- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Omnibus Press; illustrated edition edition (1 July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0711975442
- ISBN-13: 978-0711975446
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.7 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,140,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Empire Magazine, April 2001
Charity delivers **** (Must Buy)
Independent on Sunday, 18 March 2001
Charity manages to bring Cassavetes alive for the unitiated. About as good as film books get.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Good as the Reviews Said,
By A Customer
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Life Works (Paperback)
I bought this book after reading the rave reviews in Empire and HotDog and Uncut. I didn't know much about Cassavetes but I keep reading his name everywhere and I hadn't seen any of his films. This book was a revelation. It made me understand independent American film and a lot more about European art-house cinema and the debt it owes to Casssavetes. Cassavetes is a fascinating character and in this book he really comes alive. Not just him but also all the people around him. The descriptions of his films are also great. Since reading this book I have become a big fan of Cassavetes and I have seen and bought most of his films now. It has been a fascinating education and I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in film.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential for anyone interested in filmaking or Cassavetes.,
By russdewulff@hotmail.com (Kingston Upon Hull) - See all my reviews
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Life Works (Paperback)
For a long time Ray Carney has been Cassavetes' virtual one man appreciation society, but with this book Tom Charity has produced the most captivating and accesable guide to Cassavetes work and life. It is packed with humourous anicdotes as told by his friends and in some cases enimies. This is not the hibrow intellectualism which you would find in a Carney offering but does discuss, in depth, the meanings and beleifs of his independant films and offers a glimpse of Cassavetes' roller-coaster life. Laugh as you hear Cassavetes critise Edward G Robinson's Monet, wince when you hear of how Cassavetes throws Pauline Keal's shoes out of a moving taxi and gasp as he holds the most powerful producer in Hollywood against a wall by the throat. There are also a range of short letters from contemperary film-makers such as Pedro Amaldovar and Gary Oldman telling their indiviual stories of how John Cassavetes inspired them. You get the impression of a remarkable, unique film-maker a real 'born rebel', completely dedicated to his work, an inspirational genius. Essential reading for anyone interested in filmaking or Cassavetes.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Telling it like it is,
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Life Works (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 - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Life Works (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" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: John Cassavetes: Life Works (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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