The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Movie Review
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Review
"The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" Overview
Rating: R
1976
Cast and Crew
Director : John CassavetesProducer : Al Ruban
Screenwiter : John Cassavetes
Starring : Ben Gazzara,Timothy Carey,Seymour Cassel,Robert Phillips,Morgan Woodward,John Kullers
One of John Cassavetes' grittiest films, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, if
nothing else, gives us Ben Gazzara in a virtuoso performance. His haughty strip
club owner is full of sadness and great lines, and though his story is
circuitous and overlong (particularly the 1976 original; the 1978 version is
about half an hour shorter), it's got moxie. The dilemma at hand: Should the
broke Gazzara kill a rival Chinese bookie in order to wipe out his own $23,000
gambling bet? Heavy stuff, but it takes its sweet sweet time in getting to the
point.
Read more on this film, with other Cassavetes classics.
Reviewer: Christopher Null
