4. Before Sunrise (1995)
This is quite timely, considering that the third film in this series (Before Midnight) is being released at some point this summer and has already received a tidal wave of critical acclaim. The films, so far, have made their case by setting themselves out as the thinking persons chick flick/romantic comedy, with lengthy and in depth conversations and, well Lengthy and in depth conversations. The film is literally just that, two people connecting with each other over one long night in Vienna. It sounds stagnant as a concept. but the film is thrillingly, powerfully alive. Much like Clerks, this film consists of people talking for an hour and a half, but that allows the film to a truly unparalleled depth of feeling and emotional honesty; Clerks was hilarious; this is just beautiful. Its also akin to Donnie Darko in that its almost certainly unwriteable; the major strength of the film is seeing the actors react to each other in an honest, natural and unforced way that words on a page could simply not convey. Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan may have written a good screenplay; but Julie Delphy and Ethan Hawkes acting and inhabiting of the characters are what made bring this film alive and make it a masterpiece. Sunset is good, but this is the original, and my preferred film of the two. It explores nothing less than why we like people at all. Not many films can claim to have goals that lofty; fewer still are as successful as this one.