The Air I Breathe

Name: The Air I Breathe
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime
Released: January 25, 2008
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 37
Cast: Andy Garcia, Brendan Fraser, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Sarah Michelle Gellar

2008

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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The Air I Breathe

Movie Details & Credits

thinkfilm | Release Date: January 25, 2008 | R

Starring: Andy Garcia, Brendan Fraser, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Summary: Inspired by a Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four key emotions – Happiness, Sorrow, Pleasure, and Love – The Air I Breathe is told in four short fables, each built around a character who embodies one of these key emotions. In Happiness, a timid banker who impulsively bets every cent he has, and then some, on a supposedly “sureInspired by a Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four key emotions – Happiness, Sorrow, Pleasure, and Love – The Air I Breathe is told in four short fables, each built around a character who embodies one of these key emotions. In Happiness, a timid banker who impulsively bets every cent he has, and then some, on a supposedly “sure thing.” In “Sorrow,” a rising pop star whose contract falls under the control of a ruthless crime boss, and his corrupt nephew. In “Pleasure,” a man who can see into the future of everyone he meets, but is totally blind when it comes to his own; and in “Love,” a doctor who pines for a woman he can never possess, only to find that he suddenly holds her life in his hands. Though each of the characters believes that his or her life is governed by hazard and chance, their unbridled emotions, impulsive choices, and reckless moves all prove one universal truth: character is destiny, and each of us makes our own fate. (THINKfilm)… Expand

Director: Jieho Lee

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 95 min

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Critic Reviews

Ken Fox

Lee deserves a lot of credit for attempt the same kind of complex story structure Quentin Tarantino made look so easy in "Pulp Fiction": Like Tarantino's interlocking stories, Lee's four segments occur achronologically and come full circle in a neat twist at the very end. Read full review

Stephen Holden

An ingenious contraption that holds your attention for as long as it whirs and clicks like a mechanized Rubik’s Cube. After it’s over, however, you may find yourself scratching your head and wondering if there was any purpose to this sleek little gizmo. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Each story has its moments, but "Air" lacks an overarching vision. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Situations get increasingly ridiculous, and none of the characters ever seems like anything but a screenwriter's sketch. Read full review

Carina Chocano

A stew of cheap irony, ponderous but meaningless allegory, violence and pretension, the movie is all borrowed style and calculated pandering. It does, however, get more ludicrous by the minute. So in that sense, it's good for an occasional laugh. Read full review

Ella Taylor

The destiny-versus- responsibility hand-wringing is Philosophy 101, the camera angles straight out of film school, and the pacing strictly music-video. Plus, the ta-da! twist ending is foreshadowed roughly 20 minutes into the action, for those still interested. Read full review

Ronnie Scheib

Stellar thesps gamely strive to elevate the one-note material, but gravity ultimately defeats them in this relentless downer. Read full review

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User Reviews

blackneptune

Sep 23, 2018

Definitely one of my favourite movies.
'The Air I Breathe' might not be for everyone, but it's for those reflective people. This movie has a lot to offer in terms of meaning, how we all influence each other, how we're all intertwined together and waves of emotions. The cast is phenomenal,Definitely one of my favourite movies.
'The Air I Breathe' might not be for everyone, but it's for those reflective people. This movie has a lot to offer in terms of meaning, how we all influence each other, how we're all intertwined together and waves of emotions. The cast is phenomenal, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Bacon, Any Garcia and the rest are amazing. Must watch!… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

RogerSmith97

Feb 21, 2011

What A GREAT Movie!!!!!!!
Sarah Michelle Gellar Shows Us A Solid Role...
Everything Is Good... Just Somtimes It Can Seem A Little Dull In Spots....

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

I really didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did, after all several critics had refereed to is as a tame re-packaging of Pulp Fiction. The film is broken up into four parts that are out of order, and the characters all do eventually interact, there is also a mafia angle to theI really didn't expect to like this movie as much as I did, after all several critics had refereed to is as a tame re-packaging of Pulp Fiction. The film is broken up into four parts that are out of order, and the characters all do eventually interact, there is also a mafia angle to the film, but overall besides the way things were laid out, I didn't really draw much of a comparison to Pulp Fiction. The stories all involve these peoples interactions with the mob, but they're all for different reasons and all have different outcomes. Andy Garcia is the boss, of course, always the perfect choice for a gangster or ruthless leader, and you get from him what's expected. What isn't expected is the tremendous performance of Brendan Fraser. I am not a fan and have never really considered him anything but a mediocre comedic actor, but after seeing The Air I Breathe, my opinion of him was definitely swayed. While watching the pieces, I knew they would somehow come together, but the way it was done was completely unpredictable and really something to watch. The film had a huge cast, with a ton of cameos, and just as many twists and turns. What I was expecting was far different from what I saw and I was more than happy with the way the film was done. I think if the film had been done in the traditional model of storytelling, it wouldn't have had as big of an impact.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

grandpajoe6191

Nov 9, 2011

"The Air I Breathe" perfectly intersects the stories despite the major flaws. Sarah Michelle Gellar never looked and acted better before throughout the movie. Overall a great movie and could have been better if it had a little bit of more budget added on.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

GuyM.

Feb 16, 2008

Did not quite get what was so "happy" about the happiness portion of the four part section but overall I enjoyed the movie

0 of 0 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]

May 31, 2008

Entertaining, involving, with good performances, why did this movie inspire such revulsion? Better than about 2/3 of the product on the market. Biggest weakness: inconsistent use of paranormal gimmick.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MBlues

Jan 31, 2008

Ludicrous, ridiculous, beyond silly. What in the world are these great actors thinking?? The writer/director must come from serious $$$.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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