Episode #61 - James Gray (Nights of Cabiria)

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"I believe in story. I think we need it."

Cinephilia begins with one thing: the love of a gesture, a line of dialogue, the way a camera moves. In the contemporary landscape of filmmaking, whose work better inspires cinephilia that of James Gray? The filmmaker of Little Odessa, The Yards, We Own The Night, Two Lovers, and The Immigrant joins Peter on the podcast to discuss his meteoric rise in the world of filmmaking, his attention to detail in trying to build each of his characters, the production process behind some of his most breathtaking shots, and the importance of story in cinema. Finally the two turn to Federico Fellini's 1957 masterpiece Nights of Cabiria, examining how the film conveys the most important aspect that art can do: the fundamental human decency of any person.

0:00-2:29 Opening

3:18-10:15  Establishing Shots - 3 Years of The Cinephiliacs
11:00-1:06:41 Deep Focus - James Gray

1:07:21-1:09:12 Mubi Sponsorship
1:10:10-1:22:01 Double Exposure - Nights of Cabiria (Federico Fellini)

1:22:04-1:25:45 Close / Outtakes

James Gray's films can be viewed on Google Play or purchase on DVD and/or Blu-Ray from most retailers. We recommend purchasing the 2005 DVD of The Yards, which is the only version of it that retains the film's original 2.35 aspect ratio.
Nights of Cabiria is available via The Criterion Collection.

Notes and Links from the Conversation
-The Hollywood Twin as seen in the poster for Taxi Driver
-USC's Critical Studies program
-Cowboys and Angels is available at USC's film archives.
-The rooftop shot in Two Lovers
-Jerry Skolimowski's Deep End
-Profile of Gray in 1995
-Watch an excerpt from Rocco and His Brothers
-AO Scott's and Richard Brody's reviews of The Immigrant
-Fellini's Il Bidone with Broderick Crawford
-Frank Borzage's 7th Heaven

Theme Music: “Forward” by Northbound

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