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Breathless (1983)

Director: Jim McBride

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Neither straight remake nor looser homage to Godard's A Bout de Souffle; better by far to just enjoy it on its own terms when it turns out at least three parts better than anyone predicted. Gere is the rockabilly punk living permanently on the edge, on the run from a cop-killing, and certain of at least two things: how to steal cars and his obsession with his girl. Together they conduct a fugitive romance across LA, a common enough idea from Hollywood (Gun Crazy is a motif) but one which is burning with a rarely seen passion. The breathless shooting style lingers forever on Gere's pumping, preening narcissism, which leaves you in no doubt that the true romance is not between boy and girl, but between Gere and camera. The film's other star is LA, which is filmed as a series of dazzling pop art backdrops - cultural vacancy and hedonism, yoked together by violence: a city for the '80s. A wanton, playful film, belying the stated despair by its boiling energy. CPea.

Author: CPea 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Jim McBride

Producer: Martin Erlichman

Cast: Richard Gere, Valerie Kaprisky, William Tepper, John P Ryan, Art Metrano, Robert Dunn full cast

Genre(s): Film Noir

Duration: 100 mins


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