Film Journal #54 - John Cassavetes’ “Faces” (1968)
Cassavetes is a godfather of independent film. A harrowing portrait of growing old and the increasing dissatisfaction that comes along with it.
Film Journal #98 - John Cassavetes’ “Shadows” (1959)
The film equivalent to jazz music. A free-flowing, rhythmic and all together hypnotic movie that sparked the American independent film movement of the 1960s. Largely improvised and starring amateur actors, “Shadows” defies the Hollywood ‘rules’ of filmmaking. Cassavetes proves that these ‘rules’ are meaningless and unnecessary obstacles when you’re ultimate goal is to honestly portray human emotion. Read this essay by Gary Giddins for a more eloquent analysis.
Film Journal #225 - John Cassavetes’ “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974)
An utterly devastating film that moves and disturbs you with the sheer reality of its tragedy. Cassavetes understands the honest complications in everyday human relationships and the often sad truths for those living with mental illness. Read this.
Film Journal #229 - John Cassavetes’ “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” (1976)
The more Cassavetes films I watch, the more I believe that the man’s greatest gift is painting uncomfortably real portraits of deeply flawed people. He sees through criteria we may consciously or unconsciously use to judge people and cuts through straight to their human essence. This makes for films that are undeniably honest, but also hard to swallow for they are seldom seen in the cinema. Read this and this.
