Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Air I Breathe

  • 20072007
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
34K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Forest Whitaker in The Air I Breathe (2007)
Theatrical Trailer from Think Film, Inc
Play trailer2:18
5 Videos
38 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangs... Read allA drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of... Read allA drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
34K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jieho Lee
  • Writers
    • Jieho Lee
    • Bob DeRosa
  • Stars
    • Brendan Fraser
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Andy Garcia
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jieho Lee
  • Writers
    • Jieho Lee
    • Bob DeRosa
  • Stars
    • Brendan Fraser
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Andy Garcia
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 109User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos5

    The Air I Breathe
    Trailer 2:18
    The Air I Breathe
    The Air I Breathe
    Clip 1:48
    The Air I Breathe
    The Air I Breathe
    Clip 1:14
    The Air I Breathe
    The Air I Breathe
    Clip 1:18
    The Air I Breathe
    The Air I Breathe
    Interview 2:39
    The Air I Breathe

    Photos38

    Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Andy Garcia and Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Forest Whitaker in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Kevin Bacon and Julie Delpy in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Brendan Fraser and Sarah Michelle Gellar in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Brendan Fraser and Emile Hirsch in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Emile Hirsch in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Forest Whitaker in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Andy Garcia in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Andy Garcia in The Air I Breathe (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brendan Fraser
    Brendan Fraser
    • Pleasureas Pleasure
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Sorrowas Sorrow
    Andy Garcia
    Andy Garcia
    • Fingersas Fingers
    Kevin Bacon
    Kevin Bacon
    • Loveas Love
    Julie Delpy
    Julie Delpy
    • Ginaas Gina
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Henryas Henry
    Emile Hirsch
    Emile Hirsch
    • Tonyas Tony
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Happinessas Happiness
    Kelly Hu
    Kelly Hu
    • Jiyoungas Jiyoung
    Evan Parke
    Evan Parke
    • Dannyas Danny
    Taylor Nichols
    Taylor Nichols
    • Sorrow's Fatheras Sorrow's Father
    Victor Rivers
    Victor Rivers
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Cecilia Suárez
    Cecilia Suárez
    • Allisonas Allison
    Todd Stashwick
    Todd Stashwick
    • Frankas Frank
    Jon Bernthal
    Jon Bernthal
    • Intervieweras Interviewer
    William Maier
    William Maier
    • Mr. Parksas Mr. Parks
    • (as Will Maier)
    Eduardo Victoria
    Eduardo Victoria
    • Banker #1as Banker #1
    Salvador Garcia Jr.
    • Banker #2as Banker #2
    • (as Salvador Garcia)
    • Director
      • Jieho Lee
    • Writers
      • Jieho Lee
      • Bob DeRosa
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Suburban Girl
    5.4
    Suburban Girl
    Veronika Decides to Die
    6.3
    Veronika Decides to Die
    The Return
    4.6
    The Return
    Harvard Man
    4.8
    Harvard Man
    The Hunting Party
    6.8
    The Hunting Party
    Possession
    5.4
    Possession
    Journey to the End of the Night
    5.7
    Journey to the End of the Night
    Hero Wanted
    5.6
    Hero Wanted
    A Line in the Sand
    7.6
    A Line in the Sand
    Deception
    6.0
    Deception
    The Dead Girl
    6.6
    The Dead Girl
    Stand Off
    5.5
    Stand Off

    Storyline

    Edit
    A frustrated and clumsy bank clerk overhears the conversation of three coworkers in the toilet about a fix in a horse race, and bets a large amount. He loses the bet and owes the money to the dangerous and powerful mobster Fingers. A gangster who works for Fingers has the ability of foreseeing pieces of the future; he is assigned to collect money for the boss, with his troublemaker nephew Tony, and is beaten up by a gang. The manager of pop-star Trista loses her contract to Fingers without her agreement and she is threatened by the gangster. A dedicated doctor seeks a blood donor that might have a rare blood type to save the life of his secret and unrequited passion, a beautiful epidemiologist who's married to a friend. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • bound and gagged
    • younger version of character
    • 360 degree well camera shot
    • man punches a woman
    • man wears eyeglasses
    • 237 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Sometimes the things we can't change...end up changing us.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for violence, language and some sexual content/nudity
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Brendan Fraser is looking at pictures of the famous pop star Trysta, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, real magazine photos of Sarah Michelle Gellar were used.
    • Goofs
      When Gina is in the hospital, we see the patient monitor in demonstration mode ("demo" is flashing). It also indicates the patient is an adult male.
    • Quotes

      Pleasure: When you can see the future, you think you're capable of changing it. But you're just a witness to coming moments, unable to help, even if you wanted to and maybe you don't. Sometimes you think you're supposed to learn something, about patience or distance, but in the end it's all about discipline. Seeing things you don't always want to and just moving on. After a while things become easier. Routine keeps your mind from wandering. You begin to accept things as they are. Every man has his destiny. You can't escape it, even if you can see it coming.

    • Connections
      Features Voyager (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Turnstile Blues
      Written by Carla Azar, Greg Edwards and Eugene Goreshter

      Performed by Autolux

      Courtesy of Red Ink

      By Arrangement with SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

    User reviews109

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Happiness, Pleasure, Sorrow, Love…The Air I Breathe
    First-time director Jieho Lee has brought us the next installment of the multiple stories genre threaded together as though fate and coincidence are the name of the game. This type of narrative has been around for a long time, most definitely before Robert Altman's Short Cuts, but at least there is an example from 15 years ago, and I can't rack the brains for an earlier one at this time. The most well known to those out there today is of course Oscar-winner Crash. Lee's The Air I Breathe, based on an ancient Chinese proverb that life can be broken down into the four emotional cornerstones of Happiness, Pleasure, Sorrow, and Love, is not as good as Haggis' film, and I think even that one is overrated. It's not that I disliked this one, I actually found a lot that I really loved, unfortunately, there's more that feels overdone, overwritten, and absolutely unrealistic. One thing you can't fault it for, however, is the superb cast and acting.

    Some of the dialogue is almost too obvious, at times having answers repeat all the words in the question…just a bad redundancy as though the audience might not comprehend a short answer. These characters are so important in the scheme of each other's lives that everything out of their mouths needs to be so well crafted that it becomes stiff. The delivery, though, is almost consistently superb. Brendan Fraser is great in a rare serious role, the kind of stuff that began his career. Very stoic and deliberate in all he does, you begin to feel for him as the stone façade starts to falter. Due to the story-structure going out of order, we see some of this emotional evolution before the catalyst for it, but once that event occurs, it makes everything before it make more sense and I actually think it was handled well as a result. Even his ability to see the future was utilized in a realistic way that it never felt like a gimmick, just a skill he had and used. The best actor, again as almost always, is Forest Whitaker as a by-the-books successful man who has finally realized that his pristine life is devoid of true happiness. No material needs can fill the void of actually living, whether living wealthy or poorly, it is the act of adventure and excitement that is necessary to enjoy. His final reaction of pure adulation is the best part of the film and it happens about twenty minutes in.

    One would think that a story as involving as this would have pretty equal billing for all roles, but that is not true. Whitaker and Kevin Bacon are underused while Fraser is involved at almost every turn. Andy Garcia, however, is the one that stays the most constant throughout. As a hardnosed bookie/gangster, nicknamed "Fingers," Garcia shines, something that usually doesn't occur with him of late. He is good at this type of role and it was nice to see him sink his teeth into it. Even Sarah Michelle Gellar had her moments, although few, to show that maybe she can do more than Scooby-Doo and every year's Japanese horror remake. Mention also needs to go to Clark Gregg in a small, but funny role, and Emile Hirsch as Garcia's nephew, appearing to be a pawn to the plot, but in actuality becomes a role with payoff.

    As far as the style went, I can't complain too much. The correlations between each thread is well conceived if not totally contrived to benefit the story. I enjoyed the transitions, especially at the start with multiple layers and progressions. I can't quite recall if that is the only part in which it was used, though. The music was also a help; very Explosions in the Sky-like, the score enhanced each moment it was used. In the end, the film just couldn't keep its bloated, heavy-handed script up. Even utilizing the four emotions as vignette titles (something used similarly in the superior The Dead Girl) was so obvious that it became laughable. Each instance made you know first thing that they will be the exact opposite of that title despite the lead thinking they were—happiness was really depression, pleasure was really regret, sorrow was really vanity, and love was desperation. Every emotion is more of a backhanded overview that is manipulated in order to serve the tale, rather than allowing the tale to serve the emotions that are supposed to be back-boning it.
    helpful•28
    26
    • jaredmobarak
    • Mar 2, 2008

    FAQ18

    • What does the title, "The Air I Breathe" mean?
    • What Chinese proverb is this film based on?
    • What is the timeline in this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 17, 2008 (Mexico)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Soluduğum Hava
    • Filming locations
      • Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • NALA Films
      • Paul Schiff Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,775
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,487
      • Jan 27, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,602,098
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    'Buffy' Covers "Maxim"
    Nov 22SneakPeek
    Exclusive first look: Andrew Scott in crime-thriller 'Steel Country'
    Exclusive first look: Andrew Scott in crime-thriller 'Steel Country'
    Oct 25ScreenDaily

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Kevin Bacon, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Forest Whitaker in The Air I Breathe (2007)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Air I Breathe (2007) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.