The Couchpotatoes If you expect a lot of action then Air isn't probably what you're looking for, but if you're looking for a sci-fi with a new approach then you're good with this one. It's a story we didn't see before and for that alone it's worth a watch. But don't expect too much special effects and things like that because the movie is essentially about two guys (Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou) with the task to save the world by preserving the lives of important people. You won't see much more actors then those two, besides one or two that have minor roles. But to me, it worked. I never got bored, and even though it's almost all the time shot in the same environment, with only two major actors, the story is entertaining with a dose of mystery. But then again I like end-of-the-world doom scenarios. So if you like that as well, Air is worth watching.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Air is a neat little post apocalyptic thriller full of loneliness, claustrophobia, paranoia and two really great lead performances from Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou. The two of them play custodians of sorts, in a cramped underground bunker. The world above is bereft of oxygen, forcing humanity to go into cryogenic hibernation. They exist in solitary down there, simple caretakers surrounded by earth's best and brightest scientists, all in silent slumber, leaving the two of them to go mad in the presence of both each other, and their memories. Reedus is Bauer, the slick loudmouth, a somewhat callous man who cares not for the sleeping scholars, his personality calcified into brittle cynicism by time and tragedy. Hounsou is a bit more soulful as Cartwright, haunted by waking visions of his deceased wife (Sandrine Holt) and morally torn when the big bad decisions of the character arc come his way. He believes what they are doing is important, while Bauer could give a crap. Soon there's trouble, and when they venture to a nearby bunker for spare parts, terrible secrets are uncovered and the shaky bond of trust between them starts to disintegrate. The film relies on its two lead actors who are both solid, especially Reedus, whose intensity ramps up in the third act to an unbearable level as secrets of his past are gradually revealed. It's obviously low budget, and as such the special effects and machinery look like they've wandered in from a Roger Corman movie at times, but it kinda works and gives the atmosphere a 'lived in', organic feel. The plot gets murky and could have done with a bit more simplicity as it trips on itself in attempts to be complex, but it's still character based at its core, and in that regard it succeeds nicely. See it for its two stars, who are given a nice dystopian arena to play in, and tell a story through emotional beats, personal crisis and mounting unease quite well.

kosmasp Be it the air or be it pods with people in them. We almost have exclusively two people for the whole movie, which almost plays entirely in one room. But of course there are exceptions, which I won't mention. One so they'll be something for you to discover and secondly because if you don't like the idea in general, you won't care them going to a different place anyway. You'll see it as a two men, one room thing.Having said that and while the dialog and the "action" is nicely (claustrophobic) shot, this has its faults. One of them is a major decision by a main character, which he claims he wants to explain, though the other character does not let him. It doesn't seem to make sense at that time, with all thats going on. But overall it does have an enticing story, with enough tension to keep you at the edge of your seat. If you buy into it, that is of course

Argemaluco Air is a good example of a minimalistic film which takes the maximum advantage of its austere locations, minuscule cast and a premise which is easy to assimilate, but includes ingenious surprises. Air was made with very little money, but it doesn't seem so; its limitations are an integral part of the story, and we never feel the fact that director Christian Cantamessa was "saving cash", but making a movie under the exact conditions to fulfill its potential and guarantee a solid emotional nucleus which invites us to wonder what we would do under similar circumstances. The affair of underground bases as a refuge of nuclear war (or similar catastrophes) is a well known formula of science fiction and conspiracy literature. This allows co- screenwriters Cantamessa and Chris Pasetto to drive the story on a fluid and natural way, without constantly stopping to explain the situation or overwhelm us with logistic details about the function of the main characters. And when some clarity is needed, Cantamessa and Pasetto subtly integrate it with efficient dialogs which transmit the necessary information without complicating the story. Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou bring competent performances, and they have a good chemistry with each other, something which makes the loyalty and differences between their characters credible. On the negative side, the addition of a romantic sub-plot feels a bit unnecessary; at least, that allowed the presence in the cast of Sandrine Holt, a talented but underrated actress who always bring credibility and intensity to the supporting roles she usually plays (like in the TV series 24 and The Returned). Even though I wouldn't consider it a great film, I liked Air pretty much, and I recommend it to those who like serious science fiction with the emphasis on ideas and performances, instead of special effects.