Breathless Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Breathless Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 7, 2023

1983’s “Breathless” is hobbled before it even has a chance to show its stuff, emerging as a remake of an adored and influential 1960 Jean-Luc Godard film. One could argue that a second bite of the apple wasn’t necessary, but screenwriters L.M. Kit Carson and Jim McBride (who also directs) bravely march forward with their take, which aims to provide a more manic understanding of behavior and lovesick psychology. The remake goes bigger and bolder in many respects, working to bring the central story into the 1980s, blending elements of rock and roll, comic books, and crime into a character study that’s entirely dependent on the acting chops of its two leads, Richard Gere and Valerie Kaprisky. Such thespian might is open for discussion in “Breathless,” which carries appreciable energy from McBride, who’s aiming for something weird and itchy with the feature, putting a little too much faith in the actors, who seem very self-conscious in any moment that doesn’t require them to be naked.

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.

The true power of Richard Gere as an actor has always been up for debate, and “Breathless” is one of his wildest performances, inhabiting a man with severe control issues, bordering on mental illness. Jesse is a criminal, making money stealing cars, living a very fast lifestyle that includes a profound love for the passion of rock and roll, and he takes the adventures of the Silver Surfer to heart, responding to the character’s quest for love. Jesse’s an odd one, and Gere doesn’t hold back when it comes to detailing such behavioral intensity, with McBride handing “Breathless” over to the star as he physically embodies a man who has no perception of restraint. It's difficult to tell if Gere is fully committed to this arc at times, as he seems borderline embarrassed when portraying Jesse’s surges of euphoria, making the performance a little too unnatural to take seriously.

“Breathless” bets big on Gere, who’s working to be a tornado of actions and reactions, with Jesse turning his attention to Monica, a comparatively sedate young woman about to embark on a career in architecture. For “Breathless” to work, the production needs to communicate a reason why Monica would toss her life away for Jesse, but that moment never arrives. McBride invests in sex, with Gere and Kaprisky sharing obvious chemistry during love scenes, and the helmer knows it, aiming to keep things hot in “Breathless,” finding logic in physical attraction. Beyond the bedroom (and shower), emotional clarity isn’t quite there, with Kaprisky’s flat performance making Monica’s decision-making skills confusing, leaving viewers to wonder what is it about Jesse and his casually destructive ways that are so appealing to her. Lust only gets “Breathless” so far.

For additional analysis and information, please read:

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

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

Breathless Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Breathless" has made a few stops on Blu-ray, including a 2015 Shout Factory release and a 2018 Second Sight release. Fun City Editions hopes to add something to the home video experience with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from a 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. Detail isn't stunning, with some sense of decorative elements and skin particulars, and street tours are passably dimensional, exploring L.A. art and street life. Color is perhaps a bit more controversial, with a slight cyan push to the palette, possibly losing some connection to original cinematography choices. Clothing brings out bold primaries, and skin tones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is chunky.

Breathless Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, with Gere's wily performance preserved and Kaprisky's accent intelligible. Scoring supports as intended, but soundtrack cuts provide more musical emphasis, maintaining sharp instrumentation. Atmospherics are appreciable.

Breathless Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) includes essays by Margaret Barton-Fumo and Cristina Cacioppo.

• Intro (:27, HD) is a brief welcome to the Blu-ray experience from co-writer/director Jim McBride.

• Isolated Music Track is provided.

• Commentary features critic Glenn Kenny.

• "Making 'Breathless'" (31:08, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Jim McBride, who shares his love of movies, developed during his college years in Brazil, eventually relocating to New York to begin his career. Making another move to Los Angeles, McBride found his way to the remake of "Breathless," receiving permission to claim the project from Jean-Luc Godard. The casting process provided difficulties, with Robert De Niro refusing to commit, and directors came and went, eventually returning to McBride, who had to earn Richard Gere's trust to keep the gig. The Gere Experience is detailed, helping the helmer understand acting nuances early in his career. Casting is recalled, with the interviewee examining the ensemble, and stylistics are highlighted, with technical achievements celebrated. Scoring issues are revealed, as McBride struggled with composer Jack Nitzsche, leading to a disastrous test screening. The helmer closes with memories of the theatrical release, and reacts to news that "Breathless" is some type of cult film now.

• Two Deleted Scenes (5:66, HD) are provided without sound elements. These scenes can be viewed with optional commentary from co-writer/director Jim McBride.

• Alternate Ending (3:57, HD) is offered, with optional commentary from co-writer/director Jim McBride and an isolated music track.

• Image Gallery (2:57) collects poster art, publicity shots, film stills, and press kit pages.

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

Breathless Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Parts of "Breathless" carry power, including Jesse's growing awareness that his crime isn't going to go unpunished, facing evidence of the manhunt for him everywhere he turns. A tiny bit of suspense is generated, but not enough, as McBride is intent on making some sort of love story here, and it doesn't connect as intended. There's a defined physical grip to the feature that's compelling, and McBride gets a lot of mileage out of L.A. locations, bringing local color to the film. But as something that's meant to melt hearts and electrify the senses, "Breathless" is often more silly than sincere.