#filmmakeramonth

Cassavetes has some real movies. They all feel real. I don’t think watching all of them at once is the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done, but I’m glad I’ve now seen all his films. And I get why people talk about him all the time. He brought the best out of his actors by letting them live within the characters. My ranking is above and here are some additional thoughts. 

I’d only ever seen The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and I’d seen Mikey and Nicky, so I thought all his films would be gritty crime stories. I was pleasantly surprised to find those films are NOT representative of his filmography. But I do really like them.

A Child is Waiting doesn’t feel like one of his films but I did enjoy a lot of it. It oozes humanity, even through studio notes and compromises. 

I’ve read a lot of people praising Shadows. I liked watching it and I thought it was interesting as a first film, but it definitely feels like a first film.

I thought I was going to love Husbands more than I did. It’s a very “guy” movie. I liked it but I think I’ll forget about it in a month.

A Woman Under the Influence is just as good, however, as I’d always heard. Gena Rowlands is incredible.

I watched the remake of Gloria during my Sidney Lumet month but had never seen the original until now. It’s cool to see the differences. 

Guillermo del Toro Gómez Born: October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico First feature film: Cronos (1992) Latest feature film: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)

I was going to save del Toro for December but realized he’d be perfect for spooky season. I’ve always thought of him more as a fantasy film director, but no, he’s also a scary story guy. I’ve never seen a few of his early films so I’m really looking forward to those and then working my way to Nightmare Alley, which I loved when it came out. I was a little cold on Pinocchio but I’m ready to give it a second shot and this will all make me super excited for Frankenstein in December!

Saturday, Sunday and Monday (1990) Sabato, domenica e lunedì

Mondo Trasho (1969)

Federico Fellini Born: January 20, 1920 in Rimini, Italy Died: October 31, 1993 in Rome, Italy First feature film: Luci del varietà (Variety Lights) (1950) Last feature film: La voce della luna (The Voice of the Moon) (1990)

I’ve always wanted to watch through Fellini’s films. I’ve only seen his most famous ones: La Dolce Vita, 8 ½, La Strada and Amarcord and I love all of them so much. Maybe those are his only 4 good films, I actually don’t know. But if so, that’s still good enough to be one of the best filmmakers of all time. I’m excited to jump into it! Actually I already jumped, I watched Variety Lights last night on a plane ride with people around me wondering “why are you watching a black and white foreign film on your phone?” Because I can!

Terrence Vance Gilliam Born: November 22, 1940 in Minneapolis, MN First feature film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Most recent feature film: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)

I realized my December director was going to be the third Italian director in a row so I changed last minute. And the more I think on it the happier I am with this choice. There’s something whimsical about Gilliam, and whimsy belongs in the holiday season. Terry Gilliam, the American-born Monty Python-er. I’ve always loved his early films; some of my favorites of all time. And I haven’t even seen his last couple films. Even after the hype of finally making his Don Quixote movie after the fantastic Lost in La Mancha documentary, I still didn’t see that movie. Now is the time! Very excited.