Before Sunrise (1995)

Linklater's intelligent, witty and poignant tale breathes new life into the romance genre with believable characters and a script that crackles with wit and wisdom. It is too intelligent to be soppy and too damn good to be ignored, feeding the mind as well as warming the heart.

The critic calls it a romance rather than a romcom or romantic drama, a brief encounter that feels like a strange and wonderful miracle without being cloying. They single out the film's elegant handling of unresolved sexual tension and the lightness with which the characters float through Vienna free from everyday cares.

The review celebrates the film's odd, improvised-feeling structure of two strangers wandering and talking through Vienna, defying conventional plot rules. It singles out the strong performances by the leads that emerge from this open, bemused style.

The critic praises the film's capture of two young travelers' instant connection and free-flowing conversations during one night in Vienna. It highlights the director's skill in crafting fanciful yet lifelike dialogue that feels universal.

The critic praises the film's ability to convey emotional truths through conversation between the leads, calling it a funny, poignant, perceptive brilliant gem.

The critic praises the film's intimate focus on two characters giving each other undivided attention during a single night in Vienna. The piece highlights how the lack of modern distractions enhances the emotional connection and timeless appeal of the romance.

Linklater’s films are profound and subversive romantic works that seduce with love-story conventions before undermining them with cynicism and despair. The critic singles out the depth of the protagonists’ conversations about mortality, transience, and permanence amid Vienna’s historic beauty.

Ebert praises the film's gentle, naturalistic portrayal of two young people meeting on a train and spending a night wandering Vienna in conversation. He highlights the authentic dialogue and the charming chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as the standout elements.

The critic finds the film enjoyably minor, noting the engaging chemistry of the two leads and the director's intuitive handling of youthful self-consciousness and chance encounters. It succeeds as a mainstream youth romance with extra feeling and mystery.

The film is a risky but largely successful departure for Linklater, sticking with two characters who meet on a train and spend a night chatting in Vienna. It offers diverting, cerebral conversation and sweet wordless moments but ends on a sceptical, faintly bittersweet note about relationships and time.

McCarthy finds the risky concept of two strangers spending one night together sympathetic and appealing but notes that the endless dialogue and repetitive settings grow wearing. He singles out Julie Delpy's mature, sparkling performance as the strongest element while finding Ethan Hawke's character relatively ordinary.

The critic praises the film's simple premise of a chance encounter leading to a night of connection in Vienna and the strong chemistry and believable performances of Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. It singles out the romantic urgency, witty dialogue, and bittersweet ambiguity of the ending for particular praise.

The critic celebrates Before Sunrise as the start of an unexpected trilogy and a modern cinematic landmark that captures rich, valuable conversations about life. The central sustained dialogue is singled out for its heady yet down-to-earth quality, blending humor, tragedy, and heartbreak in a bittersweet ending.