It’s an assured directorial debut from “The Mentalist” actor Simon Baker, who — after 12 long years — has finally done something more impressive than getting Anne Hathaway those “Harry Potter” manuscripts in “The Devil Wears Prada.”. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Living in the ‘70s — Samson Coulter, Simon Baker and Ben Spence star in Breath. 'Breath' is a good coming-of-age story, a great surfing movie and a solid directorial debut from 'Mentalist' star Simon Baker. There’s a real darkness hiding under the surface — not a violent or predatory sort, but still a void that teenagers shouldn’t be asked to fill. They start their first copycat attempts with cheap styrofoam “boards,” then save enough money to get amply banged-up, second-hand fiberglass ones. As Loonie, Spence is a natural comedic force that could sparkle into a bright future for the young surfer. Directed by Andy Serkis. The two beach blonds share a clear dynamic as well, with Loonie’s dangerousness coaxing out hero Pikelet further out of his shell. Winton provides the “Stand by Me”-like voiceover for a character named Pikelet, looking back on his days of being a teenager who learned the ways of surfing, women, and emotion thanks to those around him. Breath review – profound Tim ... All these films view surfing as a recreation for the young. This weekend's Northern Rivers markets list, Simon Baker's task to cast Loonie and Pikelet for Breath. Maybe it’s just the lingering fear that Sando claims to have sworn off. This 114-minute jalopy is far too simple with its imparting wisdom, and unfocused with its story, to be this long. Want more Rolling Stone? He talks about a monster wave called Old Smokey as though it were an old friend, and is prone to saying stuff like: “Surrender is what frees you up to be completely in your mind.” And then there’s this dagger, unsheathed on the way down to the beach one day: “I wonder what the ordinary people are doing.”. The kids are naturally competitive, with Loonie always pushing Pikelet out of his comfort zone. Baker is great as Sando in an understated performance. But even as we’re seeing this all from Pikelet’s point-of-view, Baker’s character is only mysterious, not interesting. When You Have a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail: Jim Cummings on The Wolf of Snow Hollow, The Right Stuff is an Unexpectedly Gripping Workplace Drama About the Space Race, New FOX Series Next Feels Like Storytelling from Last Generation, Mafia Trilogy Offers Remastered Versions of Classic Games. Furtive glances and long silences, in true Aussie male communication style, mark this film. Plus, the sexual initiation feels a tad formulaic in narrative terms, even if Winton labors a bit too hard to avoid cliche, introducing a kinky aspect to Eva’s neediness that perhaps introduces more grown-up mess than this story really needs. News It works, and it will work not only for Australian audiences but for movie lovers (and surfers) internationally, because the emotions are clearly visible, and the story flows well. It’s telling that even this passage doesn’t give “Breath” the pulse that constantly eludes it, but it does make the film less forgettable as you toss it onto the pile of coming-of-age tales. Young actors Spence and Coulter are both so good. The film’s actual love scenes are more disquieting affairs, as Eva comes to the fore in the second half. Picture: David Dare Parker/Supplied. Winton himself provides lyrical voiceover narration in this flashback account of our main protagonist’s early teens in a small town near the western Australian coast (its time period rendered somewhat vaguer than the mid-’70s of the book). Admittedly, Breath is way more than just a surf movie. In narration, the adult Pikelet, voiced by author Winton himself, says: “Never had I seen men do something so beautiful. Its pretty mild stuff, until it goes off the rails with a subplot involving Pikelet getting closer with Sando’s American wife, Eva (Elizabeth Debicki), who has a scar on her leg from a skiing accident in her happier past life. (Spence, also presumably chosen as a  natural surfer — both young thesps conspicuously toe their own boards — has an easier time playing a character who’s all externalized id.) “Breath” doesn’t spend that much time on the water, but it reckons with each wave — from ankle-busters to groundswells — and every single one of them dares these young protagonists to prove something to themselves. Just “Breath” earns the undertow of emotion that carries it forward because it finds the fear in all of its characters, and convinces us that letting a wave go by can require even more courage than riding it. Baker, who co-wrote the script from Tim Winton’s 2008 novel, is aware of the clichés beating up against the plot. Sando is played by Ballina actor and The Mentalist star Simon Baker, with Australian Elizabeth Debicki as his wife Eva. News Not just with his love for syrupy slow motion and an instructive score from Harry Gregson-Williams, but in how he expects to captivate you with an innocent nostalgia, while showing how boys find their way to becoming men. Nevertheless, “Breath” ultimately comes snugly into port as a multi-planed rite-of-passage tale that reaches a satisfyingly poignant and quiet conclusion. With governments splashing the cash around here’s five forward thinking and controversial ideas we think should go ahead. Our review. Ocean Shores man pleads guilty to three counts of contravening an apprehended... News DESPITE living all my life in coastal towns in South America and Australia, I have never been a lover of the ocean; I never needed to get chest deep in the water in the middle of winter or travel around deserted beaches looking for the perfect wave to surf. But it really doesn’t matter, because teenage boys like Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence) aren’t living in the past. 'Breath' is a good coming-of-age story, a great surfing movie and a solid directorial debut from 'Mentalist' star Simon Baker. Environment Refer to our helpful FAQ section for any problems you might be experiencing. Directed by Simon Baker. As giddy as Pikelet is to lose his virginity, Baker isn’t so sure it’s such a great idea — the camera is always wary, convinced that Eva is driven by a fear that might consume them both. That’s not the case for 14-year-old bestie Ivan, aka “Loonie” (Ben Spence), a wild child who appears to run loose, save when he’s being beaten by his awful father. Baker also stars as Sando, a surfing mentor to two teens who’ve become obsessed with the sport. Baker also plays the adult lead, and co-wrote the screenplay adapted from celebrated Oz scribe Tim Winton’s 2008 novel (his 20th). Photo: David Dare Parker. News The older man has a back story, of course – as does his wife, Eva (Elizabeth Debicki), who has an affair with Pikelet that complicates matters with a splash of melodrama the film could easily have done without.