Still Breathing

Starring:Lou Rawls, Brendan Fraser, Joanna Going, Steven Lambert, Chao Li Chi, Ann Magnuson, Paolo Seganti, Wendy Benson-Landes, Katie Hagan, Celeste Holm, Toby Huss, Jeff Schweickert, Bill Gundry, Angus Macfadyen, Liz Mamana, Margaret Bush, A.J. Mallett, Junior Brown, Melinda Martinez, Jennifer Lauray
Director: James F. Robinson
Studio: Polygram USA Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
After a limited theatrical release in 1998, Still Breathing gained a small but loyal following on cable TV as the kind of movie that die-hard romantics love to discover. It's a formulaic tale of opposites attracting, with creaky themes of predestined romance, but there's a lot to admire in the way first-time writer-director James F. Robinson has handled this material. With Brendan Fraser and the underrated Joanna Going as well-matched costars, this potentially sappy romance is instead a calm and soothing affirmation of unconditional love. It's ostensibly a comedy, but the stars and director give it something extra by slowly but surely developing a credible connection between San Antonio street performer Fletcher McBracken (Fraser) and Los Angeles con artist Roz Willoughby (Going).

Amazon.com

After a limited theatrical release in 1998, Still Breathing gained a small but loyal following on cable TV as the kind of movie that die-hard romantics love to discover. It's a formulaic tale of opposites attracting, with creaky themes of predestined romance, but there's a lot to admire in the way first-time writer-director James F. Robinson has handled this material. With Brendan Fraser and the underrated Joanna Going as well-matched costars, this potentially sappy romance is instead a calm and soothing affirmation of unconditional love. It's ostensibly a comedy, but the stars and director give it something extra by slowly but surely developing a credible connection between San Antonio street performer Fletcher McBracken (Fraser) and Los Angeles con artist Roz Willoughby (Going).

Customer Reviews:

A sleeper gem.......2007-06-29

Like many others, I discovered this movie on cable tv. What a little gem! Joanna Going gives a flawless performance as a jaded and hardened Los Angeles scam artist who secretly yearns to be loved. Fraser, the only weak link in the movie, plays the Texan who has a vision of Going and predictably melts her by the end. The music, visuals, and cameo by Celeste Holm combine to make this a classic worth watching many times over. Fantasic cinematography!

Calmness and peacefulness of human nature exploited by some people.......2007-03-26

STILL BREATHING, will be an acquired taste for many people, or
better appreciated by those who are fascinated by the game of
seduction between humans. It may be a bore for others with a
smaller attention span or perhaps a touching picture for the
right kind of audience, of chick flicks perhaps.

It fully succeeds in its aims, of establishing an inner peace,
calling attention to being in touch with one's own inner child
or innocence, and emphasizes the human and social aspects of
people, vs the physical, intellectual, for example.

The strong point of this picture, is the strong visual component
that is appealing, the calmness and peacefulness that also
characterized Brendan Fraser's appearance in an earlier movie,
PASSION OF DARKLY NOON. As such, the script appears to have been
tailor-ordered, custom fitted, made to order for Fraser, who
reprises his role as a low-key, in-control, modest, unambitious
man who seeks out the more artistic, introspective aspects that
life has to offer, as his central goal.

Both Joanna Going and Ann Magnuson are amusing in their rapport
with Fraser's character, bringing their own personality and
strong style to the visual aspects of the movie, contributing to
the appeal to audience coupled with some soft piano numbers over
the 90 mins of the movie, and some percussion or horn numbers,
too, forming the soundtrack.

It's a time-travel for viewers, until a certain point, at which
Going's character reveals her secret, that she is a grifter,
playing rich or modestly wealthy single men for their cash, in
exchange for the illusion of romance or of a personal
relationship. At that juncture, the movie seems to slow down
considerably, and the script becomes perhaps over-worked,
over-intellectualized, overwhelming viewers with a flood of
literary, musical, and visual artwork aspects. By thrusting
these onto the audience, the viewers are drawn back out of the
story and into their reality again, from the boredom, and those
excesses.

As a rental, this is a good movie. As a theatrical release, it
will have its moments. Seeing Fraser squirm to deliver
entertainment is worth the price of the ticket alone, much like
trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, because he does
succeed in pulling off the acting successfully.

110 min trip to another place.......2006-10-21

I don't know if there is such a place as the one depicted in the movei. But it makes me beleive there is..............and I, too, deserve to be able to go there. I love, and get more out of this movie each time I see it. The only down side is that it has to end.

Beautiful movie that was well thought of.......2005-09-26

I saw this movie in 2000 in TV and immediately bought it. Since then, I have seen it multiple times and always discovered something new. The first time director, James Cameron, has done an amazing job in the movie. He has thought of a lot of small details and used his contacts to get an amazing cast. Brandon Fraser was OK, but it was Joanna Going and Celeste Holm that do an amazing job. It was called a chick flick, but I personally found a lot of parts that I personally could relate to. The music pieces from Chopin to La Traviata to Blues pieces were well mixed in the movie. I also found the pieces in San Marcos river with the little children very charming. Though the movie may not have outstanding screenplay, the camera work was lovely. Ann Magnusen was superb as the hard headed con woman who is Joanna's friend. I liked the first half more than the second half. It was hilarious to see how Joanna gets rid of the person, Paolo Seganti, whom she cheats with the help of Angus Macfadyen. The painting that she wishes to buy is so bad.

Some dialogs that are beautiful are when Joanna says that, "My world is about greed and money and ambition and successes." To this Fraser replies, "The basic human desires. That is funny because my opinion of art is that it is about truth and beauty and redefining an imperfect world in a perfect way." The initial part where he creates a portrait of Joanna and shows it to his friends and they completely understand it is excellent. It is almost as though they are a cult of people who live in a separate world. The music pieces and its mixing is outstanding. The parts where they have the band in the party with the tuba version of Chopin is lovely. The original music by Paul Mills is also superb. The camera work with Joanna is the dark is also special. Another special piece is the games Joanna and Fraser play with each other. There are multiple purposes to this movie, it took me a while to understand them and appreciate them. The initial one of finding true love is the obvious one, the ones underneath are also special. These include making a cynic appreciate the beauty in the world, forgiveness and so on. Overall a very scripted movie that was delightful, it took my breath away. It makes me understand the fact that a really satisfying movie does not require a lot of money to be spent on, just good thought, good cast and imaginative story with good direction. I am sorry for people who do not have the DVD of the movie. I wish that it was more easily available.

Great movie......but not for big $$$$.......2005-05-02

I absolutely love this movie, so it was a shock to see the DVD being sold for outrageous prices! No matter how rare it is. So not to take anyone away from Amazon, I myself am a huge addict of this site. However, I feel obligated to tell you how to get this movie without having to deplete your savings account. Target's WEBSITE has the DVD, although they say it will be available to be shipped in 4-8 weeks. I don't know about you, but I'd rather wait a month or two to get it than spend close too or OVER a hundred dollars.

I'm sorry Amazon.com, I love you! I just dislike some of your sellers price gouging.

Still Breathing [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Average customer rating:

Still Breathing [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]
Director: James F. Robinson
Manufacturer: Paradiso
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Dutch (Subtitles), SYNOPSIS: This romantic fantasy from writer, director, and producer James F. Robinson, stars Brendan Fraser as Fletcher McBracken, a starry-eyed San Antonio puppeteer who, like his father and grandfather before him, has a mystical vision of the woman he's fated to marry. Believing that she'll be found in 'Formosa' (the one-time name of Taiwan), Fletcher books a flight. During a stopover in L.A., however, he learns of a trendy bar called Formosa and decides to check it out. Sure enough, Fletcher sees his dream girl, Rosalyn Willoughby (Joanna Going), a con artist on the lookout for a new mark, a millionaire from Texas. Assuming that Fletcher is the man she's supposed to bilk, Rosalyn accompanies him to San Antonio, where she meets his tuba-playing grandmother (Celeste Holm) and his eccentric friends, including the Tree Man (Lou Rawls). Charmed against her will by Fletcher, Rosalyn considers a real romance with the daffy artist, but each of them has some revelations to make before a real relationship can begin. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,

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