Review of Breathless (2009) by Harpreet S — 27 Jan 2012

Viewed Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" for the third time, it is just as great as it was the previous two times, except that there was a larger adrenaline rush in the first two. But, that is as expected, which is one of the reasons why I am a little reluctant to see films numerous times.

Now that I think of it, it is difficult to say which is his greatest, it could very well be "Pierrot le fou," "Film Socialisme," "Histoire(s) du cinema," "Week End," "Notre Musique," etc.

Along with Andrei Tarkovsky and Ingmar Bergman, I think Godard has been one of the few who has been so consistent in producing wonderful films year after year. "Breathless" reminded me of Scorsese's "Mean Streets," because of its raw visual style.

Besides the jump cuts, I also noticed the iris shot which is typically used in silent films! There are other several sequences that I loved that I don't have the words to explain, such as the two killings that take place, or when Belmondo is driving the car in the beginning.

Just outstanding! But, most of all, more than the story, the visual style, it is the dialogues said by the characters that make this film so great. This has always impressed me the most about Godard, the ability to move you with his words, whether they are stolen or not.