To be honest, I really didn't expected to like this movie, mostly since its entire premise and set-up sounded pretentious but as it often turns out with me; I'm actually quite fond of this 'different' and more art-house type of movie.
The movie is an entirely improvised one, so that means that the acting is also being that way. It works refreshing, especially with all of its dialog but it makes it also obvious that not all of the actors in this movie are being very great ones.
Still, the style of improvising for this movie is one that works out and makes this movie throughout a good one to watch. Not always an interesting one but a good one nevertheless. As often is the case with these improvised type of movie, it tends to drag on with certain sequences, though it can be argued that this is also actually being something that adds to the realism and rawness of the overall movie.
But I really wont pretend as if this is the best example of what the genre is capable off. The movie still does plenty wrong. To be frank, some of the directing can get really sloppy in this movie and it often features sudden cuts and obviously later put in in-between shots. Another thing that the movie does a somewhat bad job with are its characters. It really isn't clear from the beginning on which character or characters are supposed to be the main ones. This won't became apparent until very late into the movie. You could definitely blame the improvisation style of the movie for this.
But all in all, I still liked watching this different, little and honest movie, by John Cassavetes. It's well shot with some nice camera-work and it shows the atmosphere and environments of the late '50's New York. It's story also involves some good themes such as racism and interracial relationships, which was something that just didn't get featured very often in movies around that time.
7/10
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