The Air I Breathe

I feel that this project was a waste. In this mishmash, it's not so much the actors who play a role, but rather the director and screenwriter who are trying to create a new Magnolia, but because they lack sufficient experience and probably abilities as well, they remain at the level of posing and intellectual kitsch. The film only plays at being a deep social commentary and where it tries to escalate situations and human emotions, it becomes extremely untrustworthy, sentimental, or even pathetic. What works is the cast. I don't know how Jieho Lee did it without connections and experience, but he managed to gather a group of either quality (Garcia, Whitaker) or at least popular (Gellar) actors who try and are able to create the impression that there really is something going on. Otherwise, Lee didn't direct anything worth mentioning before The Air I Breathe, and even though four years have passed since then, he still has not directed anything, which seems characteristic to me. Overall impression: 35%. (2011-09-18)

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a film that hooks you with multiple storylines, only to weave them together into one big, surprising coincidence by the end. The Air I Breathe does just that, and it pulls it off in a way that feels almost unbelievable—yet strangely possible. It’s an impressive debut that makes the most of everything it’s got, especially the cast. You rarely see this many big names in one film, and each role is so memorable. Brendan Fraser, in particular, was a huge surprise. The atmosphere, enhanced by a perfectly fitting soundtrack, was another highlight. The only downside was that some storylines didn’t connect as strongly as others, but I was still left amazed at what the film managed to pull off. It’s in the same vein as 21 Grams, Crash, or Next Friday—and I can’t wait to see what comes next. (2010-11-28)

Although the script smacks of a certain creative cluelessness at times, I still quite liked this movie. I'm not a big fan of Brendan Fraser, but I quite enjoyed his presence in this mosaic of four interconnected stories. However, Forest Whitaker gives by far the best performance here. It's a real shame that the regular financial advisor that he plays doesn't survive longer. The music, which beautifully completes the darkly melancholic mood of the movie, is also worth mentioning. (75%) (2022-08-13)

Amores Perros, Magnolia, Crash + other actors playing "fatalistically" in their fatalistic mosaic pieces = The Air I Breathe. The remnants of the obvious inspiration in the story structure here is undeniable, but the acting is mostly good (Whitaker is excellent as usual), the visuals are pleasing, and it's still about themes that are undeniably attractive for a film rendering. In short, if you revel in onscreen suffering and feel mentally enriched by the culminating terror and misfortune that befalls the main characters, you will definitely not be disappointed. (2013-05-04)

A rather interesting drama that wins over the audience mainly through the interconnectedness of the characters and their fates. It consists of four stories where the main characters influence each other in some way. It’s a bit disjointed, with Bacon's storyline being overacted and annoying, but otherwise, I think this is a film that is worth a single viewing. (2014-08-29)