A John Cassavetes Fan site

18 hours ago
58 notes
cinephilearchive: Anything for John (1993). An intimate portrait of actor-writer-director John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to his genius for studying and depicting the human character. In-depth, candid interviews with his wife and muse Gena Rowlands as well as his most trusted friends and co-workers like Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, Seymour Cassel, etc. Clips from Cassavetes’ greatest films, and many rare photos illustrate this touching documentary. “After that, we took Faces to Montreal and Toronto, where it did well, and then screened it for the Venice Film Festival committee. We got admitted to the festival — and walked out with five awards. We then sold the film to the Walter Reade Organization, which released it here and in Canada. And, surprise of surprises: I had an artistic and financial hit on my hands — this time in my own country. Proving to me that it was worth all the nonsense I went through. Proving to me that moviemakers don’t have to spend their time doing garbage they hate. And when Husbands performed the same way Faces did, it gave me the opportunity to line up just about whatever projects I may want to do without having to sweat the money. Unbelievable as this may sound and for whatever it’s worth, I’m doing just what I want to with my life and on my own terms, without any hassling whatsoever. And never have I felt so correct about myself, so secure in myself. I believe in miracles.” —John Cassavetes, 1971 Playboy interview Tweet // Follow @LaFamiliaFilm //

cinephilearchive:

Anything for John (1993). An intimate portrait of actor-writer-director John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to his genius for studying and depicting the human character. In-depth, candid interviews with his wife and muse Gena Rowlands as well as his most trusted friends and co-workers like Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, Seymour Cassel, etc. Clips from Cassavetes’ greatest films, and many rare photos illustrate this touching documentary.

“After that, we took Faces to Montreal and Toronto, where it did well, and then screened it for the Venice Film Festival committee. We got admitted to the festival — and walked out with five awards. We then sold the film to the Walter Reade Organization, which released it here and in Canada. And, surprise of surprises: I had an artistic and financial hit on my hands — this time in my own country. Proving to me that it was worth all the nonsense I went through. Proving to me that moviemakers don’t have to spend their time doing garbage they hate. And when Husbands performed the same way Faces did, it gave me the opportunity to line up just about whatever projects I may want to do without having to sweat the money. Unbelievable as this may sound and for whatever it’s worth, I’m doing just what I want to with my life and on my own terms, without any hassling whatsoever. And never have I felt so correct about myself, so secure in myself. I believe in miracles.” —John Cassavetes, 1971 Playboy interview

3 days ago
62 notes
Yes, I love [my] movies. And they’re honest movies. Whether they’re good or bad is another story. But at least they’re movies that tell what I know. […] It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s a crappy film or a good film. Anybody who can make a film, I already love – but I feel sorry for them if they didn’t put any thoughts in it. Because then they missed the boat. […] As an artist I feel that we must try different things – but above all we must dare to fail. You can fail in films because you don’t have talent, or you have too much humility, or you lack ferociousness. I’m a gangster! If I want something, I’ll grab it. […] I don’t want recognition. Recognition is a pain in the ass. But having a good time is not fruitless. Or having a bad time is not fruitless. Making something indelible is what I want. Something concrete. There are no rules. Just get together with good, decent, artistic people and value them – because they’re the only ones who will help you.

—J.C. (via silezukuk)

6 days ago
97 notes

cinemasavage:

Faces (Dir. John Cassavetes, 1968)

“And really I think, at least at that time, John was one of the very few directors who paid any attention to women of a certain age. There’s just so much that they revealed in their lives and their loneliness and their desire to be young again, and if not young at least to be able to have some of the same good times and it just shouldn’t stop at a certain point.”
 - Gena Rowlands