Gloria

"Gloria" is directed by Gena's late husband, the also very talented John Cassavetes. The story is simple but touching: one boy, Phill, has his family murdered by gangsters. Gloria, who is a neighbour has taken the boy from the apartement before the crime happened. So she and the little boy spend most of the film trying not to get killed by these mobsters. To make things worse, Phill has got a black book given by his dad in which he had written everthing he knew about the mafia when he worked for them as an accountant; plus, Gloria herself is an ex-con, who had had some reltionships with these very same guys.

This film is very violent and bloody, but on the other hand, it is very human. The relationship between Gloria and Phill grows up slowly -- once she doesn't like children very much -- ; and it is very believable. Gena is hard as a rock -- as Gloria would be if she were a real person. She received an Oscar nomination for this, which is one of her finest work. And it kept me wondering what things Gloria had faced that made her like this. The boy is also good and he is the light point of the movie; the comments he makes are so innocent that they sound funny.

The score is competely amazing and unforgettable, and goes very well with all scenes. And the opening credits written on some paitings is breathtaking. Cassavete's direstion is precise and the script is smart and serious.

I think the only small problem in this movie is that is very dated and nowadays it looks a bit old. I'm not talking about the fashion, but some situations. But on the other hand, there's an up-dated version of "Gloria" starred by Sharon Stone, which is really, really awful. So I'd rather watching the "old" one -- even with some 'old' things -- than that modernized one. That's why I highly recommend this picture!