Review of Opening Night (1977) by Matty S — 18 Dec 2013

Though critically panned during its time of release, "Opening Night" is one of John Cassavetes best films, albeit one of his most challenging.  The film is plagued with extreme close-ups, moments of complete ugliness, and the dark truths of life.  With any other filmmaker, it would be a pain to sit through, but the way Cassavetes presents everything, from the cinematography to the distinctly intimate acting style, is highly fascinating.

Starring Gena Rowlands, Cassavetes wife and frequent collaborator, stars as Myrtle Gordon, an aging stage actress who begins to suffer mentally when a young fan (Laura Johnson) she meets get hit and killed by a car; Myrtle feels responsible.  Already a heavy smoker and drinker, she becomes ever more dependent, and as time wares on, her guilt causes her to begin hallucinating about the dead girl, which hurts the production of the play she's in.

In any other director's hands, "Opening Night" would simply be another melodrama, possibly marking a comeback for a fading actress (a la Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard"). But Cassavates seems to want to, rather than entertain us, examine a woman who is declining mentally.

At first, it's easy to point to the fact that Myrtle is an alcoholic, and that's single-handedly the reason why she is losing touch with reality. But it later becomes evident that she is actually struggling with the fact that she is getting older, her face filled with wrinkles and devoid of the beauty that once was there.

When she sees her fan get killed, that's when the trigger is pulled. It's clear that Myrtle finds the young woman remarkably similar to her at that age - passionate, beautiful, and dramatic. She is seen in Myrtle's hallucinations, and in those moments, Johnson is dressed identically to Rowlands, pointing out that Myrtle's past is far behind her.

Cassavetes gives the film a claustrophobic feeling that aids to the idea of its lead character's misery. Though she is successful, at any moment a different up-and-coming actress could steal her place at any moment. Even if much of the film itself is improvised, Cassavetes creates a tight atmosphere that seems ready to snap at nearly any moment.

Rowlands, an actress singlehandedly most famous for her work with Cassavetes, turns in a performance so excellent that it could be seen as one of the most powerful and influential. A follow-up of sorts to her bravura turn in "A Woman Under the Influence", Rowlands is the main attraction. At times, the film can be a bit challenging, but she keeps us glued to the screen at all times.

It isn't scenes with dialogue where she stands out; it's the quieter moments. All we can see is her face and body language, and we can see that there is a war going on inside her mind. Rowlands is so committed to the role and so focused, that even by the time "Opening Night" is over, we can't help but want to see more of her messy journey. The ensemble also includes veteran actress Joan Blondell in most likely her best role, and Ben Gazzara, both of which mesh perfectly with Rowlands' outrageousness.

"Opening Night" may not always be easy, but by the end, you can't help but be in awe when considering the immense talent on display. A fantastic film, hands down.