Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 16+
Brilliant, mature third chapter to heartfelt romantic saga.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Before Midnight is a smart, talky, insightful dramedy that extends the love story of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy), the couple who first met and fell in love in Before Sunrise and got reacquainted in Before Sunset. This latest installment is an unflinching look at the complications of a relationship between two very complicated people -- including how to negotiate gender roles when children arrive -- and as such, may not be especially relatable for teens, though their parents will probably find much that rings true. Expect some social drinking and cigarette smoking, swearing (including "f--k" and "c--t"), and a scene in which a woman's breasts are displayed for an extended period of time.
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Language
a lot
Strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "prick," "t-ts," "a--hole," and one "c--t."
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
A couple is shown kissing as they're about to have sex, with the woman's top undone so her breasts are on full display. The same woman sits talking on a phone with her top still undone. Some frank discussions at the dinner table about the sex lives of couples both long-term and newly together.
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Products & Purchases
a little
The brand Trojan is mentioned, as are Skype and Leica. Characters use iPhones.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Social drinking/smoking; for example, a couple is shown smoking while cooking dinner and drinking while dining.
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Violence & Scariness
very little
A bitter argument between two people.
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Positive Messages
some
Relationships, and people, are works in progress, and, as such, are rife with maladies and stresses both real and imagined. But honesty and commitment -- and plenty of chemistry -- can be the glue that keeps people together through the metamorphoses.
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Positive Role Models
a little
They're imperfect and frustratingly complicated, but Jesse and Celine are textured characters who struggle with very real concerns. Watching them parse and navigate them is both instructive and exhilarating.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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2:09
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Before Midnight
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (3)
- Kids say (1)
age 14+
Based on 3 parent reviews
LoveMovies 123 Adult
June 14, 2024
age 15+
Fantastic movie!
Brillant movie! Its honestly great. Sure, it's a slow movie, with more dialogue than action happening, however for older viewers who can be patient, you will love it. It's got some funny bits and it's also so relatable for anyone who has ever witnessed or been in a relationship! Good role models that relationships are not always smooth sailing, but we can still love that person. There is talk of blow jobs, a man grabs his wife boob (with consent), she takes her top off (full shot of boobs), he kisses and sucks her nipples, talk of being 'ass raped', however anyone 15 and over will be fine with it I'm sure. Bit of swearing, nothing to extreme. Defiantly recommend this movie!
Teagan17 Adult
May 24, 2021
age 13+
See all 3 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Eighteen years after American writer Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and French environmentalist/feminist Celine (Julie Delpy) first met cute on a train, they're together, still holding each other in thrall but struggling with the burdens of careers, children, and the shifting dynamics of a long-term relationship. They're vacationing in Greece, and Jesse's 13-year-old son from his first marriage, Hank (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick), has just boarded a plane back to America, where Jesse's still-bitter ex-wife awaits. Jesse's worried that he's missing out on Hank's formative high school years, and Celine worries whether she's being asked, albeit circuitously, to give up her dream job and move to Chicago so they can be closer to Hank. With this and many other worries looming, and one night alone at a hotel arranged by their friends, Jesse and Celine do what they do best: walk, talk, argue, laugh, and unpack what being together, and its costs, really is all about.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):
Watching a couple flirt, fight, negotiate, cajole, and challenge each other has never been as compelling as when the couple in question is Jesse and Celine. The two, played as always by the actors who originated, developed, and helped write the characters, don't disappoint in this authentic and thrilling check-in. It's been nine years since they left us hanging in Before Sunset, wondering whether they'd finally be together. Yes, of course. How could they not be? But is it for good? That's the question they explore -- among many others -- in this thoroughly satisfying chapter of their saga. What happens when true love isn't just consummated but domesticated? Does it lose its luster?
Director Richard Linklater is unafraid to follow the real rhythms of conversation. Like the other "Before" movies, much of BEFORE MIDNIGHT has the audience listening in on Jesse and Celine, though there are more people around them now: children, friends, other couples. Instead of taking away from the film, though, this loosening up of Jesse and Celine's tight circle only adds more texture to the ongoing art that is their relationship. But Linklater knows well enough not to stray too far from Jesse and Celine, and when we get to have them to ourselves in the second half of the film, it's a joy, even if they look as if they're not having that much fun. It's a joy because we can relate to their battles; but even if they're familiar, they're never boring. It's a joy because Hawke and Delpy work so well together that it doesn't seem like work. And it's a joy because, as it may be for two people evaluating their connection, it's good to be reminded why we fell in love with Jesse and Celine in the first place.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether Before Midnight is a worthy third chapter to Jesse and Celine's love story. What makes these characters so compelling? How are they different from the typical leads in most studio romantic comedies?
What is the movie saying about relationships, parenthood, and careers and how all three fit in a person's life?
What can you learn from both Jesse and Celine? How is their relationship admirable and/or maddening?
Celine talks about how men and women face different hurdles when it comes to juggling work and parenting -- do you agree?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 24, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : October 22, 2013
- Cast : Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
- Director : Richard Linklater
- Inclusion Information : Female actors
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating : R
- MPAA explanation : sexual content/nudity and language
- Last updated : September 28, 2024
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Before Midnight
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