Breathe

Based on true events, Breathe follows Andrew Garfield’s Robin Cavendish as he becomes a crusader for handicapped rights after a bout of polio leaves him paralyzed. First-time filmmaker Andy Serkis delivers a film that boasts the feel and atmosphere of any number of similarly-themed inspirational dramas, with the movie’s cookie-cutter vibe paving the way for a one-note narrative that suffers from an obvious surfeit of memorable moments. There is, as such, never a point at which the viewer is wholeheartedly drawn into the central character’s tragic plight, with the hands-off, surface-level approach compounded by Serkis’ decision to generally steer clear of Robin’s emotional mindset (ie the narrative is concerned more with his admittedly impressive accomplishments). The movie’s failure is especially disappointing given Garfield’s tremendous performance and a smattering of striking sequences, with, in terms of the latter, Serkis juicing several key moments with a decidedly eye-catching sense of style (eg Robin visits a disturbingly sterile facility for handicapped patients). The film ultimately concludes on an impressively rousing note as Robin delivers an impassioned speech about his condition, and yet just getting to that point is something of an ordeal due to a massively overlong running time – which ultimately confirms Breathe‘s place as a well-intentioned, well-acted misfire.

** out of ****