Gloria (1980)

When a young boy's family is killed by the mob, their tough neighbor Gloria becomes his reluctant guardian. In possession of a book that the gangsters want, the pair go on the run in New York.

From memory: Unusual for a Cassavetes movie, this is almost a straightforward gangster thriller, fast moving and full of twists; beyond that, Gena Rowland steals the show as the tough woman who can take it up against anybody.

Halliwell*: "Overlong but lively and oddly entertaining; however, one is never quite sure what if anything it is getting at."

Maltin**: "Good-looking but way overlong melodrama, which Cassavetes may or may not be playing for laughs."

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

A humanoid alien comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet, and he starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft.

Highly idiosyncratic science fiction tale with lots of pretension; wonderfully produced and photographed, with quite a few memorable scenes, but rather difficult to follow.

Halliwell*: "A weird piece of intellectual science fiction made weirder by longueurs of all varieties: obscure narrative, voyeuristic sex, pop music and metaphysics. Not an easy film or a likeable one, despite its great technical skill."

Maltin***1/2: "Highly original, fabulously photographed adaptation of Walter Tevis' classic fantasy novel is riveting for the first two-thirds, goes downhill toward the end. Still tops of its kind."