What looked to be both intriguing, smoldering and rather controversial in the trailer, what with its plot about an exchange student (Felicity Jones) who disrupts the lives of a New York family when she begins a relationship with the father (Guy Pearce), actually comes across as fairly tepid in the actual film - a disappointing revelation, you'll admit, given the potential of the premise and the talents of its leading actors. What could've been had the script been injected with an extra oomph to push it over the edge; Breathe In simply fails to be all that gripping. What's great about the movie, however, is Guy Pearce, who without a doubt gives one of his best performances. And yet, to recommend Breathe In on the basis alone still feels wrong... once our lovers have resolved their situation, there's a sense of "What was the point of the whole thing?" There's too much emphasis on the way things look as opposed to the way they feel, which leaves the movie - for all its good points - feeling a little false. It's hard to put a finger on what, exactly, doesn't work, but ultimately it's just too hard to buy into what you see.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
