Any Cassavetes Fans on Here???

Macphilia

Macphilia

Well-known member
Hey Folks,

Just wondering if there are any John Cassavetes (the director) fans on here.

I watched Opening Night yesterday for the first time and have seen four of his other films, including Husbands on the big screen (not on DVD).

I'm also reading through Carney's Cassavetes on Cassavetes.

Any thoughts on his filmmaking? He's very inspiring to me....

Christopher
 
He's probably my biggest influence. Cassavetes on Cassavetes is invaluable to me as a filmmaker as well. It always makes me want to make movies. It's hard to pick a favorite, but Shadows, A Woman Under The Influence and Husbands are pretty high up there. I'm jealous you got to see it on the big screen. Was it the uncut version?
 
You know, I'm not sure if I watched the extended cut, but it was relatively long, definitely over 2 hours and there were shots you wouldn't believe, including a few where you literally saw the boom operator in the frame! It was nuts....

So what do you appreciate about Cassavetes the most: the filmmaker and the films???
 
Carney is a douchebag but I am a fan of Cassavetes .

“No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive.”

This quote is ingrained in me for life.

A Woman Under the Influence and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie are great films, but the only ones I've seen.

I loved him as a actor; The Killers and especially The Dirty Dozen.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNMYmMDGZZ0

I love Cassavetes because he never compromised the independent spirit. He did a couple of studio films in his career, but he mainly remained on the fringe, and even his studio films manage to be as eccentric and challenging as he was. He always forged ahead, even when he had nothing to work with but the burning desire to tell his story.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the link, Billy. It's interesting, because your comments are more about Cassavetes the filmmaker than his actual films.

Personally, I am more inspired by the filmmaker than the films. His films are about as personal as a film can get, which is why, IMHO, they are so hard to digest. But if one gives it a chance, they hang in there and watch, really watch and feel, his films are true art.

Have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePptcNqXRJA&NR=1

IT'S RIDICULOUSLY INSPIRING! There is text in the middle of the screen throughout, but it's incredible about 3 minutes into it....
 
Macphilia said:
Thanks for the link, Billy. It's interesting, because your comments are more about Cassavetes the filmmaker than his actual films.
Click to expand...

I think I like the actual films themselves because they're a reflection of the man. He was in every frame of his films. His films are all really about one thing: individualism in society, and his characters often go against the grain. From the beatnik artists in Shadows who flounder around doing their own thing, to the eccentric housewife Mabel Longhetti in A Woman Under The Influence who is constantly labeled as "crazy" because she's different, to Cosmo Vitelli in The Killing of a Chinese Bookie putting on his little strip shows even though no one really cares or appreciates it, and Myrtle Gordon in Opening Night going against a play she doesn't enjoy performing. These characters all struggle against people around them who are trying to pigeonhole them, or reform them in some way. It's really all over his work.
 
J.R. Hudson said:
I loved him as a actor; The Killers and especially The Dirty Dozen.
Click to expand...

Ditto. I really try to like him as a director, but just can't seem to do it. I've got most of the films here, but have trouble watching them. Except for Chinese Bookie, for some reason.

But as an actor? No such problem.

Just the opposite with John Derek. Go figure.
 
Interesting all around. Yes, he definitely is in all his films - they are immensely personal! And his films are not for everyone, most certainly. Even as a fan, it's tough to watch at times.
 
Indeed. A lot of his films I usually dislike the first time I see them, just because I don't know what to make of them. But as he was talking about in the video I linked, I keep thinking about them until I go crazy, break down and watch them again, and then I fall in love with them.
 
Definitely an encouragement to watch some films again. I recently watched Opening Night and will do so again soon. Amazing stuff!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top