happen to people but my blowups haven't looked like that (yet). it was weird to see myself in the characters in the first two movies and then get to the third one and go "wait what"

Watched this movie on a plane knowing nothing about it except it was Linklater. it was like a Disney channel movie

I first started watching Before Sunrise aged 22. At that age self-loathing and the narcissism of small differences combined to make me find Jessie unbearable and I turned off after about half an hour.

I finally tried again at around 40, when I could have some distance, and enjoyed it a lot. Then enjoyed Before Sunset even more.

all of my thoughts about this movie are upthread

i remain disappointed that she ever talked to him again. the story was perfect and delicious with him as "soon-to-be that guy from a long time ago" -- he could have lived forever in her mind and instead the next several movies happened

i watched all of them in my 40s for the first time
not sure i felt differently than i would have when i was younger bc my feelings about romance went sour pretty early

I prefer Before Hollywood.

he does one for them, then one for nobody

(that's a joke I liked Bernie)

I prefer Before Hollywood.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette is such a bizarrely shapeless, boring and unconvincing movie. It kind of feels like one of those upper middle class angst dramas from the late 70s/early 80s, but shot and scored like a Lifetime movie. I cannot imagine why Linklater made it, unless it was to fund his 20-year Sondheim thing.

oh wow, I didn't realize that was a Linklater joint. my gf and I had to turn that off after about 10 minutes, was pure horseshit

wow yeah just watched bernadette and it was excruciating, wtf happened there

https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2020-07-16/linklaters-lunar-latest-coming-to-netflix/

His Five Easy Pieces sort-of sequel is very forgettable. Steve Carell should have been forever consigned to tertiary roles in Will Ferrell movies.

The Last Detail, you mean.

Yeah, that one.

Looking upthread, how nuts is it that subUrbia still isn't out on disc?

There was funny moment during Q & A when this one prick kept asking about A Scanner Darkly and his usage of Keanu Reeves. A real pain in the ass. Linklater finally told him that Keanu was a good guy and easy to work with.

Still think about this on occasion. Easily the most obnoxious Q & A incident I've been audience to.

sort of can’t believe my reaction above to before sunrise... in retrospect, and after seeing the second one, I think I love it now. the second one is better, though — just insane chemistry between those two. and the last scene is all-time

I saw DAZED AND CONFUSED for the first time last night. it captures the inconsequentiality of suburban teenagerhood really well. seems like something that could be rewatched a hundred times. my biggest complaint is that the characters were all pretty one-dimensional and the acting was kind of bad

honestly shocked that it was a box office disappointment though! it’s such a breezy, charming film

managed to make an old guy talking about the fucking beatles my favorite scene in a movie

― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Tuesday, April 28, 2020 1:42 PM (nine months ago) bookmarkflaglink

The Black Album playlist Hawke put out gave me the impression the dad doesn’t really listen to much solo Beatles stuff outside of the hits.

iirc the studio didn't really know what to do with D&C and marketed it as a stoner comedy. tbf it was also the second movie by a little-known director with no stars in it. it would be more accurate to market it as american graffiti but for the '70s but i don't know if that would have drawn in any more people.

I saw DAZED AND CONFUSED for the first time last night.

!

I'd say I was jealous but I'm actually glad that I saw it for the first time when I was still a teenager.

yeah exactly, I thought it was very good but (again) something I can’t imagine wouldn’t have been all the more powerful if I’d seen it 12 years ago

the studio didn't really know what to do with D&C and marketed it as a stoner comedy

I just finished the book a month ago and should know this, but I think that's right. This original poster tied in with that idea.

https://www.originalfilmart.com/products/dazed-and-confused-1993-teaser

"seems like something that could be rewatched a hundred times."

Not 100 but I'm prob up to 30. 6 or so of which came within the same week when friend and I decided to watch it every day. D&C and Trading Places are my most watched movies.
I remember seeing the commercials for it and wanting to see it but being under 17 so waiting to came out on VHS. Commercial pull was "70s music/fashion + stoners + teenage wasteland + cute girls".

It's probably at least in my top ten most rewatched movies.

the new oral history, discussed in the D&C thread last week, is good.

Is that the book? I've got it in my wishlist