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...a ponderous bore as a director and screenwriter. Only a bit less so as an actor.
His erratic methods - especially his screenplays - are in opposition to the encouragement of actorly improvisation. He is a heavy-handed, over-controlling manager whose ego appears selfishly stamped on every work of his I've seen.
"Gloria" is the most recent lump viewed, and the one which finally inspired my present comments.
I can't speak to the importance of his philosophical contribution as a contrarian filmmaker, only to his body of work as paradoxical, graceless, brutish art when considered as separate from the historical continuum.
I can admire THAT he worked and produced. It's just that his work is categorically unappealing to me and I put his professional arc in a category with the likes of, oh........... Jerry Lewis.
Somebody tell me what I'm missing. Maybe it's a French thing. ;-)
Follow Ups:
Overlooked IMO is "The Tempest". Great cast and adaptation.
ET
Question "Authority", the mainstream media sucks - Go Independent and hold BOTH parties accountable instead of just the other guys!
I need music to help forget the reality of today
+ I personally never liked Gena Rowlands in any film I've seen her in
"Husbands" is Cassavetes great film; if you have any doubt about his use of improvisation then Peter Falk, Ben Gazarra + Cassavetes are let off the leash in this; highly original, very amusing + at times touching story of a group of friends getting over their loss, during + after a funeral
Some of his films miss by miles, but some are gems
Mikey + Nicky is one of his better efforts ( Falk + Gazarra )
Pedro Amodovar, in "All about my Mother" based his aging stage actress character on Gena Rowlands in "Opening Night", and painstakingly recreated Cassavetes "fan being run over in the rain" sequence to the point where it's almost a frame-by-frame recreation; quite an homage
As an actor, Cassavetes smile just lights up the screen
As a Director, a maverick + a complete original
GW
I've seen "Husbands" and the others. Falk and Gazarra are longtime favorites.
By no means am I a student of his work but my understanding is that contrary to popular belief his films were heavily scripted, allowing only delivery to be improvised. That includes "Husbands". Educate me, if the case is otherwise.
Almodovar is not that high in my regard either. Simply a matter of sympathy, of taste, nothing more. I understand his well-deserved fame. I take your word for the account re his covering Cassavetes' scene.
Maybe I'll reconsider Cassavetes in another ten years. Right now, I'm convinced of his abiding clunkiness.
so it's almost bound to be more "clunky" than, say, more sophisticated European or UK efforts
From Husbands: ( scene in a London casino )
Falk: Y'think we're being bein' kinda LOUD ?
Gazarra: We're AMERICANS fer Chrissake...
Shakespeare it ain't, but it's a great scene + these guys are having a good time all through the film; scripted or no it's very very "Un-Hollywood" + Falk + Gazarra + Casavettes carry this film well
I cut Cassavettes slack because he was an independent filmmaker, which was a very uncommon thing to be in the USA at the time he did it
Now independent filmmaking is fashionable + commercial, but he was a pioneer, sailing in uncharted waters, doing his own thing in his own way + trying to push the envelope ( + on his own dime )
If you watch "Shadows" which has a Jazz soundtrack by Charles Mingus the film has a kind of be-bop sensibility, where he's not playing to please an audience as much as to put his story across in his way + it succeeds quite admirably
Warhol made independent films like "Trash" + "Heat" or "Flesh for Frankenstein" + these aren't anywhere near as much fun as Cassavetes films while being every bit as clunky....
Art: it's a pain in the ass, but someone has to do it
GW
fun.......better than it is. LOL. You're right, there are moments.I feel all better now, having vented. Probably over reacted, too. But I still think "Gloria" is a mess.
No kidding, thanks.
Edits: 03/19/09
patience is a virtue, Cassavetes wasn't making movies for the Game-boy generationYeah, "Gloria" is pretty much unwatchable; apart from the dreaded Gena Rowlands the kid ( child actor would be more PC ) is atrociously miscast
Funny thing is, that was a relatively popular film back then + probably Cassavetes most commercially successful ( go figure )
Difficult to believe; but "Minnie + Moskowitz" is actually *worse* than "Gloria" + made on a much lower budget
Cassavetes was nominated by the Writers Guild of America for the screenplay of M + M, as "best comedy written for the screen"
( Go figure x 2 )
This would vindicate anyones taste in films ( ! )
GW
Edits: 03/20/09
...given him 4 decades to impress me. LOL. I'm moving on.
As you remind me, he has his moments and no doubt made his important contribution to self-made moviedom but when I see or think of his work I'm reminded of the Sam Johnson adage, "he's not only dull himself; he's the cause of dullness in others."
Like I said before, I appreciate knowing he's there, just not for me.
He was pretty damned good in that, and he wrote and directed it. The full-length version is long, but is a much more complete work than the theatrical release. I also thought he was the most interesting character in "The Dirty Dozen".
Baba-Booey to you all!
Ben Gazzara, yes. A real actor. Able to suspend his own personality and willfully disappear into character. Cassavetes seemed the opposite; he wanted to escape himself and was always self-consciously unsuccessful in that process.
He always seemed to be in tortured, unsatisfied defiance against his own impression of himself. Therefore, his film art lacked compassion, humor. Any humility seemed forced. His public statements about his work were ambitiously generous. I think he was unable to imbue his work with the same spirit toward the other.
I've read that Cassavetes himself was disappointed in the original release, resulting in the "director's cut" short years later. I've never seen the second release and I don't know the full reasoning behind it. Do you recommend seeing that for the difference?
He is a polarizing figure. One of those whom it seems we're supposed to like because of some mystical, intangible combination of characteristics that escapes my understanding.
I grant he is an interesting, even compelling, visual presence, a hard worker, apparently a good friend and husband. And he did produce.
He seemed a walking bruise. A sympathetic figure.
I see his work as a process of self-analysis, a public ministering to his own existential position. I suppose all artists do it to various degrees. If he were alive maybe he'd have a reality TV show.
Of his ilk, I even prefer Abel Ferrara. What do I know? I'm just a person who has progressed enough in my own analysis to be able to quit Cassavetes. Nothing much more there for me to learn or enjoy.
I don't know why I thought Cassavetes starred in that film...of course it was Gazzara..who was amazing in it. It is a very long film, but held my attention. It also portrayed mobsters and bookies in the most realistic manner that I've ever seen on film...not that I'm an expert in that culture, but my youth was spent with plenty of those guys. I don't know much about John Cassevetes, but I've always enjoyed his acting. "The Killers" and "Rosemary's Baby" are memorable largely because of his dangerous, intense performances. Whatever problems he may have had his talent came through in his work.
Baba-Booey to you all!
Check out Abel Ferrara's short list......The King of New York, The Funeral, The Bad Lt......
While not in the same league as Scorcese's finest, they are really quite satisfying and loaded with scene-chewing, fun-filled performances.
NT
....Cassavetes had the fortune to be involved with the greatness of others in that one. He was himself.
perhaps that could be said of Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces or other performances I've liked through the years. At any rate, I relish his ambitious evil sliminess. I thought the 4 leads in this cast were sensational choices, and I include him as one of those choices.
I guess even a blind pig sometimes finds a chestnut. Nah, just kidding. ;-)
This is a great movie and he was instrumental in it. Probably his best work.
Now that I've vented on the man, I can admit a little affection for him. The film world would be a poorer place without him. And he certainly makes better movies than me.
His wife, Gena Rowlands, I hold in the same regard.
Now, about Sissako......
I saw your earlier lead on Sissako. To this point he's only been a name.
I'll look into that for sure.
100% agree. ( that is rare...)
..it's not a French thing? LOL!
Are you saying agreement between us is rare? I think we're only in mid-conversation. I consider you a soulmate. ;-)
I meant generally speaking I rarely agree with anyone to 100%.
That confirm our soulmateness and not the contrary...
You took the wrong turn on that one...
.
I appreciate it.
Merci.
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