Richard Linklater's third installment in the story of Jesse and Celine feels very personal. There is a confessional quality to the writing that had me imagining this might be a big screen version of somebody's diary. Certainly, it seems that this series has become a labour of love for many of the parties involved. This sense even translates to the audience, many of whom will feel connected to the material because of its legacy.
Whether or not the film tells the story you had hoped it might, this film so trusts its audience to go along with it that I believe many will. I was spellbound from start to finish. I did not want it to end. There is a lot of backstory to fill-in in a short time, and this is achieved through rather densely packed dialogue. In lesser hands the dialogue could feel clunky or start to drag, but Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy always keep the ball in the air and the mind quick, and appear to constantly surprise each other with sudden shifts in mood. The other large part of what makes the long and wordy discussions work is that they are often filmed in one take. The freedom this affords the actors is invaluable.
See this film if you like rapid-fire dialogue and have been following Jesse and Celine for a while. The style of these films will appeal to those who enjoy confessional singer-songwriters and live theatre with clever speeches.
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