The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

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The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

R

1976

2h 15m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort (Seymour Cassel), he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.

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Critics Consensus

Ben Gazzarra gives a grand performance as a hard-pressed debtor with delusions of grandeur in this naturalistic and tense thriller.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

03/16/2019

3.5/5

The genre elements are mostly subterfuge because otherwise [Cassavetes would] basically be bleeding on the screen.

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Jay Cocks

TIME Magazine

05/03/2013

When Cassavetes is really cooking, even the moments that are awkward and forced can become electric.

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Empire Magazine

05/03/2013

4/5

With a heavily improvised script Cassavetes gets the most from his actors, each giving emotive performances.

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Jacoba Atlas

Los Angeles Free Press

11/18/2019

[John Cassavetes] undercuts his own abilities with a passionate belief in non-structured cinema, meandering story lines, poor camerawork and overindulgent acting styles.

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Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

04/04/2019

It's a movie about a testy, outsider artist and his gang of misfit collaborators, the John Cassavetes biopic once removed.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

03/04/2019

3/4

Gazzara exudes cool and calm while also stinking of panic.

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Shioka O

1h

A silly men's story and it's all about style. less structure more indie and self-indulgent.

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Anson L

Nov 30

It's rather like a shaggy dog story operating inside a chase movie. Chinese Bookie is the more insouciant, involuted and unfathomable of the two; the curdled charm of Gazzara's lopsided grin has never been more to the point.

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Cecilia S

Nov 4

With a heavily improvised script Cassavetes gets the most from his actors, each giving emotive performances.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Sep 24

Success in 2.25 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 17 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Isa B

Jun 8

For the record, this review is for the 1978 version of the film, which is the better cut in my opinion. John Cassavettes' use of tight lens shots creates a sense of confusion as to what just happened, which I think is very true-to-life. For instance, when his girlfriend walks in on the audition and attacks the other girl, the audience is left for a moment to guess what exactly happened. When Cosmo shoots the man in the car, initially, we aren't sure what happened. Did he slam the door on him? Did he shoot him? I didn't know if that was a gunshot or what. That is how it truly is when witnessing a split second action that you aren't expecting. Five people can witness a car accident, and undoubtedly, all five witnesses will have a slightly different account of what took place. All will be telling the truth too. Perception is key and my perception of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is that it is a very unique and truly great film by John Cassavettes. It is one of my favorites. 92/100

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john h

Jun 1

The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie is an extremely expressional and almost camera-sloppy work from Cassavetes, which, the rebellion aspect of freedom can be expected in many of his works. The movement of the camera implies that we are in the same state as Ben Gazzara's character in the midst of a terminal night.

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John Cassavetes

Director

Ben Gazzara

Cosmo Vitelli

Timothy Carey

Flo (Gangster)

Seymour Cassel

Mort Weil (Gangster)

Azizi Johari

Rachel

Meade Roberts

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Synopsis

Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort (Seymour Cassel), he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.

Director: John Cassavetes
Producer: Al Ruban
Screenwriter: John Cassavetes
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2016
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround

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