Customer Reviews

Still Breathing

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I absolutely love this movie, so it was a shock to see the DVD being sold for outrageous prices! No matter how rare it is. So not to take anyone away from Amazon, I myself am a huge addict of this site. However, I feel obligated to tell you how to get this movie without having to deplete your savings account. Target's WEBSITE has the DVD, although they say it will be available to be shipped in 4-8 weeks. I don't know about you, but I'd rather wait a month or two to get it than spend close too or OVER a hundred dollars.

I'm sorry Amazon.com, I love you! I just dislike some of your sellers price gouging.

This is a warm, sweet film. Like many others, I saw it, quite by accident, on cable. I've since bought the DVD and am not disappointed. This small, independent film by James F.Robinson is brilliant in concept and delivery. Right off the bat, there are repeated references to Verdi's "La Traviata", the ultimate romantic tragic opera. Things only get better, smarter and more clever. Brendon Fraser is always charming, with his child-like wish for perfection; the rest of the cast handles their roles with aplomb; Ann Magnusen is hard as nails, Tobe Huss as Cameron is the perfect innocent friend, and the great Celeste Holm is there as the granny, delivering the best line in the film: "(He's) redefining an imperfect world in a perfect way". She's crazy as a fox, and totally endearing. The mind-blowing element here is the performance of Joanna Going as Roz, the object of the whole thing. She is perfection...centered and precise in every glance, nuance and delivery. I was very impressed. She deserves a better career, since I haven't really heard of her since. A real talent. The choices of music are also excellent, in addition to the original music of Paul Mills. A rendering of "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (performed by Madeleine Peyroux) is most effecive, as well as the final title song, sung by Rita Springer. This is a loving display of (almost) craziness, lovingly presented by a fine director and a stellar cast. Cynics among you may not agree, but there are still a few of us out here that think true love is possible. Also, stay tuned...after the credits are over, there's a dilightful little "stinger". What a fine film! UPDATE: 12-12-06... I just checked this out to buy a copy for a friend. I can't believe it's not available without paying over $100. That's nuts.

First time director James F. Robinson gives us a rare treat - a beautiful romance that both men and women can enjoy. I remember going to see this film when it was in theaters. I was totally surprised by the soundtrack, script and characters. The director showed off San Antonio and LA in their best colors, and created a soundtrack that is a real keeper.

The story is about a woman con artist (Joanna Goings) who has given up on love and a performance artist (Brendan Fraser) who only believes in unconditional love. They collide in their nightly dreams (before they even meet) and in their waking hours. Both characters and their friends are true to form.

Brendan Fraser's family and friends are really out there artistically, and Joanna Goings associates are out and out thieves. The transformation Joanna goes through to finally accept unconditional love and ultimately accept herself in a relationship with Brendan Fraser is truly heartwarming.

This is a movie to be savored on a rainy day when you are curled up on the couch alone or with your honey. Be forewarned. Once you get the movie, you will want the original movie soundtrack. The heady slow mix of jazz and sweet classical music is downright intoxicating.

[...]

It's always a surprise to find a movie actually filmed in Texas.
As a Texan I'm proud of this film because it suggests that not everyone in the state is a loudmouth blowhard. It also shows
that you don't find mountains in the background in most parts of
Texas.

This is certainly an atypical Brendan Frasier film, but it shows his acting ability. He seems to be a cross between Jimmy Stewart and Hugh Grant with a gentle and humerous philosophy of life, and a Don Johnson stubble. Perhaps the lifestyle is a little too laid-back to be credible but it's a kick to see the hero as a musician/street who sometimes plays in a band with his grandmother on tuba.

It is a sweet, good-hearted film, which accentuates the crass personality that is the starting place for our heroine, Goins.

I ran across this film on cable and my wife loved it so much that I had to buy both the soundtrack and the DVD. It remains my own personal favorite Brendan Frasier film, and I'm not particularly a fan of "love stories". However, the enjoyment of picking out locations in San Antonio, the unique music, and the endearing performances break down my reserves about the genre.

I saw this movie in 2000 in TV and immediately bought it. Since then, I have seen it multiple times and always discovered something new. The first time director, James Cameron, has done an amazing job in the movie. He has thought of a lot of small details and used his contacts to get an amazing cast. Brandon Fraser was OK, but it was Joanna Going and Celeste Holm that do an amazing job. It was called a chick flick, but I personally found a lot of parts that I personally could relate to. The music pieces from Chopin to La Traviata to Blues pieces were well mixed in the movie. I also found the pieces in San Marcos river with the little children very charming. Though the movie may not have outstanding screenplay, the camera work was lovely. Ann Magnusen was superb as the hard headed con woman who is Joanna's friend. I liked the first half more than the second half. It was hilarious to see how Joanna gets rid of the person, Paolo Seganti, whom she cheats with the help of Angus Macfadyen. The painting that she wishes to buy is so bad.

Some dialogs that are beautiful are when Joanna says that, "My world is about greed and money and ambition and successes." To this Fraser replies, "The basic human desires. That is funny because my opinion of art is that it is about truth and beauty and redefining an imperfect world in a perfect way." The initial part where he creates a portrait of Joanna and shows it to his friends and they completely understand it is excellent. It is almost as though they are a cult of people who live in a separate world. The music pieces and its mixing is outstanding. The parts where they have the band in the party with the tuba version of Chopin is lovely. The original music by Paul Mills is also superb. The camera work with Joanna is the dark is also special. Another special piece is the games Joanna and Fraser play with each other. There are multiple purposes to this movie, it took me a while to understand them and appreciate them. The initial one of finding true love is the obvious one, the ones underneath are also special. These include making a cynic appreciate the beauty in the world, forgiveness and so on. Overall a very scripted movie that was delightful, it took my breath away. It makes me understand the fact that a really satisfying movie does not require a lot of money to be spent on, just good thought, good cast and imaginative story with good direction. I am sorry for people who do not have the DVD of the movie. I wish that it was more easily available.

Still Breathing. The story reaffirms the grace and beauty of true love, the cinematography is gorgeous,the music is simply sublime, the perfomances are dead-on perfect--this film is amazing. I had a hard time getting it, and even signed petitions for it's release on DVD. But it was worth the wait. As near perfect a director's first film as I have ever seen. The performances were nearly flawless as well, Brendan Fraser giving a subtle, layered performance that it would be easy to underestimate, as it looks so effortless. I had never seen Joanna Going before, but after this film, I seek out her other work. Toby Huss is marvelous in a supporting role, and so is Lou Rawls. Lastly, the incandescent Celeste Holm, to whom we are treated so rarely, glows as the grandmother. This film is not for the shallow, the cynical, or the tragically hip, but for anyone who wants to believe in people, in love, and in good, old-fashioned movies, this is a must see. A tip to those who watch the DVD--wait through the end of the credits for a hidden gem from Fraser & Huss.

Bought the video and bought the DVD too... There are restored scenes and a good commentary by the director -- My husband loves this movie for some reason!! he has watched it 3 times... Highly recommended examination of the Cynical Heart vs. Unconditional Love. We even showed it in my study group at church and had a great discussion afterwards. Some people don't "get it" because they expect a fluffy romantic comedy and the woman in the film is tough to warm to and rejects romance (that's the point) -- Fraser gives an atypical performance -- low key and thoughtful. No swinging into trees! Nice music too.

Still Breathing is a quirky wonderful romantic movie. Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going make a wonderful couple destined to be together. I love the way that Fletcher (Fraser) goes after the woman that he invisions even though Roz (Going) isn't sure about him and is only after one thing at first...his money. If you are a Brendan Fraser fan this is a must see. If you aren't then you will be after this fabulous flick.

I love this film... my words don't do it justice -- here is a review my friend sent me:

Sometimes a movie possesses such a quiet beauty that it casts a spell on you while you're watching. "Still Breathing," the debut of writer-director Jim Robinson, is such a film, a romantic comedy that stands the genre on its ear. It's a movie filled not with jokey concepts or inane banter but with grace and charm and two wonderful performances from leads Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going. To call it a great date movie would limit its accomplishment. It's a great movie, period. "Still Breathing" follows Fletcher McBracken (Fraser), a San Antonio street musician who has inherited a unique family trait. His grandfather and father both had visions of the women they were to marry and then went out and found them. Fletcher waits for his moment, too, cutting out and piecing together eyes and noses and faces from various magazine photos, trying to come up with a composite of his future bride.

Then one night while sleeping on the piano(it helps make the visions clearer), Fletcher sees her Ñ The One Ñ in a dream, and what he sees isn't good. She's being mugged by a guy with a gun. He also visualizes the word "Formosa," a clue to his love's location.

The woman Fletcher sees in his dream seems an unlikely match. Roz Willoughby (Going), a cynical L.A. con artist, has been burned by love so often that she's decided to make a living out of cheating would-be suitors. She and gal-pal Elaine (Ann Magnuson) scam insincere lotharios by leading them on and then making them buy worthless art to prove their intentions. They split the money, the guys get the bum's rush. Fletcher comes to Los Angeles to catch an international flight to the island of Formosa, believing that is where he'll find Ms. Right. While he's waiting for his plane, he notices a woman paging through a tourism brochure that includes a picture of the famous Formosa Cafe in Hollywood. Fletcher puts two and two together and drives to the restaurant to meet Roz. She's there, all right, only she has come to the Formosa on a tip that there's a rich Texan coming into town who will be an easy mark. Boy, has she got the wrong man.

It's a quirky premise and could have gone awfully wrong if writer-director Robinson wasn't completely in tune with the material. Elements like Fletcher's rock sculpture hobby or his grandmother playing Chopin on the tuba or the repeated dream sequences that lead the two lovers to each other seem rather precious on paper. But Robinson has the perfect touch with the material, using Chopin's haunting "Berceuse" (Opus 57) in several sections of the score to create an aural beauty that nicely complements some of the breathtaking images that he puts on the screen. The movie somehow captures the essence of stillness in a way that envelops and interests the audience. It's a stellar accomplishment, this quiet, rapturous beauty, because so few films can manage to be both absorbing and radiant at the same time.

Fraser gives a wonderfully modulated performance, conveying both Fletcher's oddball quirks and down-to-earth strengths. Going had an even more challenging task, taking Roz's apathy toward life and love and bringing her to a place where she feels open again to life's possibilities. Going communicates all this and more, faltering only slightly in believability during the con-game scenes. But that's a small quibble for a film that manages the neat trick of being eclectic, interesting, romantic and moving. Anyone looking for an antidote to "Godzilla" or the often overblown romanticism of "The Horse Whisperer" would do well to see "Still Breathing." It's one of the gems of the screen year.

review by Glenn Whipp, LADN

i saw this movie on IFC and had to get it.
it speaks to your heart in the most simplest way.
i don't like (CHICK_FLICKS)but this one was so good.
i won't give any thing away but let me just tell you it's good.
i hope you enjoy it.

David.