--- title: "Before Sunset: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/before-sunset/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/before-sunset" critics_score: 84 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Before Sunset (2004): what the critics said Critics' score 84 from 13 reviews: 12 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Before Sunset, with praise clustering around Hawke and Delpy’s chemistry, the natural dialogue and the emotional weight of the reunion. The reviews repeatedly credit the real-time structure and long takes with allowing casual conversation to disclose regret, disappointment and lingering desire without forcing the drama. Several regard it as a deeper, more mature continuation of the first film, finding that its romanticism survives the characters’ greater experience of unhappiness. The spread is largely positive, and reservations are limited rather than widely shared. Empire notes concerns about the short runtime and abrupt ending, though other reviews praise the ending as a particular strength. Eye for Film supplies the sole mixed assessment: it admires the conversational rhythm and filmmaking but finds the characters self-involved and their observations platitudinous, marking the clearest disagreement over the people whose company most critics find compelling. ## Los Angeles Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2004. The critic calls it a rapturous return and a triumphant breakthrough for Linklater, celebrating how it takes love seriously in every sense. It singles out the collaborative screenplay and the matured talent on display in the actors' performances. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-02-et-dargis2-story.html) ## Sight and Sound — Nick James Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2004. The sequel surpasses the original as a sophisticated, mature 'romance for realists' with naturalistic dialogue largely developed by the actors. It excels in its real-time structure, emotional unravelling, and the performances of Hawke and Delpy, capturing regret and reconnection with rare depth. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/105) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2004. The critic calls it one of the most wildly romantic movies in ages and a hugely successful experiment in captivating an audience with real-time conversation between two people. They single out the excellent chemistry between the leads and the accomplished guerrilla filmmaking style. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/before-sunset-review-movie-2004-1222289/) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2004. The critic praises the film as prickly and enchanting, noting how it reunites the characters in real time as they catch up and relive their past connection. It singles out the deceptive languor of the real-time unfolding and the way it supports and undermines ideas about time. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/02/movies/film-review-reunited-still-talking-still-uneasy.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2004. The critic highlights the film's unparalleled ability to capture the rhythm of everyday dialogue and its shift to a somber wistfulness reflecting the characters' maturation. They single out Linklater's optimistic belief in conversation as a unifying force amid the protagonists' regrets and barriers. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/before-sunset/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 June 2004. The critic praises the film as a meaningful continuation that deepens the original story and evokes strong emotion through its reunion and revelations. They single out the effortless long-take conversation that moves from banter to matters of the heart and the strong ending. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/before-sunset-1798199738) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2004. The review finds the film enchanting but deeper than its predecessor, with more direct intimations of disappointment and unhappiness, while highlighting the real-time structure and the characters' candid talk. It singles out the form as the source of the drama and the insight that people get hungrier for experience as they age. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/07/05/wanderers) ## Time Out — NB Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. A beautifully vibrant and big-spirited follow-up that maintains pristine naturalism while adding self-reflexive layers. Linklater captures the couple's reunion walk with Rohmer-like dialogue, chemistry, and a sublime ending that lights up passions and possibilities. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/before-sunset-1) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises the literate and candid sequel for its real-feeling characters, universal themes of regret and desire, strong performances by Hawke and Delpy, and the seductive Paris setting with golden tracking shots. Some note issues with the short runtime and abrupt ending, but overall it is seen as an involving and honest study of love. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sunset-2-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2004. Utterly charming with a light but not superficial touch rarely seen in contemporary romances. It benefits from strong casting and chemistry between Hawke and Delpy, rich undertones from the first film, and convincing performances in its real-time Paris stroll. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/before-sunset/4017296.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 2004. The critic calls it a charming and affecting sequel that reunites the characters nine years later in Paris and retains the gentleness, romanticism, and idealism of the first film. He singles out its shrewd insights into the secret motivations of the young male writer seeking to conquer the past through autobiographical art. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/23/before-sunset-review) ## Evening Standard — Nina Caplan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic calls the film another magical journey, noting that it could have spoiled the original but instead delivers an intoxicating blend of adult intellect, passion and humour in Paris. Only some pitiful extras are seen as minor flaws. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/plenty-of-heat-before-sunset-7383828.html) ## Eye for Film — David Haviland Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 2004. The critic admires the real-time storytelling, long takes, natural dialogue (mostly written by the actors), and realistic portrayal of two former lovers reuniting in Paris nine years later, but wishes he liked the film more because the characters come across as self-involved faux-intellectuals spouting platitudes. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/before-sunset-film-review-by-david-haviland) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/before-sunset.md