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A Woman under the Influence (1974)
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Movie Review by Jesse
July 17th, 2007
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A Perfect Film - Cassavetes is a Genius
At first, this is a very hard film to watch. The cinematography is choppy as is the editing, but the quick cuts and uneasy transitions work toward Cassavetes' vision of the film. John Cassavetes is a legendary director; one of cinema's greatest. His style is incomparable and the way he handles his actors is absolutely inspiring.
It's quite difficult to understand what this film is trying to mean at first with what seems to be a bunch of nothingness and long, dreary scenes. The plot is vague and therefore many regular filmgoers may be turned off by this film, but if you really pay attention, this film is an absolute masterpiece that is Cassavetes' finest work. His direction is strikingly original; he works with human activity and interactivity and this is quite apparent in this film with the up close and personal cinematography. Every emotion is captured on film and that is the significance of the long, tedious scenes. After watching this film (quite a long film it is, too, at 155 minutes), you'll realize this film doesn't follow a concrete plot, but instead just follows the tribulations of this dysfuntional family (especially Mabel).
Gena Rowlands plays Mabel Longhetti, a depressed housewife who slowly and palpably goes insane and drags down the stability of her husband, also. This film is ultimately about the roles of the sexes in a household. Cassavetes writes Nick (Falk) as a strong working man, but lacking the family values a father should have. Nick is married to Mabel who is a good mother and has those family values, but unfortunately is mentally unstable to support the children in any positive way, but tries her hardest. After Nick sends Mabel away for 'special care', the family seems to be lacking a special something that made them happy although they were constantly angry. Mabel provided that central strength that ran the family even when she was unstable.
In one of the greatest films of the century there thrives one of the greatest performances put to film. Gena Rowlands is absolutely phenomenal in this role and steals every scene. She was nominated as Best Actress in 1974, but lost to Ellen Burstyn for her role in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Rowlands' eccentric performance with her over-exaggerated eye rolling, hand gestures and self communication captivates you and makes you feel as if you know her and you want to help her. There are many scenes that show Rowlands' indescribable talents, but the one that comes to mind is the scene in which Nick finally decides to send her away. She loses it and he holds her as her eyes wander aimlessly around her head as if she just discovered where she was. Rowlands works wonders when directed by her husband, Mr. Cassavetes, and she is a formidable talent that can only be matched by a few other actresses of her time.
The one last thing I noticed about this film is the interaction of the family in the house. The house itself is a character on its own and aids in the storytelling process. The scenes on the staircase are reminiscent of the great Rebel Without a Cause and are quite important to the dramatic evolution of the family.
Overall, this is one of the greatest films of the century. Many people will not understand this film's importance to social culture or the sexual political agenda, but the one's who do are in for a rare film event. With an exceptional performance from the amazing Gena Rowlands and the avant-garde style of master filmmaker John Cassavetes this film not only becomes on of my new personal favourites, but one of the greatest achievements in American cinema.
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