《图书馆杂志》(Library Journal )书评
A pioneer of modern independent filmmaking, John Cassavetes (who died in 1989) self-financed his low-budget pictures mainly through acting gigs. Often shooting with handheld 16mm cameras, the director used an informal repertory of actors, including his wife, Gena Rowlands, and friends Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and Seymour Cassel. This superlative eight-disc set collects a handful of the director's best works (Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night), remastered for disc, plus a three-hour documentary (A Constant Forge), featuring revealing interviews with the filmmaker and cast members, along with plentiful clips. Appreciated for giving his actors little direction, Cassavetes always lends an improvised feel to his films despite their careful scripting. Given their focus on intense character studies over plot-driven movie formulas, Cassavetes's films are challenging for the casual viewer. An essential choice for serious collections.--Jeff T. Dick, Davenport, IA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.