Inhale

I’m not gonna lie: It looks almost like made for TV, the script is full of holes and relies way too much on coincidences, and then you have the moral dilemma that supports the entire film. We could debate until the end of times whether it makes any sense at all. 7/10 (29.08.2010)

Kormákur's creative talent is undeniable, in eighty minutes, when most films don't even have time to get going, he delivers a riveting story of a wealthy family that has all the makings of a great life, if it wasn’t for their dying daughter. Inhale is an intense, gripping thriller that will have you cheering, cursing and quite possibly not understanding in the end. A film that works impressively with emotions and depicts several key aspects very colourfully and aptly (Mexican gangs, high society practices, moral dilemmas of parents, medical issues, etc.), without any dose of sentimentality, which in itself is very difficult and quite unique. Plus, it's all wrapped up in a spectacularly gritty, low-budget-looking rawness (reminiscent of Traffic), backed by well-chosen actors who aren't exactly big stars and yet are good quality and perfectly cast. (16.06.2017)

I really liked Kormakur's direction - he was able to easily switch from cold Nordic dramas to American blockbusters while maintaining his high professionalism and sense of cinematic storytelling. From a technical standpoint, from editing to set design to the performances of the actors, there's not much to criticize about the film. However, the screenplay heavily relies on coincidence, and not just one, but a series of extremely unlikely coincidences that move the plot forward through unbelievable encounters. The main protagonist unfailingly finds his goal in a city with many millions of people and is always at the center of the action. The screenplay is simply weak and undermines the interesting subject of selling replacement human organs to wealthy Western enthusiasts. Nonetheless, it gets a very solid 3 stars and 65% overall impression. By the way, the resolution, or rather the protagonist's choice, didn't seem very probable to me. In real life, it would probably turn out the opposite way. (25.11.2012)