WHATS YOUR TAKE ON CASSAVETES ???

COP IT. RENT IT.

"SHADOWS" THE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT FROM THE GODFATHER OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENT CINEMA, JOHN CASSAVETES.

THE FILM WAS RELEASED IN 1959 AND HAS AN EXISTENTIAL "BEAT-ISH" FEEL. THE LOOSE NARRATIVE IN THE FILM DEALS WITH HUGH AN OLDER, DARKSKINNED AND UNSUCESSFUL BLACK MAN AND HIS TWO YOUNGER LIGHTSKINNED MIXED RACE SIBLINGS, BROTHER BENNY ( who can get it) AND SISTER LEILA.

THE MOVIE IS VERY SUBTLE IN HOW IT DEALS WITH RACE, EVERY CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE IS A "BOHEMIAN" OF SOME KIND AND SO RACIAL BOUNDARIES ARE BLURRED OFTEN FOR THE 50'S AND YET BENNY AND LEILA FLIRT EASILY BETWEEN WHITE CULTURE BECAUSE THERE COMPLEXIONS ALLOW THEM TO PASS. CASSAVETES DOWNPLAYS THIS IN A WAY BECAUSE HE MAKES BOTH CHARACTERS SEEM ALMOST UNCONSCIOUS OF THIS, (benny seems more conscious, but is a rebel without a cause while Leila seems to allude race by being a "modern" girl.

ANYWAY I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE AWAY ANYMORE OF THE FUCKING MOVIE. IT'S JUST THE BEST MOVIE I'VE SEEN IN LIKE MONTHS.

** ALSO, THE FILM WAS RELEASED IN 1959 AND A SMALL THING I NOTICED WAS THAT "BENNY" HAS A STRIKING, ALMOST UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE IN STYLE OF DRESS, ATTITUDE EVEN SUNGLASSES- TO LOU REED, IE... 1959 IS SIX YEARS BEFORE THE VELVET UNDERGROUND FORMED IN 1965.....
SO I DO BELIEVE MR. LOU REED TOOK A FEW STYLE CUES FROM THIS MOVIE.


HERE IS THE TRAILER, AND A COUPLE OF SECONDS OF THE FIRST SCENE IN THE MOVIE, I SURPRISINGLY FOUND ON YOUTUBE, (but whats not on youtube these days)