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RE: Err, well it's a very American sensibility

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In Reply to: RE: Appreciate the insights..... posted by afilado on March 19, 2009 at 19:56:43

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

Follow Ups:

Thanks, you make it sound.... - afilado 22:44:26 03/19/09 (2)
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
- I seldom get up on my Soap Box - grinagog 04:33:44 03/20/09 (1)
  patience is a virtue, Cassavetes wasn't making movies for the Game-boy generation
  Yeah, "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
  - Patience? I've.... - afilado 11:11:45 03/20/09 (0)
    ...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.

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