Breathless (1983)

64% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(6,606 ratings)

A botched attempt to remake Jean-Luc Godard's classic nouvelle vague entry, Á Bout de souffle, Breathless follows Jesse (Richard Gere), a fugitive wanted for the murder of a police officer. In the course of his flight from the law, he hitches up with a beautiful French college student (the stunning… More A botched attempt to remake Jean-Luc Godard's classic nouvelle vague entry, Á Bout de souffle, Breathless follows Jesse (Richard Gere), a fugitive wanted for the murder of a police officer. In the course of his flight from the law, he hitches up with a beautiful French college student (the stunning Valerie Kaprisky), and together the two attempt to escape to Mexico. From start to finish, Breathless places style over substance; the film is almost insufferably hip, although its hipness now seems more dated than a time capsule. More attention seems paid to wardrobe, set design and soundtrack than anything else, yet it lacks any of the stark visual impact the original managed to achieve. Gere is passable as the sociopathic killer (although he relies on shirtlessness to carry him through much of the film), but Kaprisky, though beautiful, demonstrates limited acting range. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Jim McBride
Written By: François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Cult Movies

In Theaters: May 13, 1983 Limited
On DVD: May 15, 2001
Studio: Orion Pictures Corporation

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
I still don't understand why Mr. McBride and Mr. Carson elected to do the film but, considering the more obvious possible pitfalls, they could have done a lot worse. That is meant to be praise.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The result is a stylistic exercise without any genuine human concerns we can identify with -- and yet, an exercise that does have a command of its style, is good-looking, fun to watch, and develops a certain morbid humor.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The attitudes on display are so distanced and derivative that the picture still seems to have no life or identity of its own.
, Time Out
A wanton, playful film, belying the stated despair by its boiling energy.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
A much better remake than its reputation implies
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
An inferior remake, but trashy fun nonetheless.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Remaking a movie is always a dicey proposition. Remaking a classic is even dicier. This version of Breathless? No dice.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoy this version a lot more than John Luc Goddard's. I know this must seem like blasphemy to most, but this American counterpart is a lot more fun and worthwhile to me. I think the biggest improvement for me was Richard Gere taking the lead… More
I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoy this version a lot more than John Luc Goddard's. I know this must seem like blasphemy to most, but this American counterpart is a lot more fun and worthwhile to me. I think the biggest improvement for me was Richard Gere taking the lead role. He's a great deal more likable and you actually care about him, rather than seeing him as an irredeemable asshole who kills random cops and has no respect for anyone but himself. I much prefer the Silver Surfer reading, Jerry Lee Lewis listening goofball. I'll be honest too, the color scheme in this movie is way too cool. Add that with some nice little changes from the original and it becomes a crazy blend of pop culture and a chase movie.
Dean !

A very good, steamy thriller about a man on the run who meets a beautiful girl and wants her to join him.
Dean M

This remake of the classic French 1959 Godard film is very good drama, romance and a bit thriller. French actress Valerie Kaprisky is apparently the hottest in her debut English-language of USA movie.