Was just reading one of your fantastic Ebert columns on Gena Rowlands--in which you wish that more of what she and Cassavetes brought to film was in film today. I wrote my film MARIANNE--Isabelle Huppert's first one-woman film--for Rowlands. Rowlands turned it down, I think because she was 85 at the time...but I wrote it for her because MARIANNE is 100 percent about the Cassavetes ethos, in a way no film has ever dared try. (I urge you to read what Carlos Valladares says about it on Lettrboxed--he calls it "a seminal film of the 2020s.") Coming to my point: ebert.com won't review it. I've written you about reviewing it, too. It's been completely ignored by every legacy critic--I've tried them all. The film cannot find a lick of distribution--essentially, it doesn't exist. My point: like you, I
wish more of what Gena and John brought to film was in film now. I've done something substantial to change that...result, crickets. It almost feels like blacklisting. Sorry to write you here, but at least I know you will read what I've written here...and perhaps, get involved. The amount of respect I have for you cannot be measured....Michael Rozek
Looks like I'm gonna be the first one to jump into the pool.
Thanks again, Sheila, for another tasty post on one of my favorite Cassavetes movies. You hit all the notes, making me smile. I'm also happy you made mention of the rich life you enjoy today.
Wishing you more joy and love.
I would only add, the scene between Seymour and Tim Carey at the top of the movie gets me every friggin' time. It's so good watching them go back and forth. I gotta pop it in:
Sheila--
Was just reading one of your fantastic Ebert columns on Gena Rowlands--in which you wish that more of what she and Cassavetes brought to film was in film today. I wrote my film MARIANNE--Isabelle Huppert's first one-woman film--for Rowlands. Rowlands turned it down, I think because she was 85 at the time...but I wrote it for her because MARIANNE is 100 percent about the Cassavetes ethos, in a way no film has ever dared try. (I urge you to read what Carlos Valladares says about it on Lettrboxed--he calls it "a seminal film of the 2020s.") Coming to my point: ebert.com won't review it. I've written you about reviewing it, too. It's been completely ignored by every legacy critic--I've tried them all. The film cannot find a lick of distribution--essentially, it doesn't exist. My point: like you, I
wish more of what Gena and John brought to film was in film now. I've done something substantial to change that...result, crickets. It almost feels like blacklisting. Sorry to write you here, but at least I know you will read what I've written here...and perhaps, get involved. The amount of respect I have for you cannot be measured....Michael Rozek
Looks like I'm gonna be the first one to jump into the pool.
Thanks again, Sheila, for another tasty post on one of my favorite Cassavetes movies. You hit all the notes, making me smile. I'm also happy you made mention of the rich life you enjoy today.
Wishing you more joy and love.
I would only add, the scene between Seymour and Tim Carey at the top of the movie gets me every friggin' time. It's so good watching them go back and forth. I gotta pop it in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTFJLyUYxiA
So, so good. LOVE that you can hear Cassavetes laugh in the background at the end of Morgan Morgan, waitress scene.
Aw, that was swell.
Jimmy