REVIEW

	THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER JUNE 10, 1997 FILM REVIEW "STILL BREATHING" BY DUANE BYRGE SEATTLE- "Still Breathing" is a breath of fresh air in the independent film scene: a smart and whimsical romantic comedy. It stands tall amid the usual dour fodder about suicide or sexual identity that clutters the indie scene. Starring Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going, this good-natured treat was a hit among festivalgoers at the Seattle International Film Festival during the weekend. Similarly, it should win approval on the selectsite circuit once it is released. A savvy distributor could ring up some heady sales in sophisticated filmgoing communities such as Seattle and capture hearts in college towns. In lifestyle, Fletcher (Fraser) and Rosalyn (Going) couldn't be more opposites. He's an easygoing, charitable chap from San Antonio who gets a lot of gratification from entertaining underprivileged children with his puppet show; she's a driven, materialistic hustler from Los Angeles who preys on Texans and "Persians with Mercedes," using her charm to separate them from their cash. In writer-director-producer Jim Robinson's scenario, they don't meet cute, rather, they meet magically: Fletcher has visions of Roz outside the Formosa Cafe in Hollywood. In essence, the story line might be categorized as magical realism -- The stiff boundaries of the real world don't work here -- as the two connect in this transcendentally sweet way. "Still Breathing" is at once charming, funny and wickedly droll. Robinson's sprightly storytelling is constantly engaging. Admittedly, the film's surface charms are its best assets, and Robinson generally downplays the characters' darker sides, which sometimes seem a bit slick. Nevertheless, Fraser and Going are sympathetic and charismatic. Technically, "Still Breathing" percolates with zesty flourishes: John Thomas' luminous cinematography and Paul Mills' tangy music are perfect tones for this luscious romancer. Reprinted by kind permission of The Hollywood Reporter.
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