Love Streams (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

The 1970s was a golden age for American Cinema. John Cassavetes should stand up next to Robert Altman as one of the reasons that is so. Unfortunately, he is too often over-looked by the likes of Spielberg, Coppola and Scorsese. He is in every way their equal, but chose to work in decidedly unmarketable territory... reality. Love Streams was made in 1984, but comes directly out of that 1970s tradition of character driven story-telling.Cassavetes was famously generous. He often worked with a small group of performers and friends. His wife, Gena Rowlands, was a brilliant actress that often led the troupe both on and off camera. They were known to work in their home, often cooking themselves for the cast and crew. Some of them would live with the couple in hard times. Cassavetes acted regularly in mediocre (and some brilliant, ie: Rosemary's Baby) films to fund his small budget, completely independent directorial efforts.His films range from jazz surrealism (Shadows) to reflexive stage drama (Opening Night). They are about social structures, family, love and the quiet moments we each have in our solitude. And, every one of them is infused with compassion and humor. He pulls the best possible performance out of every actor. As a viewer, you almost feel as if you know each and every character. You also feel as though you are watching a very rare performance. The only other experience I can compare it to is P.T. Anderson's ability to draw out Daniel Day Lewis in There Will be Blood or Joaquin Phoenix in The Master.Unfortunately, this film isn't available on DVD in the States. That's absolutely ridiculous. I really don't get it. How is it that Caddyshack gets like 7 releases and this languishes in a dying format? So, you either need to be willing to shell out some cash for a region-free DVD player or get it on VHS.The Rundown:In the vein of Cassavetes' A Woman Under the Influence, Love Streams is about mental illness and those who love the mentally ill.Cassavetes plays Robert Harmon, a wealthy philandering writer who has no real commitments of any kind. We see him in bed with two women as a third answers his door. His life is made up of constantly feeding hedonistic inclinations.Gena Rowlands plays Robert's sister, Sarah, and is mentally ill. She is currently going through a divorce with her husband Jack (Cassavetes regular, Seymour Cassel), who has been unfaithful. Her daughter chooses to live with Jack, and Sarah is completely destroyed.It is a true vision of illness. A film like Silver Linings Playbook is a sweet-natured little film, but it is in the end just a romantic comedy with lovable characters. Robert and Sarah, on the other hand are not stuck in a formula. We have no idea how their journey will end. Ultimately, they are both mad and have so little to rely on, outside of their love for one another. Sarah begins with a declaration and by the end the sentence turns to a question."Is love a continuous stream? Does it stop?"The Evaluation:The BFI put this film as one of the top 250 films of all time (no. 231 to be exact), and it absolutely deserves it. In reality, I think a number of his films deserve to be on that list. (Faces being my favorite).This film is two and a half hours of living with very flawed, real people. It is, at times, excruciating. Such as the scene in the backyard of Jack's house where Sarah tries desperately to make her husband and daughter laugh, and instead they stare blankly, without mercy. Rowlands is so in tune with her character that I began to see her as Sarah by the end.Cassavetes performance is a tour de force of hard emotional avoidance. However, his performance is also funny and compassionate. At one moment, he turns to his son that he hasn't seen since his birth (while giving him beer for breakfast) and explains, "I don't like men. I don't make any money on them. They're not interesting to me. Someday, when you're 14, go hitch-hike across the country and see real men. Not the ones here in suits. See what they're really like." A few moments later, he leans back and says, "I don't like women anyway, you know. I like kids and old people. They don't need anything. They're innocent."Matt and I had a conversation a little while ago about how we feel about comedies. For the most part, they fail because you don't care about the story or what happens to any of the characters, you just wait for the next punch line. The better option seems to be to make a drama or action film or whatever and add comedy. This film is the perfect example of that. The funny moments are so funny, simply because you are so invested. In fact, the physical comedy here is far funnier than anything in a Woody Allen comedy.From a review by John Moret, via allstarvideo.org

A wonderful film that is beautifully presented by Criterion Collection!

Film, picture quality and sound are all great. The extras are very good too, although there are no subtitles available for the extras. The SDH subtitles are available for the feature film, only.

Like most the things in my life it took me years of searching to get Cassavettes movies. YEARS. No one stocked or could order them. I finally got mos the best ones in NYC. Now, this day in age, you can have it come to your front door. You should get as many as you can and enjoy each one, but know, it wasn't always this easy and the search was just as fun as the viewing.

Cassavetes's last personal film, his true swan song, is riveting and strange, offbeat and memorable.

I did not expect to see Seinfeld and Elaine quotes. I had to stay with it; I was ready to turn it off pretty quickly but hung in there. Gena Rowland gets 5 stars easily!!

Finally available on digital and a Criterion treatment to boot? I'm completely stoked as this is a favorite of mine. I will be more than happy to retire my VHS when this comes out. According to the Criterion website it's going to contain the Michael Ventura documentary "I'm Almost Not Crazy" as well. Very nice addition. This movie like most/all of John's is not for everyone but for a minority it is a god send. It looks like this Criterion release may contain an extra ~18 minutes of the film compared with the timing numbers on my VHS copy. Thanks John and Criterion!

Great Film With A Really Good Transfer To High Definition. Quality Acting From Actors With Plenty Of Experience That Seem To Transcend The Story However The Story Is Very Strong To It's Own Merit.

Love Streams is at the height of Cassavetes. A truly remarkable film and belongs up there with, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, two films on my top 20 movies of all time. A towering insight into the interplay of inner human desires and search with their gestures expressing everything by the superbly selected cast at the top of their game.

Oui , ce si grand film , qu'il faut voir et revoir , qu'il faut visionner véritablement , plan par plan , séquence par séquence , qu'il faut prendre le temps de creuser , d'apprivoiser ... véritable choc renouvelé alors que je l'avais vu il y a bien longtemps , dans un cinéma d'art et d'essai , encore étudiant ...Oui , comme un torrent d'émotions , de sentiments , de ressentiment , de colère , d'injustice , d'incompréhension , d'errements , de perditions , avec ces personnages semblant sur le point de tomber à chaque pas , si fragiles , si humains , nos frères !Comme une volonté et une quête désespérées d'amour , grandiose ou frelaté ou à quatre sous , qu'il faut trouver , à tout prix , entre frère et soeur , entre père et fils , entre époux ...Comme une noyade dans l'alcool , sinistre et gaieComme l'incomparable capacité de Cassavetes à laisser son film avancer , progresser à tâtons , toujours plus riche et nuancé ....faussement improvisé et nonchalant ... et en réalité hautement " concerté " , savamment orchestré et tellement tenu , en réalité ... car ce film apparemment débraillé est , en fait , monté avec la plus grande rigueur et c'est bien le montage qui , au final , parachève et signe le chef-d'oeuvre ! les séquences s'enchainent tout en souplesse , avec un naturel inouï ; rien ne semble forcé , artificiel ...Comme cette incomparable illusion du naturel filmé , de la vraie vie , des simples et ô combien intenses moments de vie , qu'il nous amène à partager et qui nous laisse pantelants à la fin de son film : le divorce devant le juge ! les animaux que la soeur ramène ! les sketchs comiques pas drôles ! le bowling !Comme son incroyable sûreté dans le choix d'acteurs qui incendient la toile : Rowlands , Seymour et lui le premier , car quel acteur à la riche palette , Cassavetes !Comme cet art si difficile à expliquer , analyser et pourtant qui nous laisse si reconnaissantsOui , un de ces films qui aident à vivre , je pense , si profondément optimiste , paradoxalement , quand on va au fond des choses et après 2h20 ...Très belle copie restaurée en BR .Très bon documentaire sur la réalisation du film , montrant Cassavetes au travail , cherchant les meilleures solutions , s'expliquant sur son film...Beau livre de synthèse sur l'oeuvre .Cela justifie le prix élevé .Mais je ne vois pas l'intérêt de la double édition dvd /BR , à l'heure où les lecteurs BR se trouvent à des prix très bas ...

John CASSAVETTES reste peut etre le plus grand réalisateur américain. Ce coffret minime en témoigne via 2 films sur 30 ans. Un enfant attend de 1963 EST POUR MOI UNE RéUSSITE .Bien avant les autres, il parle de la différence,des enfants rejetés car improductifs à leur majorité...Burt LANCASTER y trouve peut etre son meilleur role, et Judy GARLAND y révèle sa légendaire sensibilité...malgré un tournage éprouvant( alcool...dépression...). Au final , un film mal recu à l'époque, mais brillant pour moi. Quand à LOVE STREAMS, ce film-testament est à revoir 10 fois avant d'en saisir toutes les subtilités..Toute sa vie, John CASSAVETTES n'aura parlé que d'amour. tous ces films en témoignent.Il montre les etres humains dans leur travers, tellle cette scène de John aviné avec une belle métisse, on reste dans la VIE, et j'aime JOHN pour ca ! Et puis le livret est très intéressant car il montre à quel point John était indépendant...A cause de Stanley KRAMER, cinéaste médiocre mais lucratif en entrées, John eut beaucoup de mal à travailler après le film de 1963...Il continua toutefois sa carrière, car, très bon acteur, on le réclamait souvent sur les plateaux..et puis ses projets de cinéastes purent malgré tout continuer.Un cinéaste et acteur à revoir ABSOLUMENT ! ARNAUD.

Great to see criterion do a release of this 30 years after the film came out.this is different than his other films in feel and atmosphere,it's quite dreamlike in places but still very much him.this film defies any easy description but thats just one more thing i love about it.

Le film est un pur chef d'oeuvre, une puissance narrative fantastique et une interprétation qui l'est tout autant! J.Cassavetes est definitivement un realisateur sous estimé! En ce qui concerne l'edition WS, encore un superbe travail editorial, du tres bon boulot, meme si je ne suis pas fan du choix des jaquettes et leurs couleurs.