stbeston

let's get down to answering the question posed by le tigre:
what's your take on Cassavetes?

okay, all i've seen is faces and woman under the influence so far. but extrapolating from those films...
that cassavetes is a genius is undeniable, or rather, that he is a genius within the realm of narrative cinema is undeniable, whether or not being good at making "the pictures" qualifies one as genius or not, i'm willing to debate. fuck it, he's a genius.
can geniuses also be misogynists?
lynch (david) has also been accused of misogynism, as well as many other fine male filmmakers, but cassavetes is the question...
gena rowlands in woman under the influence is probably technically insane, probably a harmful parent to her children, .. an eccentric who is sent away for 6 months for shock treatment by her dim-witted husband played on the nose by peter falk. okay, she fools around on him, she is clearly portrayed as the malevolent force within the family ( mom is evil!!) is contained by stoopid falk and friend male doctor after being penetrated by a syringe of sedatives.
in faces, rowlands is a floosy who is fought over (verbally) by a couple of men on two different occasions who succumbs both times to the more powerful, virile man (the man who cannot make love to his own wife, the man who is the ceo), the second time he takes her up on it, so to speak, leaving his wife. his wife is abandoned with the abrupt announcement of divorce, then finds young lover.. etc.
those are the playing fields... misogynist or genius... obviously these movies need to be seen before a discussion can begin.
initial signs point to non-misogynist, or at least as none misogynist as our fathers and brothers are...

for the one of you interested, i will resume this essay in the near future, just had to begin it while in the mood... feel free to join in... thoughts will collect... i'll try to develop both sides of argument with further viewings...