Breath (2017)

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

This film is simply wonderful. it is refreshing to watch a film where family, friends, love, loyalty and hope are the main part of the story. I laughed and cried. Such a beautiful film. Definitely worth a watch.

Interesting that they used a couple of unknowns (possible local boys) with no previous work in film. Can't say they were half bad. I must say however I liked Loonie's character much better than Pikelet. Loonie was real and sparky. Pikelet had like one emotionless expression throughout the entire movie and the sex scenes with Eva would probably have disturbed me more if he DIDN'T look like a twenty-something lesbian. Not being familiar with Winton's work, I felt that this story was not that unique. It felt like Summer of '42, Endless Summer, and Stand by Me had a 3-way. Simon Baker was recognizable from The Mentalist and The Guardian, but his character's sudden infatuation and ongoing close relationship with two young teen boys made me wonder if the back story was or wasn't going to possibly reveal Sando's ephebophiliac appetite. I mean, only a checked out or abusive dad would allow a strange childless man take his 14 year old son on an extended hashish laced holiday to Indonesia. And even the postscipt about Loonie dying from a gun shot to the back of the head possibly during a drug deal gone awry made me wonder if Sando hadn't continued to use him as a drug mule spending the remainder of his teen years smuggling more than Sando's Salami in his rump. Sorry, it was watchable, but I'm glad I didn't pay full pop in the theater.

I grew up in the South West of Western Australia where this was filmed. I could relate well to the material and clearly Simon Baker has a love for the material as well. This is essentially a 'coming of age' movie.

I read the book 10 years ago. I've read most of Tim Winton's work and I must confess to always ending up a little disappointed because I'm always looking for another "Cloudstreet"; a work of genius I've read three times. (the three-part TV mini-series is worth a look as well). But back to "Breath". The book opens with an horrific scene which gives meaning to the title. The movie does not. After the opening scene in the book the story presses on with purpose. The movie does not. And nothing in the movie really does give meaning to the title. I found it kind of directionless and ultimately unsatisfying. Tim Winton was involved with the screen play - I think he wasn't paying attention. The surfing scenes were well done but nothing you can't see on YouTube. I was really looking forward to seeing this movie, but I can't give it a high score. 4 out of 10. Wait for the DVD.