John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) [Paperback]

Ray Carney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967417007 | ISBN-13: 978-0967417004 | Publication Date: July 20, 1999 | Edition: 2 Revised

A handsomely illustrated, general introduction to Cassavetes' major films. The book contains an introductory essay, as well as essays on Woman Under the Influence, Faces, Shadows, Minnie and Moskowitz, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Husbands, Love Streams, and all of the other major films. It features a new, previously unpublished interview about Cassavetes' life and work, and is beautifully illustrated with more than two dozen behind-the-scenes photographs of Cassavetes working with his actors and his crew.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A beautiful, moving tribute to the genius of John Cassavetes," Daniel Vaughan, head of the AFI -- Australian Film Institute

About the Author

Ray Carney is the world's expert on the life and work of John Cassavetes. He is the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed, The Films of John Cassavetes: Pragmatism, Modernism, and the Movies (Cambridge Paperbacks), as well as of more than ten other film books.This new work by him contains many new insights into Cassavetes' films. He teaches at Boston University, where he is the Chairman of the Film Studies program.

Product Details

• Paperback: 68 pages
• Publisher: Co C Carney Cassavetes Consulting; 2 Revised edition (July 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967417007
• ISBN-13: 978-0967417004
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,508,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will change how you view film, April 22, 2000

By 

dan snow - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) (Paperback)

Ray Carney's writing is so different from most film criticism. It reads so clearly. You won't find any jargon, or fancy-schmancy film-book theories here. He doesn't attempt to explain the films or their characters by offering simplified psychological or sociological understandings. Instead, Carney shows how valuable it is to stay with the complex experiences offered in the films, to allow yourself to let the films teach you something new. Carney argues that all great art can give us new powers of understanding, more perceptive eyes and ears. (I highly recommend you check out his website, Ray Carney on Life and Art, which features his writing about other indie filmmakers, masterwork paintings and American culture.) Carney's deep belief in the importance of art comes through in his writing as the most radical, original and hopeful statements on art that I've ever read. The Films of John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity has changed the way I now look at all film.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Will Change How You View Film, April 15, 2000

By 

dan snow - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) (Paperback)

Ray Carney's The Films of John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity has become my essential viewing guide to Cassavetes' films and it has changed the way I now look at all film.

Carney's writing is so different from most film criticism. It reads so clearly. You won't find any jargon, or fancy-schmancy film-book theories here. He doesn't attempt to explain the films or their characters by offering simplified psychological or sociological understandings. Instead, Carney shows how valuable it is to stay with the complex experiences offered in the films, to allow yourself to let the films teach you something new. Carney argues that all great art can give us new powers of understanding, more perceptive eyes and ears. Carney's deep belief in the importance of art comes through in his writing as the most radical, original and hopeful statements on art that I've ever read. I highly recommend you check out his web site at http://people.bu.edu/rcarney which features his writing about other indie filmmakers, masterwork paintings and American culture.

5.0 out of 5 stars A new way of knowing, August 16, 2004

By 

Matt Reed - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) (Paperback)

This insightful book about Cassavetes by Ray Carney will open up a new way of seeing and knowing film. Carney is most persuasive about the importance of film as the newest art form. Gone are the canned, predictable experiences of current day studio films. Cassavetes' films are about life as we all experience it, in all its complexity, richness and craziness. Carney's easy-to-understand text will open up Cassavetes' films to you as a way to embrace life and art through film. Cassavetes wrestled with the questions we all wrestle with and allows you to form your own answers and understanding. A wonderful book about this film giant!

If you want to know more about Cassavetes and his films, Ray Carney has a MEGA-WEBSITE. Search on Cassavetes on any search engine to find it. You won't be sorry! It includes great background information on how Cassavetes made his movies, along with terrific photos of the genius at work. A must for indie film lovers and aspiring directors...