Before and beyond: favourite Ethan Hawke films
Dead Poets Society ( 1989) While it is Robin Williams who is best remembered here, as a teacher who inspires his students through poetry, the film also marked the breakout of Hawke as a sheepish prep- school student trying to come to terms with teen hormones and family pressures. He ends up seizing the day, too. Hawke dropped out of college — to the chagrin of his parents — to take the role. Carpe diem, indeed.
The Richard Linklater trilogy:
Before Sunrise ( 1995) The first in the trilogy, this utterly charming tale focuses on a chance encounter on a train between Jesse ( Hawke), a wistful American voyager, and Céline ( Julie Delpy), a beguiling French student. After a brief conversation, he becomes mesmerized and persuades her to disembark in Vienna for a night of culture and romance before they go their separate ways. Passionate, spontaneous and credible, it begged for a sequel.
Before Sunset ( 2004) And a most satisfying sequel we got. Jesse and Céline hook up again, but not until nine years later, in
Paris. Jesse has penned a bestseller, based on his Vienna encounter with Céline. He’s on a book tour. Céline shows up. Their romance is rekindled. But the 30- somethings have baggage now: though both are dissatisfied, he’s married and has a son and she has a fellow in her life. Will love keep them together? Stay tuned.
Before Midnight ( 2013) And so the trilogy is complete. No. 3 may be bereft of shootings, torture, car chases and asteroids, but it is as explosive a film as any to have hit the multiplex in years. This is the best of the series — which is saying something. It is an absolutely blistering take on marital dysfunction, with the reunited Hawke and Delpy (“the Mayor of Crazy Town,” he calls her) as the battling couple on vacation in Greece. This one is so real, viewers may wonder whether they’re eavesdropping on a psychotherapy session.
Hamlet ( 2000) Hawke goes out on a limb and then some in this contemporary, darkly imaginative retelling of the Shakespeare classic, set in the Big Apple. He is cast as idealistic film student Hamlet, seeking to avenge his dad’s death. Sure enough, he is horrified to learn that his uncle Claudius ( Kyle MacLachlan) is not to be trusted. How off- the- hook is this take on the Bard? Bill Murray makes an appearance. As Shakespeare said, to thine own self be true.
Training Day ( 2001) In another departure from his Everyman roles, Hawke distinguishes himself as an earnest rookie narcotics officer who learns about frontier justice on the mean streets of L. A. His teacher ( Denzel Washington) is a veteran cop who plays by another set of rules, not necessarily approved by the police academy. Washington copped an Oscar for his work; Hawke nabbed a nomination for best supporting actor.
Boyhood ( 2014) Hawke hooks up with Linklater again. The writer/ director brings new meaning to coming- of- age epics in chronicling the life of his principal subject, from young boy to skeptical young adult ( Ellar Coltrane), as well as those of his ever- feuding folks ( Hawke and Patricia Arquette) over a 12- year period. Not just an incredibly ambitious undertaking, but profoundly moving as well.