Still Breathing

Rating:
Summary: An undiscovered classic
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: An undiscovered classic
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: Sappy, quirky, hopelessly romantic and deeply affecting film
Review: I really don't know how many stars to give this film. People who like it will *really* like it. People who don't will probably be left scratching their heads. I'm doing both.

First, I find the story cornball. There are significant holes in the plot. And the dialogue *is* unremarkable sometimes cliched.

On the plus side, it *looks* great. The cast is wonderful. It is very *sensual* without being explicit--or even very suggestive! The people who made it believed in it implicitly. But most of all there is Joanna Going's deeply affecting performance, by turns coquettish, scheming, vulnerable, frightened, "bewitched, bothered, and bewildered."

Whatever its deficiencies, I cannot turn away from a movie with such heart. It shares a place in my heart next to "Floundering."

N.B. There is nothing in terms of language or sex that should give offense. But *this* is still an film for adults. (Adolescents can only fully enjoy (if at all) with there parents away!)

Finally, there is a profoundly *spiritual* core to this movie, beyond even the use of "visions" and "synchroncity" as plot devices.

James F. Robinson, the producer/director/screenwriter, bears further watching.

Rating:
Summary: A captivating film
Review: I saw part of this movie on TV, and I was so intrigued that I immediately went to the video store and rented it so I could see the rest. I don't think you'll enjoy this movie if you're not a romantic at heart, but if you are, still breathing is like a breath of fresh air (pun sort of intended :) )...it's not your typical romantic comedy. It explores the beauty of life and love. There may not be many cute romantic moments to "aww..." over, but there are moments of beauty that leave you feeling refreshed...literally, I think that's the best word to describe it. As a bonus, Joanna Going is incredibly sexy. If this is your kind of movie, I recommend The Spitfire Grill...it has some of the same air about it...with a focus on nature and beauty and spirituality.

Rating:
Summary: A captivating film
Review: I saw part of this movie on TV, and I was so intrigued that I immediately went to the video store and rented it so I could see the rest. I don't think you'll enjoy this movie if you're not a romantic at heart, but if you are, still breathing is like a breath of fresh air (pun sort of intended :) )...it's not your typical romantic comedy. It explores the beauty of life and love. There may not be many cute romantic moments to "aww..." over, but there are moments of beauty that leave you feeling refreshed...literally, I think that's the best word to describe it. As a bonus, Joanna Going is incredibly sexy. If this is your kind of movie, I recommend The Spitfire Grill...it has some of the same air about it...with a focus on nature and beauty and spirituality.

Rating:
Summary: Still Breathing
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I was given Still Breathing by one of its songwriters in June. It became my summer music - sort of a soundtrack for an incredible season. Everyone who listened to my copy has bought their own. This is an excellent collection of music.

Rating:
Summary: "Still Breathing"? Be grateful
Review: I was introduced to this mix of classical/Dixieland, smooth jazz, and old-style blues by the movie, "Still Breathing," starring Brendan Fraser and Joana Going. The gentle yearning and wistfulness of the film is captured perfectly both the the CD's classical score and by Rita Springer's hopeful, yet mournful title track. Playful moments are brought to life by the rare recording of Louie Armstrong, "Old Man Mose is Dead." Overall, I love this CD because it brings me back to the memory of the plot of the film: that true love CAN conquer all, if you are willing to embrace it, and that redemption is something that you ultimately have to give to yourself. The music, with its dreamy, gentle refrains--and its humorous moments--underlines the idea that the roads to both both love and redemption are ones that, although perhaps lonely and tough, are ones that have warmth and humor as well. Perfect sunny Sunday listening.

Rating:
Summary: i can help the girl that wants the still breathing cd
Review: I was looking for Still Breathing CD too. I went to www.Half.com and at that site they have many copies of the cd and people are selling it. I got mine 5 days after i put in the order. I love it!!! i love the movie and the cd is absolutely amazing. Oh the fact that i got it for 9.95 helps too. heh
so for all that can't not find this soundtrack go to www.half.com everyone that wants this cd should have it and i am jsut happy to help.

Rating:
Summary: i can help the girl that wants the still breathing cd
Review: I was looking for Still Breathing CD too. I went to www.Half.com and at that site they have many copies of the cd and people are selling it. I got mine 5 days after i put in the order. I love it!!! i love the movie and the cd is absolutely amazing. Oh the fact that i got it for 9.95 helps too. heh
so for all that can't not find this soundtrack go to www.half.com everyone that wants this cd should have it and i am jsut happy to help.