John Cassavetes died of cancer in 1989, aged 60. His work as an actor and film-maker served as an inspiration to many of the world's leading directors, including Mike Leigh, Gary Oldman, Sean Penn, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese who described him as a guide and teacher.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Telling it like it is,
By A Customer
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Lifeworks (Paperback)
... Far from being a rush job, Charity's book boasts considerable new research and interviews with most of the important figures in Cassavetes' life (though, sadly not Gena Rowlands, his widow). I spotted a handful of errors, generally minor cultural lapses you might expect from a foreign critic - but, let me emphasise, these are few and far between. Packed with great, sometimes hilarious anecdotes (Cassavetes really rocked!) Charity's book brings JC to life - and the same can be said about Cassavetes' notoriously difficult films, which have rarely been explored with such vivid insight and penetration. As a major bonus, the book comes with fascinating tributes from the likes of Gary Oldman, John Sayles, Jim Jarmusch and Pedro Almodovar, to name but a few. It would be worth buying for these alone - but then it would be worth buying without them too...
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
JC would be proud,
By A Customer
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Lifeworks (Paperback)
A terrific introduction to one of the most important American film-makers of all time, whose influence extends around the globe (there'd be no dogme without him) and whose films are testaments to being true to artistic vision, to oneself and to others. I say 'introduction' because that's what all books on film should aspire to - to introduce the reader to the movies but not replace the experience of watching them. Charity, who writes with tremendous affection laced with a touch of hard-boiled cynicism that is perfect for his subject, is an ideal guide. His brisk and authoritative text is laced with anecdotes (many of them told in the first person by an astounding range of interviewees who knew, loved and worked with Cassavetes) and it includes testaments from a variety of film-makers who testify gladly to the effect that Cassavetes had on their work, from Almodovar to Gary Oldman and Jim Jarmusch. There are few biographies of film-makers that can make you feel like you know the subject - even Frayling's massive work on Sergio Leone is cold and distant compared to this. Reading Lifeworks was like watching Cassavetes films. I can't think of any higher recommendation. Except to say that this book also made me want to watch them all again. And again.Mr Charity, sir, I salute you.
5.0 out of 5 stars
An American Original,
By Emerson Lockwood "Locke" (Victoria, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Lifeworks (Paperback)
I've long been a fan of John Cassavetes, the actor. But after
reading this book, I realize that the man's gift to film wasn't in the acting he did for others, but rather his amazing body of work as a writer and director. This book provides a thorough account of each of his movies and insight into his many collaborators. Not a coldly analytical critique, but an honest and detailed look at the career and character of an American original, warts and all.
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