Haha! He is one of those at the top for me. I have a lot of babies though. It’s just that most of them almost never come up on this site because they ha worse luck than him and Criterion has no use for them.
Mike Spence’s “babies”:
Cassavetes
Mark Rappaport
Ozu
Mike Leigh
Rob Nilsson
Abbas Kiarostami
Peter Waikins
Robert Bresson
and a bunch more. Aww, look at them, ain’t they cute? :)
Yeah, but Cassavetes is your first-born. I’m not saying you play favorites with your children. Not at all. But it’s obvious that he’s special.
Okay, you got me. I also left some of the youngin’s off my short list. I suppose love streams most for your oldest kids.
I’ve only had the pleasure of seeing lil’ Robbie Bresson so far. :(
Mike, you are a real masochist.
I borrowed the collection but just couldn’t get in to what I was watching. I jumped ship after two of his films. FTW
My averse reaction only lasted about halfway through “Shadows,” after which I settled in for a great film. Actually, the same for “Chinese Bookie.” It seems Cassavettes films initially scrub away at you, rather harshly, but leave a polished experience in the end.
Bobby,
I watched Chinese Bookie then A Woman, had it been the other way ’roud, his work might have had a better chance of permeating my cassavaphobic brain.
What should I watch (that might redeem him)?
I defer to the Cassavetes maven, Mike Spence. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to answer that question. Besides, I haven’t yet seen any more of his films myself.
theladyassassin:What should I watch (that might redeem him)?
Gloria
Nooo, don’t watch Gloria. It’s an okay action film, but it has nothing to do with Cassavetes. If you watch and like Gloria, it’s only going to make his better films harder for you to understand.
I’d say the best way to get into his work is by watching other filmmakers that he’s influenced. Tom Noonan’s two films (if you can find them), Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky (with Cassavetes and Peter Falk) and The Heartbreak Kid, then maybe De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief, just ‘cause it’s awesome.
Basically, you need to get yourself out of the imbedded belief that three act structure = good, easily understandable messages = good, and superficial entertainment = good.
Then watch Husbands and Faces. If you don’t fall in love with them, I’m out of ideas!
Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky is a good step and Gloria could keep the ball rolling. The next film would be crucial.
Husbands = no.
Do any of his films have a story?
Robert: Hmm, maybe I’m biased as I watched Husbands after the Five Films collection, so I found it to be pretty “easy” to watch.
Jason: They all do.
Whatever Fraser-Orr says is probably right, but your definition of “story” may or may not mean you may not get it.
Robert W Peabody III
haha I knew you would rescue me from the Shadows : why would his first film, done the way it was, not be improved upon – his style of working did change.
Btw, I was responding to Roger re Varda – she is a second tier director – I don’t own any sets – I do own one DVD, filed under C for Chinatown.