Review of Breathe In (2013) by Erik B — 26 Nov 2013

Drake Doremus, more than ANY other filmmaker who isn't a fucking legend at this point, understands the importance of character above all things. Don't give me a plot, tell me a story. Don't explain motivation, show me how people work.

I think there's a sense of honesty which has taken over his last two films and, like it or not, it totally consumes every aspect of every scene, to the point where some get frustrated. If Doremus and Ben York Jones are writing characters that are quietly suffering, the film is going to quietly suffer with them.

There are no "moment-y" type moments here, no big "I love you I hate you" monologues. It's all restraint because these CHARACTERS are all restraining. Breathe In is brilliant because, despite the tired subject matter, you genuinely believe in these characters and all they're struggles.

It's an absolute affirmation of talent from Doremus. Now everybody stop calling him overrated. You only sound silly.