Before Sunrise

While I'd ordinarily rather guzzle Drano than watch a twentysomething whinefest, Richard Linklater's third effort is a surprisingly warm, wise, and witty romance in which a young journalist from Texas (Ethan Hawke) walks the streets of Vienna one night with a French student (Julie Delpy). A highly recommended sleeper. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review--November 16, 2004--Warner, 101 min., R, $14.95--Released on DVD in 2001 but being newly promoted to tie-in with Linklater's excellent 2004 sequel Before Sunset (VL-11/04), 1995's Before Sunrise is presented here in a handsome widescreen transfer with Dolby Digital surround sound but no extras beyond the original trailer. Bottom line: if you didn't pick this up on its initial release, then we highly recommend that you do so now--along with Before Sunset.][Blu-ray/DVD Review—Mar. 7, 2017—Criterion, 3 discs, 290 min., R, DVD or Blu-ray: $99.95—Making their latest appearance on DVD and debuting on Blu-ray are 1995's Before Sunrise and 2004's Before Sunset, along with the previously released on DVD and Blu-ray Before Midnight from 2013. All feature great transfers and a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack on the Blu-ray release of Before Sunrise and DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray releases of Before Sunset and Before Midnight. Extras on Before Sunrise include “The Space In Between” discussion of the trilogy with director Richard Linklater and stars Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke (44 min.), a “3x2” conversation with scholars Dave Johnson and Rob Stone on Linklater (40 min.), and behind-the-scenes footage (6 min.). Extras on Before Sunset include the documentary “Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny” (90 min.), behind-the-scenes footage (10 min.), and a “Linklater // On Cinema & Time” video essay by the filmmaker (9 min.). Extras on Before Midnight include audio commentary by Linklater, Delpy, and Hawke, a “Love Darkens and Deepens” radio episode of Fresh Air with host Terry Gross, Linklater, Delpy, and Hawke (40 min.), and an “After Before” featurette by co-producer/co-star Athina Rachel Tsangari (31 min.). Also included is a booklet with an essay on the trilogy by critic Dennis Lim. Bottom line: an excellent contemporary drama trilogy shines in this characteristically outstanding Criterion release.]