The Air I Breathe

R

Released Jan 25, 2008

1 hr. 37 min.

Drama

List

10%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Four stories are linked by a Chinese proverb and overlapping characters. A usually unadventurous man (Forest Whitaker) loses big on a horse race and robs a bank to pay off a gangster (Andy Garcia). The gangster's nephew goes on the town with a hit man (Brendan Fraser) who can see into the future. The hit man falls for a pop star (Sarah Michelle Gellar) whose contract is owned by the gangster. The pop star has a rare blood type sought by a doctor (Kevin Bacon) trying to save the love of his life.

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Critics Consensus

The Air I Breathe is a jumbled indie production that accomplishes little save for the squandering of a talented cast.

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tovangar T

Fraser, Bacon and Delpy were thrown away by the director, leaving the other three main cast members to chew the scenery in the most unattractive way possible. Garcia was stuck in a permanent hissy fit. Whitaker was a knot of sweating, grimacing anxiety Geller, at her most unsympathetic and wooden, ends up imitating a hood ornament, outlined against the dawn, complete with many yards of flowing fabric. Laughably pretentious. Unbelievable that this was made. Somebody lost their shirt or just needed a tax write off. But I watched it. The things I do for Brendan. He looked good. Pretty darn good.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

nathaniel b

Incredibly underrated film. Thought provoking and moving, though somber. Sarah Michelle Gellar gives one of THE most underappreciated performances in film history. A solid, interesting movie that didn't deserve the bashing it got from critics.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Four stories, representing the emotional principles of love, pleasure, sorrow, and happiness, come together in this episodic drama from first-time director Jieho Lee. A powerful crime boss, Fingers (Andy Garcia), subtly controls the destinies of four people whose circumstances have brought them to a crossroads in their lives. A quiet business executive (Forest Whitaker) is told that an upcoming horse race has been rigged and bets everything he has on his belief that the story is true. A noted pop singer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) discovers her career is hanging in the balance when she's forced to sever ties with her manager. A doctor (Kevin Bacon) must set aside a physician's traditional guidelines when circumstances demand he treat the woman he loves after a serious accident. And a criminal (Brendan Fraser) has a powerful vision of the future, but can't decide if his premonitions are to be trusted.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think people's perspective of the film is a bit myopic. The film is cerebral, and if you're into those kinds of movies, this is outstanding. It simply, for those not willfully hindered by the Gateless Gate, asks one to ponder the meaning of their emotions. I loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

richard d

A charming yet simple story. It's an anthology piece which focuses on 4 different people. 3 of them in their own way help the 4th person be able to escape the life they are in. The acting is good and the writing is fine. To some it can come off as pretentious but I personally don't think it is. It's different from what I usually enjoy but I surprisingly liked this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

4 stories that all become intertwined together around one gangster. Has a star studded cast but nothing could save this film. Just a giant jumble of messiness.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Jieho Lee

Director

Forest Whitaker

Happiness

Brendan Fraser

Pleasure

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sorrow

Kevin Bacon

Love

Andy Garcia

Fingers

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24%

29%

Even Money

45%

29%

Winged Creatures

64%

65%

10 Items or Less

58%

55%

Interview

27%

47%

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Catherine Shoard

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Pretentious at best, risible for the rest of the time, this is most notable for Andy Garcia's staggeringly hammy cameo as the opera-loving moneylender Fingers.

May 1, 2020

Full Review

Time Out Staff

Time Out

This pompous, concept-driven debut from American director Jieho Lee is about as hollow and doom-harbouring as an empty coffin.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

Philip French

Guardian

The Air I Breathe is a poor addition to a cycle of movies in which a succession of people (played by well-known actors) is linked by coincidence or perverse destiny.

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

Ray DeRousse

What Culture

The story has no emotional heft or philosophical investment upon which to base its contortions. Instead, it is a gimmick looking for a purpose.

May 1, 2020

Full Review

Jamie Russell

Radio Times

Music-video director-turned-film-maker Jieho Lee imbues his feature debut with plenty of visual verve, yet can't make his stories individually distinctive.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

Allan Hunter

Daily Express (UK)

Any ensemble piece divided into chapters such as Happiness, Pleasure and Sorrow is already flirting with pretentiousness but Jieho Lee's overblown feature embraces the concept wholeheartedly with clunky dialogue and po-faced solemnity.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Four stories are linked by a Chinese proverb and overlapping characters. A usually unadventurous man (Forest Whitaker) loses big on a horse race and robs a bank to pay off a gangster (Andy Garcia). The gangster's nephew goes on the town with a hit man (Brendan Fraser) who can see into the future. The hit man falls for a pop star (Sarah Michelle Gellar) whose contract is owned by the gangster. The pop star has a rare blood type sought by a doctor (Kevin Bacon) trying to save the love of his life.

Director: Jieho Lee
Screenwriter: Jieho Lee, Bob DeRosa
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Nala Films
Rating: R (Violence|Some Sexual Content/Nudity|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $19.5K

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