Lately I've gotten interested in exploring the work of John Cassavetes. Earlier this year I watched A Woman Under the Influence, and I can't name many films that seem to understand human relationships better than that one. I sensed some similarities to Bergman's Scenes From a Marriage, but I think Cassavetes' film might be slightly better.
So over the past week or so, I saw Cassavetes' first two features, Shadows and Faces. Both were heavily experimental and improvisational films that I certainly admired, but I don't think either achieved the towering heights of A Woman Under the Influence.
The forerunner of the independent film movement (and released roughly the same time as Godard's Breathless), Shadows doesn't deal with love and relationships in the same devastating manner as Cassavetes' other films, but it's definitely the main focal point of the movie. Above all, I love the setting of Shadows- if I were at the point in my life that these characters are, that's the kind of city I'd want to live in. Plus, the fact that this whole film was completely improvised is pretty astonishing.
Possibly even more radical than Shadows, Faces deals with the breakdown of the marriage of an upper-class middle age couple. I didn't find it to be as captivating as the similar A Woman Under the Influence, or as astute regarding domestic relationships, but it was still interesting simply because of the unique way it was filmed. Some scenes stood out as well, such as one where the couple laughs over friends of theirs who are having an affair despite the fact that their relationship is no better.
Edit: The more I think about these two movies, the more I like them. Bumping them up a half popcorn box each.
If anyone else has thoughts on Cassavetes I'd love to hear them! I look forward to watching his other films.
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"Puns are the highest form of literature." -Alfred Hitchcock
"Puns are the highest form of literature." -Alfred Hitchcock
Last edited by HitchFan97; 06-02-13 at 11:17 AM.