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I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale
R0 - America - Oscilloscope Laboratories Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (28th July 2014). |
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The Film
 There are scant few actors in the motion picture industry who have left such an indelible legacy despite appearing in so few pictures as John Cazale. In the span of a mere six years, Cazale appeared in only five films, yet all of them would go on to be considered masterpieces of their time. Two of those films, “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather Part II” (1974), are listed among the best films ever made. Even though Cazale was a co-star in these films, acting alongside cinematic luminaries like Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, and Al Pacino, his performances are often singled out for their raw emotion and nuanced realism. The man was a master of his craft, imbuing his roles with idiosyncrasies that are so subtle as to be almost imperceptible, yet it was those little flourishes that cemented his status as an actor to watch. He could convey so much with a minor facial tick, or the look of dread that was often cast in his eyes. In those six short years, Cazale had relied solely on his acting, and certainly not his unremarkable looks, to secure roles that might have otherwise gone to typical Hollywood talent, and his star was rising fast. Unfortunately, that trajectory was cut short when, in 1978, he was diagnosed with cancer. An avid smoker for nearly his entire adult life, Cazale caught the disease in its later stages, giving him little time to hope for a rebound. After completing his final film, “The Deer Hunter” (1978), Cazale passed away at the age of 42 before the picture was released. He left behind a legacy consisting of so few films, yet each is held in such high regard that filmmakers are still being inspired by the work he left us with. That was over 30 years ago, but his mark on cinema hasn’t faded in the slightest. His contemporaries, as well as a host of new acting talent, all remember his work fondly and vividly. Many people are familiar with his face (or they simply know him as “Fredo”), though few seem to recall his name. Filmmaker Richard Shepard, who considers Cazale to be his favorite actor of all-time, felt that fact needed rectifying. While doing some research during a period of unemployment, he found that very little was known about Cazale, the man, and that someone who possessed such natural abilities should be given greater recognition for his work. So, with a rough concept in mind for a documentary, he set out to make “I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale” (2009). There was one major hurdle he had to overcome first, however: the participation of Cazale’s lover at the time of his death, Meryl Streep. Since his passing in 1978, Streep had never done any on-camera interview discussing their relationship or his untimely death. Shepard knew that without Streep’s involvement he had no picture. Thankfully for him, and fans of Cazale, Streep was persuaded to join the effort due to some friendly pressure from Cazale’s brother. Although this is ostensibly a documentary, it really plays more like a short film. The entire picture runs a mere 39 minutes with credits, and can be considered a minor success in casting a light on who Cazale was as a person, not just an actor, though it doesn’t delve deep enough to be entirely successful. The nuts and bolts of his acting career are well known at this point. All five pictures he appeared in while alive – “The Godfather”, “The Conversation” (1974), “The Godfather Part II”, “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975), and “The Deer Hunter” – were nominated for Best Picture. Even his final film “performance”, via archive footage, in “The Godfather Part III” (1990) was nominated for Best Picture. It’s a feat no other actor has achieved. “I Knew It Was You” features candid recollections from those who knew him best – Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Francis Ford Coppola, Richard Dreyfuss, Gene Hackman, playwright Israel Horovitz – as well as those who greatly admired his talents – Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell, and director Brett Ratner, who also produced this documentary. As expected (and deserved), all of these Hollywood heavyweights gush effusively about his incredible abilities in front of the camera, the pathos he left dripping from screens, and how his work ethic forced other actors to step up their own game. For all the talking done about his portrayals on screen, very little time is devoted to who he was in real life. Descriptions of his personality and demeanor are glossed over, and the only real aspect of his personal life given much insight is the relationship he had with Streep. Meryl helps anchor the picture by reminiscing on how well she and Cazale clicked; their union, short lived as it was, felt so natural to the both of them. Still, those looking for a wealth of information on his life will leave disappointed. His childhood, upbringing, and life outside of acting are given a fraction of the time other subjects are afforded. It’s fantastic that this film exists, still many will be left wondering what could have been if more of his life were exposed. “I Knew It Was You” is a remarkable testament to an actor felled too soon in his career, before he had a chance to hit his stride and continue delivering amazing performances. It’s hard to believe that, although every film he had a role in was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, Cazale himself never received a nomination during his lifetime. It seems almost criminal, especially when looking back on the work he did all these years later. It’s slightly ironic that a man known for his depth and range as an actor finally gets his due in a documentary, yet it lacks those exact qualities. While it’s impressive to see the number of big names Shepard is able to pull in for interviews, this is mostly a gushing puff piece that only scrapes the surface of Cazale’s life. In many ways this film plays out like his life, too short and leaving viewers wanting more; seems fitting.
Video
There’s varying quality to be found in the film’s 1.78:1 16x9 anamorphic picture. The interviews all look fairly strong by DVD standards, featuring accurate colors, moderate definition and good contrast. The archival film clips used, however, look pretty rough. By director Shepard’s own admission, he couldn’t afford negatives for insertion so he used DVD and Blu-ray sources, the limitations of which are very apparent even on a DVD. There are compression artifacts, poor definition, things look very muddy… it’s not pretty. At least the interview segments, the stuff that really counts, that footage looks presentable.
Audio
Ignore the back cover’s claim of a 5.1 option, because all that’s present here is an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track, which, frankly, is all this film needed. It’s all talking, with little to no room or need for action, so as long as the dialogue is balanced, clear and easy to understand we’re good. And we are good. There’s minimal underscoring used to move the picture along and set the appropriate tone for scenes; it works seamlessly into the fabric of the picture. Subtitles are included in English and French.
Extras
There are some great extra features included here, featuring an audio commentary, extended interviews, and two short films that involved Cazale. Director Richard Shepard kicks things off with an enthusiastic audio commentary track. After explaining what drew him to make a film about Cazale, he talks about securing the actors for interviews, specifically how Streep was key to making it happen. Considering how short the film is, getting a few extra tidbits from this track isn’t a bad idea. Al Pacino extended interview (16x9) runs for 19 minutes and 49 seconds. Israel Horovitz extended interview (16x9) runs for 22 minutes and 29 seconds. “The American Way” (1962) (4x3) is a short film, starring John Cazale, that runs for 10 minutes and 10 seconds. “The Box” (1969) (4x3) is a short film, with Cazale serving as the director of photography, running for 9 minutes and 48 seconds. The disc also includes bonus trailers for the following Oscilloscope releases: - “Wendy & Lucy” runs for 1 minute and 37 seconds. - “The Thorn in the Heart” runs for 1 minute and 58 seconds. - “Terribly Happy” runs for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. - “The Messenger” runs for 2 minutes and 18 seconds. - “The Maid” runs for 2 minutes and 21 seconds. - “The Exploding Girl” runs for 1 minute and 47 seconds. -“Howl” runs for 1 minute and 43 seconds.
Packaging
The single disc comes housed in Oscilloscope’s standard fold-out digipack. A cardboard side-loading slipcover houses a multi-fold package full of pictures and an essay on Cazale, with the disc slid into a holster inside.
Overall
Cazale’s cult following has only grown in the years since his death, as new fans come to recognize his tremendous talents and seek out what little work he left behind. This documentary runs a bit too short, and only glosses over some aspects that should have been given more depth, but it succeeds in revealing a little more about an actor so few know anything about.
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