Chicago – It’s rare that I feel comfortable using this kind of hyperbole in a Blu-ray review but here it goes — having watched it again on Criterion Blu-ray, after not seeing it in years, I’m more convinced than ever that John Cassavetes’ “A Woman Under the Influence” is one of the best films ever made. Maybe it’s because I’m older now and have a family of my own, but my most recent viewing of this masterpiece was heartwrenching in a totally different way. It’s stunning.
And the Criterion remaster of it, accompanied by four other of the most important films in the history of the independent film movement in “Cassavetes: Five Films” is a beauty. Oh, yeah, “Shadows,” “Faces,” “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” and “Opening Night” are damn good too. This is one of the best possible gifts you could pick up for the...
And the Criterion remaster of it, accompanied by four other of the most important films in the history of the independent film movement in “Cassavetes: Five Films” is a beauty. Oh, yeah, “Shadows,” “Faces,” “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” and “Opening Night” are damn good too. This is one of the best possible gifts you could pick up for the...
- 11/1/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Blu-ray Release Date: Oct. 22, 2013
Price: Blu-ray $124.95
Studio: Criterion
John Cassavetes—genius, visionary, and the progenitor of American independent film—receives some high-definition respect from Criterion in the John Cassavetes: Five Films collection.
A former theater actor fascinated by the power of improvisation, Cassavetes brought his search for truth in performance to the screen. The five films in this anthology of dramas—all of which the director maintained total control over by financing them himself and making them outside the studio system—are electrifying and compassionate creations, populated by all manner of humanity: beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, children.
Cassavetes has often been called an actor’s director, but this body of work—even greater than the sum of its extraordinary parts—shows him to be an audience’s director.
Here’s a breakdown of the movies:
Lelia Goldoni and Anthony Ray star in John Cassavetes' 1959 directorial debut Shadows.
Price: Blu-ray $124.95
Studio: Criterion
John Cassavetes—genius, visionary, and the progenitor of American independent film—receives some high-definition respect from Criterion in the John Cassavetes: Five Films collection.
A former theater actor fascinated by the power of improvisation, Cassavetes brought his search for truth in performance to the screen. The five films in this anthology of dramas—all of which the director maintained total control over by financing them himself and making them outside the studio system—are electrifying and compassionate creations, populated by all manner of humanity: beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, children.
Cassavetes has often been called an actor’s director, but this body of work—even greater than the sum of its extraordinary parts—shows him to be an audience’s director.
Here’s a breakdown of the movies:
Lelia Goldoni and Anthony Ray star in John Cassavetes' 1959 directorial debut Shadows.
- 9/6/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Criterion has announced their October 2013 releases and it includes brand new Michelangelo Antonioni, the company's first DVD box set Blu-ray upgrade and a Blu-ray upgrade of a film many were talking about when Holy Motors premiered last year. First is Antonioni's La Notte (10/29) starring Marcello Mastroianni and Jeanne Moreau, which I first watched on Netflix Instant what feels like a long, long, long time ago. I can hardly remember the story of a couple who confront the issues within their relationship and the world around them over the course of one night. The version I saw was dark and I can only assume this new 4K digital restoration will be worth the price even if the included features are merely a couple of new interviews, an essay by Richard Brody and a 1961 article by Antonioni. Another new title to the collection is Lewis Allen's 1944 haunted house feature The Uninvited...
- 7/15/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
We're sad to report that actor Ben Gazzara has succumbed to pancreatic cancer at age 81. Over Gazzara's nearly-sixty year career, his greatest screen moments occurred in collaboration with close friend John Cassavetes, along with actors Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, and Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands. With Falk's passing last year and now with Gazzara's, it seems an opportune time to revisit a 2004 chat I had for Venice Magazine with the surviving members of the Cassavetes "company" that coincided with Criterion's release of their "John Cassavetes: Five Films" collection. Cassel was the only member not present during the conversations, which took place in the home that John and Gena shared from 1962 until his death, and which served as a location for many of their films together.
Remembering Cassavetes:
The Legacy of America’s Most Important Indie Film Pioneer Is Preserved in the Criterion Collection’s New Release John Cassavetes:...
Remembering Cassavetes:
The Legacy of America’s Most Important Indie Film Pioneer Is Preserved in the Criterion Collection’s New Release John Cassavetes:...
- 2/16/2013
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Netflix has once again added several films available in the Criterion Collection, to their streaming “Watch Instantly” line-up. While their additions over the past few months have been few and far between, they have nevertheless been consistently great choices.
Over the past few days they have been adding the various John Cassavetes films that are available in the “Five Films” box set, save the documentary “A Constant Forge.” You can now watch Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night through their web interface, or through their various other devices (Roku boxes, the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, or select Blu-ray players).
With Redbox ramping up plans to implement a streaming service, Netflix continues to show it’s dedication to expanding it’s library of important films available at a minimal cost to it’s customers.
To see all of the Criterion Collection films available on Netflix Watch Instantly,...
Over the past few days they have been adding the various John Cassavetes films that are available in the “Five Films” box set, save the documentary “A Constant Forge.” You can now watch Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night through their web interface, or through their various other devices (Roku boxes, the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, or select Blu-ray players).
With Redbox ramping up plans to implement a streaming service, Netflix continues to show it’s dedication to expanding it’s library of important films available at a minimal cost to it’s customers.
To see all of the Criterion Collection films available on Netflix Watch Instantly,...
- 8/6/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
If there's only one thing John Cassavetes' films are known for, it's for the performances of his actors. The loose realism of the acting, filmed in his often bare cinema-verite style, is something that's become a signature of Cassavetes work, especially in heavily performance-centric films like Husbands and A Woman Under the Influence. Maybe because of this, he's often misconstrued as the master of improvisation, when in truth his works are often heavily scripted. His method, instead, was to let his actors bring their own take to the characters and improvise during rehearsals, some of which would then be incorporated into the shooting script..
This is why Cassavetes is probably the most interesting director to study on the set. Michael Ventura's great documentary I'm Almost Not Crazy is a good place to start, but it was only ever released in 1989 on a long out-of-print VHS. Luckily, it's available...
This is why Cassavetes is probably the most interesting director to study on the set. Michael Ventura's great documentary I'm Almost Not Crazy is a good place to start, but it was only ever released in 1989 on a long out-of-print VHS. Luckily, it's available...
- 6/8/2009
- by Arya Ponto
- JustPressPlay.net
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