yesterday and i go to the monthly antique flea market that come to town . i really have no interest in such thing and but i go for the fellowship of friend who do have such an interest . look over the hundred of vendor and pass many of them quickly and i spot someone selling vhs tape and dvd . most of the film he have on dvd be rather recent while the old one i notice be the 1940 cary grant irene dunne co starrer my favorite wife . but the vhs tape and by their nature and be mostly old film . i couldn not resist buy something since they be be sell at 3 tape for $ 10 . 00. what a bargain and a eddie murphy use to say . i come across one film that i have hear about for year but have never see represent john cassavettes open night ( 1977 ) . well and i certainly want that be a fan of gena rowlands and and i have hear that this film contain one of her fine performance . he also have face ( 1968 ) . i have see this about 20 year ago and a time when i probably have not have enough life experience to appreciate it thoroughly . and i want to take advantage of the bargain and so i grab that one too . my other choice be claires knee ( 1970 ) . when i get home and i decide to put aside the work i have plan to do so that i could watch open night . i be totally enthral by this film . it focus on myrtle gordon ( gena rowlands ) and a famous actress of stage and screen and who and during out of town preview and be have personal and professional problem come to term with both her character and the play theme of face age . after one rehearsal and an avid fan and autograph hound accost her with cry ( and tear ) of i love you . i love you . a few minute later and this fan be hit by a car and kill . this begin myrtle descent into herself where she must face her own fear of age and the future of her career a a mature actress and and the inadequacy she find in the play itself ( write by a much old female dramatist and play by joan blondell ) . throughout the film and she see the dead girl and an obvious symbol of her past while drink almost constantly while and receives insincere support from her director ( ben gazzara ) and the producer ( paul stewart ) and her costar ( john cassavettes himself ) and and the dramatist . actually and theyre more concerned about how her behavior will affect them and their career represent flub line on stage and improvise new line and generally crack up on stage and and arrive for the broadway open totally drunk . this story function not only to address the issue of age but also to promote cassavettes displeasure with mainstream movie making . a i watch the film and i be at time surprised and confused and amused and disparaging and but ultimately involved and entertain and and satisfy . cassavettes really have a great sense of humor and care very much that his audience understand what he be imply and and want them to be emotionally involve in the story . he make allusion to all about eve with the use of the avid theater fan and even dress the young girl in a slicker and hat similar to the one worn by anne baxter at the beginning of that film . this allusion function most obviously to support his age theme and the contrast of the old and young woman . he also obviously use the contrast a a symbol for myrtle confront her own lost youth . at first and i felt the symbolism be too obvious and but then i realize that that be cassavettes intention . he doesn not want his audience misunderstand what he get at while if they do and it would interfere with their emotional involvement . this spectre of youth haunt myrtle and attack her and and want to destroy her . myrtle eventually kill her and but before she can really come to term with herself and the play and she must reach bottom ( another figurative death . ) . so cassavettes have her get so drunk that she can not walk and must crawl to her dressing room the night the play open on broadway . she resurrect herself ( help yourself out of such situation be also important to the film theme ) and make the play a success by give a great performance and change the direction of play for the good by improvise so that it contain some ray of hope for the age character she play . these scene be funny and interesting . cassavettes and rowlands actually do the play in front of live audience and who do and do not know they be go to be part of a movie . the play theyre do also act a contrast represent it mainstream and self serious about the issue it address and that be and until myrtle change it denouement . in do so and she also improve the work of her co star . the natural evolution of interaction ( achieve through improvisation ) between and among human being and subjective realism and and universal truth these be cassavettes concern in make film . gena rowlands be amaze throughout . of course and she have that great face and and cassavettes ( notoriously in love with her throughout their marriage ) treat u to numerous closeup of it so that we too can feel her emotion and that we know what go on inside of her . she make you care so much about this character that you want to see her work her way out of this crisis of the soul . and this be what hold your attention for the 2 hour and 30 minute run time . the film be deliberately pace at time and require constant attention and but anyone with interest in good film making and great acting will be reward . someone else say that this be a movie for people who love movie . all others be forewarn . seek out open night if you have never see it . everyone in it be excellent and and it one of cassavettes best film .