Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 5, 2025

Co-writers L.M. Kit Carson and Jim McBride (who also directs) endeavor to transform the ways of Jean-Luc Godard’s classic, “Breathless,” pulling it out of 1960 and into the 1980s with a rascally rock and roll spirit. The screenplay is after heat and impulsiveness, turning to the star of the year, Richard Gere (fresh off hits “American Gigolo” and “An Officer and a Gentleman”), to provide a nuclear-powered performance that captures pure recklessness and limited intellect, following the low impulse control of the main character as he seeks love and excitement. Gere is certainly invested in the part, presenting a wild take on sexiness that’s completely out of his range, but he commits, joining co-star Valerie Kaprisky on a screen adventure meant to drip with lust, danger, and fiery emotional entanglements. The concept of the updated “Breathless” is understood, but McBride’s execution is up for debate, mixing the rising threat of the story with two incredibly underwhelming performances that fail to support the electricity the helmer is attempting to conjure.

Jesse (Richard Gere) is a free-spirited car thief from Las Vegas who met and briefly romanced Monica (Valerie Kaprisky), a French woman going to college in Los Angeles. Caught up in the passions that run his life, which extends to the music of Jerry Lee Lewis and the comic book adventures of the Silver Surfer, Jesse elects to lift a Porsche and make his way to L.A., finding a gun in the glove compartment. When he’s confronted by a police officer while on the road, Jesse accidentally shoots the cop, leaving him in a panic to reach his destination and collect payment for past services. He’s also looking to reunite with Monica, making his way to her apartment, learning about other lovers and her bright future in architecture. When the cash doesn’t come easy, Jesse focuses on keeping Monica close, including her in his impulsive life, with the pair reconnecting on a sexual level. While news of the dead police officer spreads across town, putting the cops on his trail, Jesse is left with limited options, making plans to take whatever money he can find and bring Monica to Mexico with him, where they can live on love.

For additional analysis and information, please read:

Brian Orndorf’s 2023 Fun City Editions Blu-ray review .

Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2015 Shout Factory Blu-ray review .

Svet Atanasov’s 2020 Second Sight Blu-ray review .

Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"Breathless" has made many appearances on physical media, even as recently as a 2023, when Fun City Editions took a crack at the title. Cinematographe returns to the 1983 movie once again with a UHD release, listed as "a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision HDR." There's certainly improvement when it comes to a film-like viewing experience, as the release delivers nicely resolved grain. Detail is also improved, securing a deeper feel for skin particulars and clothing. Urban tours offer terrific dimension, getting into the depths of city streets. Interiors secure decorative additions. Fibrous comic book pages are register as intended. Color remains in line with FCE's presentation (which differs from previous releases), but the UHD manages the extremes of this specific grade better than the previous Blu-ray. Hues stays charged, but a bit more nuance is found, handling blazing reds and blues. Moodier street views are preserved, with distinct lighting and signage. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are deep, securing evening activity and shadowy events. Highlights are tasteful. Source is in good condition.

Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While previous releases of "Breathless" offered 2.0 tracks, Cinematographe elects to return to the "original theatrical mono mix" for their release. It's a simple understanding of the film, but compelling and clear. Dialogue exchanges are defined, tracking accents and wilder performance choices. Scoring delivers crisp instrumentation and dramatic support, and soundtrack selections maintain clarity. Sound effects are appreciable.

Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet includes essays by Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, Justin LaLiberty, and Justine Smith, and press kit pages.

• Commentary #1 features co-writer/director Jim McBride.

• Commentary #2 features writer Travis Woods.

• Isolated Score is included.

• "Rock N Roll As an Attitude" (23:35, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Jim McBride, who credits the 1960 "Breathless" as the "movie that made him want to make movies." Hunting for a project he could get off the ground, the helmer turned his attention to a remake, returning to his youthful interests in the French New Wave. Development of the project is tracked, collaborating with co-writer L.M. Kit Carson, building on a relationship formed during 1967's "David Holzman's Diaries." The interviewee examines the influence of Jerry Lee Lewis and rock and roll on the endeavor, also acquiring creative permission from Jean-Luc Godard, who didn't object to a remake. Casting is examined, finding McBride's top choices for the male lead rejecting McBride's guidance, while Richard Gere's services were acquired during a brief BTS change with Franc Roddam as the helmer. Eventually, McBride jumped back on the project, forced to win over Gere, who didn't have much faith in the director. Valerie Kaprisky's casting is also detailed. Troubles with Jack Nitzsche's score are analyzed, leading to a disastrous test screening, which also demanded the creation of a new ending.

• "A Different Perspective" (15:04, HD) is an interview with casting director Jane Jenkins, who began her career as an actress, eventually working her way through the industry, ending up in casting. The "Breathless" experience is detailed, sending Jenkins to Paris to find the female lead, eventually discovering Valerie Kaprisky on the cover of a fashion magazine. Gere's presence is recalled, coming into the film during a time of immense popularity. The interviewee shares casting choices from 1982, revealing actors such as Peter Coyote, Jeff Goldblum, John Lithgow, and Sam Waterston auditioned for the role of Jesse, while female choices included Maria Schneider and Ornella Muti. The world of casting is examined, putting Jenkins into contact with many pre-fame people, hunting for the right presence and charm, and she discusses her relationships with directors, finding her place in the decision-making process.

• Two Deleted Scenes (5:59, HD) are provided without sound elements. These scenes can be viewed only with commentary from co-writer/director Jim McBride.

• Alternate Ending (3:59, HD) is offered, providing a more downbeat conclusion for "Breathless." It can be viewed with optional commentary from co-writer/director Jim McBride.

• "To Ensnare is to Enshrine: The Ghostly Layers of Jim McBride's 'Breathless'" (10:31, HD) is a video essay by Daniel Kremer.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:26, HD) is included.

Breathless 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Breathless" certainly has its fans, who now have plenty of physical media choices to pick from. It's a film best served to those who can mentally get around the picture's shortcomings, especially with Kaprisky's wooden performance and Gere's self-conscious depiction of manic behavior. It's such a goofy turn from the normally stoic actor, as he goes hog wild in the part, attempting to give McBride the behavioral extremity he's looking for, which turns the noir-ish tone of the feature into unintentional comedy at times. "Breathless" makes its rebel ways clear, but miscastings don't help the cause, leaving the offering lacking when it comes to sexual magnetism and psychological clarity.