The Air I Breathe (2007) Reviews

• Unique, thoughtful, and stunning -- a winner

  larry-4112007-05-12

  The Air I Breathe is stunning in many ways. It should be established right from the start that this is not a movie which allows you to check your brain at the door. It demands attention and thought. Director Jieho Lee and co-writer Bob DeRosa have crafted an intriguing work which leaves more questions than answers. And, after all, that is what art should aspire to do. The film is based on a Chinese proverb which says that life consists of four emotions: Happiness, Pleasure, Sorrow, and Love. To be whole one must experience each emotion, and by doing so we are interconnected with all other human beings. The film itself is structured in the same fashion, with each of four segments focusing on those ideas. The lead actors portray those emotions one by one. Forest Whitaker is Happiness, Brendan Fraser is Pleasure, Sarah Michelle Gellar is Sorrow, and Kevin Bacon is Love. They anchor the four segments of the film, while the rest of the magnificent ensemble cast weaves in and out of the narrative. The idea is somewhat fuzzy at first. This is an unconventional story with a similarly unique style. Unlike most films, the major characters don't really have major arcs in story line or performance. While some may find a couple of the actors a bit deadpan, they pretty much are solid throughout while consistent in their characterizations. Whitaker and Fraser especially fit that description. Both are quite stoic in their roles, but that's what the story demands. Sarah Michelle Gellar may be the exception. She is the one who has to display a wide range of emotions, more than the others. Her character is quite tortured and goes through a lot emotionally and physically. Gellar is a very brave actress who took risks and put her heart and soul into it. She is sure to surprise many people. Bacon is a delight and is perfectly cast as a would-be hero. Andy Garcia is a chilling and devilish nemesis throughout, while Emile Hirsch provides some comic relief in his brief appearance. The script is filled with poetic statements, hearkening back to the Chinese proverb on which the story is based. Each segment's main character provides voice-over. And while the language is somewhat oblique, the dialogue is quite blunt and to the point. Visually it is breathtaking, with broad sweeping images interspersed with numerous gritty close-ups of tragedy. The Air I Breathe has the look of a big budget film, although it is not. Watch for some fascinating visual effects. Hand-held with close-ups is used for some of the more chilling parts and creates tension. Hitchcock would be proud. Surprises occur at every step of the way. One of the most startling aspects of this film is that there are moments when one may think, "No, that won't happen." And then it does. It's hard to watch at times and quite violent. There's sadness and tension. But there is also an amazingly clever use of humor in the film, and that is perhaps what is most surprising. But that's what life is. The soundtrack plays a major role in this movie, as if another character. It has an Asian feel, not just because of the filmmaker's background but because the film is based on that Chinese proverb. It was quite haunting. The Air I Breathe is, at its heart, a character piece which follows a general theme. Seems simple. On the face of it, it plays out like a crime drama. But there's more to it, and it takes patience and thought to get to the point of it. Not everyone will be able to do that. But it is definitely worth the effort.

• A beautiful film based on the interconnection of human beings

  kengelina842008-03-01

  I read several bad reviews for this film before actually being able to get my hands on a copy, but remained optimistic about it as I sat down to watch it. Thankfully, some people actually possess the ability to sit down and watch a film with an open mind and then form their own opinion, which is exactly what I did. What I saw was not a pretentious portrayal of "cheap irony" in which the viewer lives in "Gellar's world". What I saw was a creative endeavour to intertwine four strangers through four major emotions, thus showing that through these emotions, everyone is connected - whether or not they are aware of it. This is what sociologists study and discuss everyday. The script was performed sensationally, by a stellar cast (Brendan Frasier, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Andy Garcia, Kevin Bacon, Forest Whitaker), encompassing a gritty, fast paced storyline, with melancholic overtones. This film is not all about Gellar - she gives a heart wrenching performance as Trista, but the film is dedicated as much to Garcia, Frasier and Bacon as it is to her. Each performance is worth its weight in gold - Garcia is frightening as mafia boss "Fingers", Frasier pulls at your heart with his resignation to the terrible fates of the people around him and Bacon and Whitaker will surely gain your sympathy with the sheer level of their desperation. The only thing this film is guilty of is invoking emotion and thought from its viewers - and isn't that the reason to watch it in the first place?

• Core -Shaker

  xnofeelingsx2007-12-19

  This is one of the movies that if you pay close attention to the story and what the message is you will find yourself profoundly stupid and clueless when it comes to basic human emotions and how everything is somehow connected.(chaos theory...?) the performances were absolutely amazing.I'd never seen Sarah Michelle Gellar portray such a role so well,she really moved me as Sorrow and Forest Whitaker as well.The roles fit the actors like a glove.the photography is beautiful.the story is very moving and the ending surprising. loved it +++++++ Maybe it wont make it as one of the greatest films ever but it's the kind of movie i'd like to store and watch again sometime later in the future instead of some box office hit.

• A beautifully depicted masterpiece

  Dragoneyed3632009-02-01

  I was absolutely astonished with how wonderful The Air I Breathe turned out to be. I was expecting it to be really good, basically because of the star-studded cast I believe it has, and in the end, I got an amazing journey with a beautiful story everywhere I looked. First of all, the actors and actresses of this film make it absolutely unable to miss. They all capture their characters perfectly and make the film unable to look away from with their dedicated, spot-on performances. The plot was also majestic and deep. It was touching and moving in so many ways, and they way it all made sense in the end was simply brilliant. There is not one scene where I thought the creators have added in something mediocre or unnecessary, and there was not one scene where I pressed the pause button to do something, for I could not stop watching it. It shows how everyones' lives all intertwine in some way and how one person's honest actions can affect the life of another who honestly needs help when they can't find it anywhere else, and it is honestly as beautiful and worth the watch as I am making it sound, honest. This is a must-see, I recommend it for everyone, and usually the haters have to complain about how boring and confusing it is, while I found it at the right pace to keep your attention and understood everything the film meant for us to understand along the way.

• We all need a way out..

  swAppp2008-02-15

  To begin with, there were times when people didn't care about the money, didn't cry about work, popularity or power.. However, those lovely times are way back in ancient civilizations, while nowadays the religion, the bank and pure emotions steal the scene. These are the subjects I were thinking about a lot lately and probably some of you did too. Therefore, this movie probably was the best movie I could have watched at this part of my life. I did, and now I am happy. The story of this movie could be easily summarized by one exact quote of just a random-looking worker from the movie: "I need a way out". I couldn't agree more - in todays universe, even more in my country, there are people who live to work. They live to eat, they live to buy some goods and sometimes, they just live to give their problems away to other people... This is actually all covered in this movie by a director that I have never heard of, but it might be a time for me to start learning his name. I began loving this movie from very first fifth minute- to the very end. The cast is amazing - both main and supporting actors gave me their best. Bacon, Whitaker, Gellar, Fraser, Garsia, Hirch - what a nice choice for this movie! However, if you are not really open minded, you may not like their characters, you may not like the plot, but still, you will love the acting. Persuasive, smart and well done. That's how I would rate the crew members of this movie. This leads to n awfully understandable conclusion - "The Air I Breathe" is actually one of the best movies I have seen this year, only "25 Hour" moved me more.. Even after seeing Ed's "25 Hour" i was quick to state that crime/drama is from now on my most favorite genre of the movie. Didn't take long to prove that it actually is - thanks to the amazing "The Air I Breathe"