Latest news with #Before
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Best chemistry ever' in 'charming' film with 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating
Before Sunrise, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, is the first film in the Before trilogy and has become synonymous with love and romance over the years Director Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, the inaugural film of the acclaimed Before trilogy, is often hailed as the quintessence of romantic cinema by enthusiasts. The 1995 romantic drama, penned by Linklater and Kim Krizan, features Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy in a captivating lead duo. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Vienna, the film chronicles the fleeting connection between two strangers over the course of an evening as they meander through the city. Drawing from his personal life, Linklater is said to have modelled the story on a night he spent roaming Philadelphia with a woman. The casting of Hawke and Delpy as the protagonists was a meticulous process that spanned nine months. The narrative continued with Before Sunset in 2004 and concluded with Before Midnight in 2013, cementing the trilogy's status as a touchstone for cinematic romance. Julie Delpy shared insights into her creative input during a Guardian interview: "Richard, Ethan and I produced the script together, though Ethan and I weren't credited for Before Sunrise. The process was totally collaborative: all three of us had to agree on ideas for scenes. That's how we did Before Sunset and Before Midnight, too. If one of us hated something, it wouldn't make the film. From the start, those guys wanted the balance of a proper female voice.", reports the Express. Before Sunrise has not only won over critics, securing a flawless 100 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but also charmed viewers, boasting an impressive 93 per cent audience score. One critic hailed the film as "utterly charming", while another was captivated by its subtle magic: "The charm - the midsummer enchantment - never feels forced; it steals up and wins you. A true romance." Another reviewer declared it "undoubtedly one of the most romantic movies of all time", with yet another adding: "There are so many perfect moments in this film; it is hard to list them without excluding others." Director Richard Linklater received heaps of praise, with a critic noting: "Seemingly improvised and entirely natural but still structured and splendidly directed by writer Richard Linklater." The lead actors also received high acclaim for their captivating performances: "Hawke and Delpy keep the tone not only afloat but mesmerising. So natural are their performances that it seems impossible not to believe they truly are soulmates who are locked in a doomed, all-too-short affair." In a candid 2022 interview with The Independent, Ethan Hawke reflected on his deep connection to the film, stating: "There's a lot of myself and my reality in those movies [the Before trilogy]. They're as deeply connected to me as anything could be. I can't look at Before Sunrise now without remembering, so vividly, that time period. Who I was then is so different from who I am now; it's difficult for me to watch it and exorcise it from my actual life." One fan was utterly captivated by the film, awarding it top marks and sharing: "10/10. I wanted to focus on the incredible love story that is Before Sunrise. Richard Linklater found a special energy and aura when creating this masterpiece. There is something so beautiful and honest with this film. I can't explain it, and neither can anyone who's ever watched this film." Another viewer was equally impressed, stating: "Nothing else quite catches the true essence of romance like Before Sunrise did." An audience review concurred with the high praise, declaring: "Definitely the best romance movie of all time." The lead actors' connection also drew admiration, with another fan expressing: "Ethan Hawke and Julie Dehpy have maybe the best chemistry in a movie I have ever seen, it all feels so natural. The direction is incredible, the script is one of the best I have ever seen, the city feels like a person and the locations are beautiful, but still grounded." For those looking to experience the magic themselves, Before Sunrise is available for rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video at £3.49.
Time Magazine
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Arson Thriller 'Smoke' Isn't Nearly as Subversive as It Thinks
Smoke gets off to an insufferable start. Freighted with procedural clichés, the Apple TV+ thriller follows a mismatched law-enforcement duo tracking two prolific arsonists. Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) is an arson investigator with a standoffish stepson and literary ambitions. His new partner: police detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett), an ex-Marine who's sleeping with a superior. Initial tension gives way to drunken bonding. Pretentious stylistic choices exacerbate the lazy setup. Episodes open with dictionary definitions of thematically appropriate words like transmogrification and, for some reason, fury on title cards. There are arty shots of billowing infernos. A mournful Thom Yorke song soundtracks the credits. In voiceover, Dave expounds, hackily, on the annihilating power of fire. After two interminable episodes, a bombshell resets the show, eliminating some of its worst excesses and contextualizing others. Smoke becomes watchable. Yet in its swerve away from one egregious set of tropes, it embraces others that are, if less irritating, almost as tired. An emerging critique of aggrieved white machismo comes off, mostly, as a shallow topical hook. Like so many disappointing Apple TV+ projects, from Nicole Kidman's Roar to Billy Crystal's Before, the series substitutes marquee names for quality control. Loosely based on the true crime podcast Firebug, it was developed by one of Hollywood's favorite authors, Dennis Lehane (Shutter Island, Mystic River), who was also on the writing staff of The Wire and helmed Apple's well-received 2022 miniseries Black Bird. The cast includes John Leguizamo, Greg Kinnear, and Anna Chlumsky. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, a standout in The Chi and Treme, brings a fragile authenticity to the tricky but pivotal role of a maladjusted fast-food worker. But the actors are poorly served by the material. Kinnear is miscast as the detectives' folksy, complacent boss. Leguizamo's character is too broadly sleazy, Chlumsky's too bland. At the story's forefront, Michelle is a dated Strong Female Character with a maudlin history of trauma. Egerton, an executive producer, has taken on a role so elastic, and so clearly shaped by the need for nine episodes' worth of cliffhangers, it barely holds together. Populated by unhinged men and masochistic women, and punctuated by fiery, increasingly histrionic set pieces, Smoke fails to reconcile its mood of noirish nihilism with its efforts at social commentary. Despite feinting towards subversion, Lehane has produced a typical—overlong, caricature-laden, easy to watch but also to forget—streaming crime show.
Business Upturn
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Before The Dates Introduces Scheduled Messaging and Gifting App to Support Relationship Consistency
Before The Dates Logo ORLANDO, Fla., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The team behind Before The Dates has announced the launch of a new time texting app designed to help users maintain consistency in their personal and professional relationships . The app enables users to schedule messages and gifts in advance, ensuring important communications are sent at the right time without manual reminders. Available soon on iOS and Android, the app combines calendar-based scheduling with contact-specific features to support thoughtful engagement and long-term relationship management. Supporting Consistency Through Automated Communication Users of the date reminder app can schedule messages tied to birthdays, anniversaries, client follow-ups, or seasonal greetings. Once a date is entered, the app allows for message composition and future delivery, reducing the need for last-minute check-ins or forgotten milestones. All messages are sent via the user's own phone number to preserve authenticity and personal tone. The platform also includes optional scheduled messaging for professional use, supporting sales teams, consultants, and service providers in automating follow-ups and check-ins. Calendar integration ensures scheduling is aligned with the user's existing commitments. Key Features Scheduled text delivery using receiver's phone number Calendar and contact-based event tracking This feature is not there Custom message templates Secure cloud sync and multi-device support Scheduled gifting tied to specific dates By centralizing these tools, the app allows users to manage time-sensitive communication without relying on memory or scattered notes. Local Vendor Partnerships for Gifting The app also enables scheduled gifting, offering users access to curated selections from local florists, artisan retailers, and specialty food providers. Before The Dates works directly with community vendors to feature region-specific items, helping users send meaningful gifts while supporting small businesses. Designed for Both Personal and Professional Use The platform is intended for busy individuals including parents, entrepreneurs, students, and caregivers who value consistent connection. Users can prepare recurring holiday messages, manage long-distance communication, or automate client retention efforts with minimal effort. About Before The Dates Founded with the goal of improving consistency in personal communication, Before The Dates provides tools to help users stay organized and connected . The team behind the app continues to build features based on feedback from early adopters and focus groups. Future updates will include voice message scheduling, smart reminders, and API integrations for business users. For more information, visit Media Contact:Jennifer NewboldBefore The Dates(386) 564-4441 [email protected]
San Francisco Chronicle
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Can we change our minds about actors we find repulsive?
Hi Mick: Once again, you're praising Richard Linklater's 'Before' trilogy. Based on your recommendation, I watched all of them — the first one three times — and still can't see the merit. Maybe it's because I don't like the looks of Ethan Hawke. Have you ever found an actor so disagreeable to look at that it ruined every picture he/she was in? Margaret Schlachter, Mill Valley As for actors that we find repulsive, I used to have a few, but as a result of having to see all their movies, I got to like everybody I initially disliked. But I can imagine myself being put off if I'm watching a romantic movie and just don't like the actress. I mean, it's one thing for me to think, 'She wouldn't appeal to me,' and something worse to believe that the guy in the movie wouldn't like her, either. However, I can't leave you in this state of permanently disliking Ethan Hawke. Try him in ' Juliet, Naked.' Read my review first, then watch the movie. If you still can't stand him, give up. The definition of wasting time is watching the same movie over and over and expecting a different result. Dear Mick: Are you the person who mentioned in a Chronicle column enjoying MollyBoy on YouTube? What a joy he is. Simple but ineffable charisma, his twinkle, the sudden gobsmacked are-you-serious stares at the camera. What a treat he's been. Cort Worthington, Berkeley Dear Cort: You're talking about the young English guy who does first-time reaction videos to classic pop songs on YouTube. For some reason, I like first-time reaction videos, and I've seen all of the various people who do them. MollyBoy is the best for all the reasons you mentioned, but also because he seems to be genuinely perceptive as a critic. He says he'd like to be a movie actor, and I think he could be. The kid's got something. Richard Kibsgaard, Berkeley Dear Richard: Well, it's not metaphysically wrong, and it's not a faux pas, like using the wrong fork. So I can't see in what way it can be wrong. However, I can see how it could be inaccurate. That is, you might think you don't care, but if you're spending a lot of time asking yourself this question, then you probably do care. Or you care too much about not caring. The ideal state is to be uninfluenced in your thinking, while remaining open to being educated if you turn out to be wrong. As for me, I've never cared what other people think when it comes to movies, not because I'm so mellow, but because it doesn't matter. Besides, if you disagree with me about Ethan Hawke you might agree with me about Sydney Sweeney. But some critics are weird on this score. I once knew a guy — a local critic from a while back — who, if you disagreed with him about a movie, even in casual conversation, he'd turn red and his lips would start quivering. There's a technical term for people like that — nuts. Good afternoon Mr. LaSalle: I believe my take is the likeliest reason Gene Hackman recommended a particular eatery to your reader. Gene Hackman was part owner of that particular eatery. Ted Speros, San Francisco Good afternoon Mr. Speros: You're referring to the now-legendary incident in which Hackman generously suggested a restaurant — or 'eatery' — to a Bay Area couple when they happened to run into him at an art gallery in Southern California. All I can say to your theory is that yours is precisely the kind of reader participation that I applaud. This is teamwork. We pool our collective insights and come up with the most plausible explanations for hard-to-explain events. Nice work.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Planning to watch Materialists, Subham or Devil's Double: Next Level? Read this
Why is your life a never-ending soap? Why is it not a romantic comedy but a depressing art house film? Why are you trapped in a trope — are you even real, or fiction by some bad writer scribbling with crayons and his tongue out? Celine Song's Materialists is a romantic comedy set in the reality check of your bank balance, what you can afford, and what you can deliver. Samantha Prabhu's debut production Subham is about a neighbourhood haunted by dead grannies who possess new brides to resume their soap binge, their souls still awaiting closure and an ending before they can rest in peace. And Devil's Double: Next Level, where a YouTuber finds himself trapped in a horror movie he must survive and outsmart with all the clichés he knows about the genre. What a week for meta storytelling! Love in times of uncertainty Materialists is understandably getting mixed, polarising reactions from the audience — so real and savage it slaps the romance out of our senses before offering a warm shoulder. My editor was irritated by the script, which she declared too sappy and stereotypical for this age of cynicism where bank balances trump moody romance. But, isn't the fantasy the reason we go to the movies? Yes — except this very story has been done before, and better. By a 22-year-old screenwriter named Helen Childress, whose script Reality Bites convinced her friend Winona Ryder to hire her friends — two guys named Ben Stiller and Ethan Hawke — to direct and act in the movie. Thirty years later, it still holds up — and how! As a sharper articulation of the ideas behind Materialists, with tighter writing filled with genuine ache and longing in 'the winter of our discontent', Ethan Hawke channelling Jesse even before he became the Jesse from Linklater's Before trilogy. Materialists does have its merits. The cast is easy on the eyes: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal. Occasionally, there's a good line: 'When you are lost, just go where love is.' Cute. But try topping this one from Reality Bites: 'All I want is a couch, a couple smokes, a cup of coffee, and a little bit of conversation. You and me and five bucks.' So here's the math: Reality Bites: 100 > Materialists: 1 Ghost stories Santhanam's follow-up to DD Returns, Devil's Double: Next Level (streaming on Zee5), has such a fun premise. YouTube film critics are targeted by the ghost of a dead producer in a movie hall that traps them in a film. Though full of potential jokes, the movie settles for the bare minimum. Yet, it cracks you up every now and then, saving the punchline for the end. How do you get out of a bad franchise? Don't kill the villain. Kill the hero. Kill the star. Five stars for the messaging, three for the movie. In Subham, the laughs come from men trying to shoot an alternate version of the never-ending soap — one with an ending that can finally provide closure to the dead grannies who've possessed their brides to catch up on their favourite show. While figuring out what ending would make them happy, the men also become better humans. The film is less of a horror flick and more of a smart ode to the power of movies — like Be Kind, Rewind, where the guys running the video store shoot their own versions of their favourite films. Subham is now streaming on Disney. Getting lost in the movies could be a holiday, a getaway vacation or a nightmare. Choose wisely. From the hottest shows to hidden gems, overlooked classics to guilty pleasures, FOMO Fix is a fortnightly compass through the chaos of content. Expect timely recommendations, spoiler-free insights, and an honest heads-up on what to not miss.
