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Released by: Shout Factory
Released on: April 7th, 2015
Directed by: Jim McBride
Cast: Richard Gere, Valerie Kaprisky, Art Metrano
Year: 1983
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The Movie
This 1983 film may claim to have been inspired by the French New Wave auteurs Truffaut and Godard-whose own Breathless in 1960 is considered a classic from the movement-but the reality is that director Jim McBride's Breathless is one seriously hot mess.
This isn't really a good thing, as McBride and screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson adapt T & G's story and screenplay from A Bout de Souffle into one awkwardly acted, clumsily handled picture which is heavy on brightly garish eighties style, yet sadly light upon a compelling story and character. Richard Gere is certainly in his physical and sexual prime here as a wanted fugitive who attempts to reconnect with a young fling, (French actress Valerie Kapisky) in the hopes of escaping to Mexico, but his performance is confounding in its forced quirk and obnoxious, out-loud narration.
Kaprisky, meanwhile, is certainly sexy enough-her and Gere are all over the place here with regards to sexual acrobatics-but her acting is similarly stilted and uninspiring, with their characters only coming together (no pun intended) during the love scenes, while the other dialog scenes sink like so many stones in the ocean. Perhaps it's Kaprisky not speaking in her native tongue which gives her character such an odd tone, but regardless, it never connects. Gere's comic book reading, wanna be rockabilly bad boy shtick gets old really quick, as well and we the audience never really giving a damn whether or not these two make it out alive, happy or not.
McBride and his cinematographer Richard Kline do get their money's worth when it comes to a color palette, however, as much of Breathless looks absolutely gorgeous, saturated in super bright colors and over the top eighties excess. This is a film which is definitely of its time, for better or worse, yet it's this sense of visual style and composition which gives this remake of Breathless a connection with its superior original. Otherwise, though? Not even Gere and Kaprisky's obvious sexual chemistry can save this rambling, ridiculous picture from hitting the mark.
Video/Audio/Extras
As expected, this Shout Factory Blu-Ray of Breathless is crisp, detailed and beautiful looking, with saturated colors that practically leap off the screen. Flesh tones are nicely rendered, while the audio track sounds balanced, without any drop outs. Although Jack Nitzsche is credited with the musical score, there isn't much to chew on, other than the ever-present Jerry Lee Lewis music. What is here sounds just fine, however, and doesn't drown out the dialogue.
There are no extras here on this disc, other than the film's original theatrical trailer, which is surprising, given Shout Factory's reputation for bullet proof bonus content. Still, fans of this fairly under-the-radar eighties flick will not likely see it looking any finer than this beautiful Blu-Ray.
The Final Word
Breathless is well shot and framed, but terribly acted and difficult to enjoy on any sort of intellectual or emotional level. This is bright and shiny 80s sex candy which looks great and goes down easy, but lacks substance at the end of the day.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
