Rating: 
Summary: After seeing it a few times, I see it for what it is
Review: When I first saw Godard's Breathless, perhaps I had my expectactions high, or rather manipulated to be as such from reading other reviews, and I ended up thinking that while there was a flair for style and a rhythm that was a reminder of the jazzy feel in Cassavettes' Shadows, the characters, inparticular the lead, were too shallow, self-righteous, and all-too-vain for comfort - or perhaps too, well, French. On a few more tries of the "groundbreaker of the French new-wave" (which I believe was at it's absolute best in Truffaut's 400 Blows, accessible to a wider audience), I see that Godard, as much as he probably loves his characters, he despises them as well, in a sense. It could even be suggested that Godard sees himself in the lead Belmondo's role, and if that's the case then Godard is practicing the old self-reflection trick (though the story is loosely based on a newspaper article, scripted by Truffaut himself). For those that can take such filmmaking, this is the treat of the week. And for film buffs it should be seen at least once to get an idea where most "affluent" independent filmmakers get their edge, and indeed its rhythm will give inspiration to struggling filmmakers. I might even see it again in several months to remind myself how inspired the jump cuts were that Godard used. But, I certainly don't think that it's among the greatest films ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Love It!
Review: I first watched "Breathless" in a film class my Senior year in college and I was amazed by it. Although this film was made many years ago, I was blown away by the production techniques used. Some people in my film class thought the movie was stupid and made no sense, while others (including myself) found the beauty in it's ability not to stick to the norm and be compelling in a subtle way. In a time when continuity is extremely important in film, it was refreshing to see jump cuts that were made on purpose (or rather necessity since Godard had to cut the film down considerably from his original cut). Jean-Luc Godard is a true genius! This film revolves around the character of Michel, a common hood, who gets mixed up in the murder of a police officer while trying to win over the heart of the woman he loves. The plot to the story is simple, but the outcome is exciting. "Breathless" is definitely not for everyone. It makes you think about hidden messages, symbolism, etc. However, it is very enjoyable and entertaining. I would highly suggest this film. I think everyone should be exposed to a Jean-Luc Godard film at least once in his or her life! This is an excellent movie!
Rating: 
Summary: I'm still waiting for it to take my breath away.
Review: This film should have been directed by Francois Truffaut, who wrote it. A so-so movie with Belmondo being the bright spot is his portrayal, however the film never really lets the viewer care about the characters or what happens to them. Definitely not the best French New Wave film, as many rave.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, the film is important, but it's also a lot of fun.
Review: "Breathless," Jean-Luc Godard's tribute to moviemaking itself and one of the seminal titles of the French New Wave, is, jump-cuts and all, a film that changed the way movies were made. It introduced audiences and critics alike to new voices in the cinema, to a newer and cheaper guerrilla-style film made on location and to the sort of movie aware of the fact that it was just a movie. That said, though, this movie is a lot of just pure fun. In the leads, Jean-Paul Belmondo and the absolutely gorgeous Jean Seberg seem to inject their portrayals of young thief-and-killer Michel Poiccard and his indecisive American girlfriend Patricia with a sense of humor and joy. The couple they portray are given moments where they're not really pushing the action forward, where they're reveling in what it feels like to be young and in lust, if not love. The scenes where they're lying in bed just talking or riding together in a car and talking about Paris are perhaps the most delightful aspect of the film. Even though the character of Michel is almost certainly doomed from the moment he steals a car and guns down a police officer, he has a lot of fun with his last days, wandering the streets, stealing from friends and trying to get Patricia to sleep with him. Patricia, likewise, is given moments of joy, despite worrying about her pregnancy and job, wondering if she should betray the man she loves to the police or run away with him to Rome. That spirit, in addition to its technical wizardry and the passion of its makers, is what made the film different in 1960, and it's the spirit behind it that just makes "Breathless" fun Sunday-afternoon viewing now.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixture of Irritation and Delight
Review: The situations in this movie are so boring, and the leading male character is so shallow -- even vacuous, that the edgy Godard cinema verite style is blunted. Seberg deftly sketches the outline of a deep character. She was an interesting, gifted actress. But a half hour of totally inane bed chitchat got so irritating that it spoiled all the good effects. Plus, how could Belmondo stand to smoke so many cigarettes? I was coughing in front of my DVD player. I was actually happy when the end came. If you want a film in the same directing style but with captivating content, I recommend The 400 Blows. The 400 Blows will grab you. Breathless dropped me.
Rating:
Summary: First feature from Godard the Great
Review: More than forty years later, it may be hard for modern audiences to understand how revolutionary Jean-Luc Godard and his Nouvelle Vague (French New Wave) contemporaries really were. So many aspects of Godard's stylistic achievements, such as the unabashedly hand-held camera, have become so popular in music videos, TV, and the movies, that its use here may not seem notable. Film critic David Sterritt's commentary track does an excellent job of conveying the importance of this first feature-length Godard opus, and also emphasizes the many ways in which the director is having fun with his audience. As Sterritt demonstrates, Godard uses what he has enjoyed from his life as a lover of movies to deliver a filmgoing experience that contains the humor and action that he enjoys. Godard lingers on the lengthy interactions between Breathless' two young actors, allowing us all to savor their intimacy, and also uses Brechtian self-conscious techniques to encourage the viewer to stop and consider his filmic experience. Breathless is a great introduction to Godard, much more accessible to current American audiences than his later work. Watch the movie first, then watch it again with the excellent commentary track.
Rating:
Summary: what do u know about godard?
Review: one of the best films ever made, breathless will take your breath away. no need to say any more. but to all you people who pretend to know about godard and then complain that the dvd is in full screen, how about reading more about how godard shot his films? breathless was shot in 1:33:1 which means it was shot in full screen. so there is nothing wrong with the aspect ration of the dvd. it is the correct original aspect ratio. stop complaining for no reason. and watch the film if u havent. its gold.
Rating:
Summary: Irritating, but ...
Review: This movie gets very irritating after a time. True, Jean Seberg is stunning in her portrayal of a young woman without roots whose survival instincts are finely honed. True, there are attractive moments in Godard's cinema verite style. But the situations are so boring and the lead male character so vacuous that it is hard not to get irritated. One reviewer praised Godard for spending a half hour with the couple lounging around in her bed. Boring, boring, and finally, irritating. Try the 400 Blows -- similar style but a really interesting, even gripping, story.
Rating:
Summary: Good film, dodgy DVD
Review: The film is beautifully restored. But the commentary by an American 'film expert' is unbelievably annoying - the man clearly has a turnip for a brain, and spouts endless slack-jawed drivel about how the film is just a harmless piece of jolly French fun with nothing profound in it. Give me a break.
Rating:
Summary: Formally brazen
Review: The film that validated the French New Wave and consummated the now-ubiquitous cinéma vérité, "fly-on-the-wall" cinematography of modern independent film, Jean-Luc Godard's debut feature Breathless, as influential as it's obviously been (one need only gaze as far back as the extended bedroom scene of 2002's "Late Marriage" to catch a recognizable echo of its ingenuity), still remains as challenging today as it must have been in 1959. Stylistically, the jagged editing technique is what will always call the most attention to itself: Godard chose to snip out small pockets of celluloid almost arbitrarily between most of the action and dialogue, ostensibly to cut down the running time, but effectively to mimic the erratic, shallow attention span of his characters. In turn, the deliberateness of this device tends to distract from the essential simplicity of Godard's narrative, about a killer on the run (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who plots to flee the country with his Parisian lover (Jean Seberg). Revisiting this quaint work of artistry today reveals that Godard, in his vision of existentialist ennui and contemporary youth, has never really been intellectually surpassed in this subject matter by any subsequent film directors. For one matter, his picture's visual impudence alone renders most other cinéma vérité timid in comparison. It's one of the few films of its kind that actually dares to appear as clumsy as possible.
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