Unfortunately, I didn't like Shadows
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — John Cassavetes
Jam0-0 — 16 years ago(October 28, 2009 10:19 AM)
It was my first Cassavetes directed film. The amateur acting and storyline didn't flaunt me, which is weird because it sounded like something I would normally be amused by. I'll try to revisit it when I can.
Anyway, I don't want to give up on Cassavetes just yet. What do you recommend for my second challenge?
My favorite directors are: Fellini, Truffaut, Allen, Ozu, Wes Anderson, Kubrick, Godard.
I can't stand Lynch.
Any suggestions? -
grampashab — 16 years ago(October 31, 2009 05:43 PM)
Shadows sounded like something I'd like too. It isn't though. On the other hand, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie are way more interesting to me.
Badges? We don't need no stinking badges! -
WarpedRecord — 16 years ago(January 01, 2010 09:13 PM)
You picked the most difficult one to start with. I'd go with "A Woman Under the Influence" or "Opening Night" instead before moving on to the others. They're much more accessible and probably the closest John ever came to making a conventional film.
There's also "Gloria" and "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," which are worthwhile but show John's limits with directing action sequences.
Regarding your favorite directors, may I ask why you include Allen but not Bergman, and why you can't stand Lynch? I'm not challenging you; I'm just curious. -
death_jamm_productions — 13 years ago(October 22, 2012 04:45 PM)
limits with directing action sequences? can you elaborate? the actual killing of the bookie was superbly written and shot
have to agree Shadows was terrible only because of the cast, if John was acting in there it would have been different
http://www.mickey-rourke.com/ -
Ore-Sama — 10 years ago(December 30, 2015 01:46 PM)
I wouldn't rate Shadows as high as most of the films he made after, but to say the acting was bad is completely off base. It was very good, naturalistic acting. Maybe none of them had the charisma of Cassavettes regulars, but they were far and away good performances.
"It's just you and me now, sport"Manhunter
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Sanctuary20 — 10 years ago(January 03, 2016 05:17 AM)
Shadows is underrated amongst Cassavetes fans. I'd rank it up there with with A Woman Under The Influencemaybe even better in some respects even if it is very different.
I love the rawness of it, the fact that it's so unpolished and features non professional actors. The jazzy score, disjointed plotting and racial identity themes gives the film a sort of 'love it, hate it' energy. It's obvious where I stand, but for me, it's one of his best films.
My strength is greater than my weakness