Film Forum

U.S., 2009
Directed by Richard Shepard
Featuring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Steve Buscemi, Sam Rockwell 
Approx. 40 min. DCP.

“John Cazale was five-for-five when he died: five big screen appearances, all of them classic performances in classic ’70s films. THE GODFATHER, THE CONVERSATION, THE GODFATHER PART II, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, and finally, THE DEER HUNTER. And then he died at 40 of lung cancer in New York City in March, 1978, eight months before his final performance in THE DEER HUNTER was seen by the public. I KNEW IT WAS YOU: REDISCOVERING JOHN CAZALE is properly saddened by the premature demise of its subject, a talent whose star was only beginning to burn. This documentary hits all the expected (and welcome) emotional buttons.” – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com

Reviews

“Both touching and an informative look at the actor’s craft, director Richard Shepard's documentary talks to a who’s-who of Cazale’s contemporaries as well as younger actors who revere him. Before it’s done, he’ll break your heart all over again.”
– Brian Lowry, Variety

“Packs a wealth of caring and admiration for its subject without ever feeling sanctimonious, showy, or overly nostalgic.”
– Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine

“A lively summation of Cazale’s career, but its real success comes in demonstrating that, had he lived, he’d be mentioned today in the same breath as Pacino, Streep, Robert De Niro, and Gene Hackman—i.e., the Mount Rushmore of American Film Acting.”
– Adam Sternbergh, New York Magazine