Your Favourite John Cassavetes film

[theprestige85]

The god father of independent cinema left quite a legacy prior to premature death just before the 90's. I've been watching a couple of his films recently on blu ray, courtesy of the fantastic BFI, and I always impressed by his freedom and energy within his pictures.

I wondered what other people's favourite Cassavetes films were and, more importantly, WHY they are your favourite among his filmography.

[Foggy]

I'm afraid I haven't seen any if them as of yet, what would be a good starting place to begin?

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm afraid I haven't seen any if them as of yet, what would be a good starting place to begin?

I'd start chronologically, with Shadows as a relatively short and simple introduction to his style.

[jasonjl]

I've only seen one of his films, A Woman Under the Influence. Great film and a great performance from Gena Rowlands.

Gene Siskel - A Woman Under the Influence (1974) - YouTube

[Todd Tomorrow]

1. Opening Night
2. A Woman Under the Influence
3. Faces
4. Minnie and Moskowitz
5. Gloria
6. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
7. Love Streams
8. Shadows
9. Husbands

I love all of those, but Opening Night would be in my top ten of all time favourite films. Personally I find his work with his wife Gena Rowlands the most interesting because she is such a riveting actress to watch and his films are very much constructed around their actors. Love Streams I've only seen once at its release. I'd like to see it again, it could score higher if I remembered it better. I haven't seen A Child is Waiting, Too Late Blues and Big Trouble.

[thrillmygorilla]

Machine Gun McCain

[The Great Owl]

Gloria is the only Cassavetes movie that I have seen, so Gloria it is.

I've been meaning to check out the Criterion set, though.

[Tin Drum]

followed by The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (original cut) and A Woman Under the Influence.

[theprestige85]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm afraid I haven't seen any if them as of yet, what would be a good starting place to begin?

Yeah, Thomas Guycott said, start chronologically. I've not seen all of his films either, but the ones I have seen have really spoken to me on many levels. Shadows is great imo. It took me awhile to get into it as I wasn't familiar with his style but it's definitely worthy of the blu ray release it got.

What's this film set in an Asylum that he did?

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

What's this film set in an Asylum that he did?

There isn't one, but you are probably thinking of A Woman Under the Influence. Gena Rowlands characters as mental health issues, depending on how you view her behaviour and she gets committed for a while, but none of the action takes place there.

[theprestige85]

Nah, i've got that one. There was apparently another film set in an asylum according to Peter Falks with Judy Gardland in it. Maybe I misheard, I dunno.

[jasonjl]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Nah, i've got that one. There was apparently another film set in an asylum according to Peter Falks with Judy Gardland in it. Maybe I misheard, I dunno.

A Child Is Waiting (1963)?

[PocosuTheCamel]

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie.

[chris_sc77]

A woman UNder the Influence is fantastic.
Killing of a Chinese Bookie is also great.


I hated Shadows and Faces and Opening Night didnt do anything for me either.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Nah, i've got that one. There was apparently another film set in an asylum according to Peter Falks with Judy Gardland in it. Maybe I misheard, I dunno.

You're right, A Child Is Waiting deals with an institute for mentally handicapped children. Asylum is a term I tend to associate with pre-20th century mad houses where people were left to rot. I still haven't seen that one. It was one of Cassavetes few studio films and was apparently an unhappy experience for him. He took over after the original director dropped out, then when the film was re-edited without his input he disowned it.

[blufellas]

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

[rosepetel]

i like edge of the city

[Scottie]

01. The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie
02. Faces
03. A Woman Under The Influence
04. Opening Night
05. Shadows

All five films in The Criterion Collection are phenomenal.

[Jaymole]

1 - The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
2 - A Woman Under the Influence
3 - Love Streams

[StonesEGF]

1. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
2. Faces
3. Opening Night
4. A Woman Under the Influence
5. Husbands

Looking forward to the Blu Ray release of Love Streams; I've never seen it.