Probably the most commercial and approachable work by indie auteur, John Cassavetes’ crime-thriller, Gloria, opens with a nervous and urgent hook that grabs our attention. A mob accountant’s wife (Julie Carmen) frantically tries to make it back to her family’s Bronx apartment with a cart full of groceries, noticing an obvious mobster while speed-walking through the building’s lobby. Totally beside herself, she knows that not only her husband (Buck Henry), but her whole family – daughter and son, included – are marked because of the accountant’s incriminating ledger and his work as an informant for the FBI. While the family desperately tries to think of an (useless) escape plan in their modest apartment, their neighbor, Gloria (Gena Rowlands), ignorant to their situation, knocks on the door just to borrow some coffee. They rush her in, explain about their impending death, and beg her to take their two children, Joan (Jessica Castillo) and Phil (John Adames), and protect them from what’s coming.

Now, Gloria…she ain’t no mother, and she don’t like kids. And in fact, she was a mobster’s girlfriend at one point before she got out to live a quiet, modest life. But for whatever reason, she agrees to take the kids. But with Joan refusing to leave her parents, Gloria only ends up with little six-year-old Phil clutching his father’s damning ledger to his chest, hiding him in her apartment and barely escaping the hit. From here, Gloria, Phil, and the ledger go into hiding, trekking around the different boroughs of NYC while they evade and even fight off groups of mobsters everywhere they turn.

Now, that’s a pretty good foundation for a gripping crime-thriller, right? I’d sure say so. But as with every film, it’s all about execution.

I’m not going to sit here and tell you that this movie is bad, but there’s many significant things about it that just don’t work for me, and the biggest glaring issue in Gloria is Phil. Before leaving him with Gloria and waiting for his imminent demise, Phil’s father tells him, “You’re the man, now,” declaring the necessity for Phil to figure out to grow and be responsible – fast. Regurgitating this to Gloria multiple times, Phil tries to act way older than he actually is. Now, for some, this may play well to the comedic silliness of this movie, but in reality, Phil comes off as quite insufferable. His dialogue sounds like it was written for a character forty years older than him, and it is ridiculous when he repeatedly tries to either make romantic/sexual advances at Gloria. And in all honesty, the pair’s whole relationship is obnoxious with a weird sexual layer that is forced down our throats. Then on top of that, both are annoyingly fickle as they try to get rid of each other multiple times but for whatever reason keep reuniting.

But despite that, there is one saving grace for this picture: Rowlands. From the way she talks, walks, and everything else, you 100% believe Rowlands was formally a mobster’s girlfriend. Yeah, obviously she’s a bit of a softie, but she don’t have time for your bullshit and she ain’t the kind of broad you’d ever want to fuck with. If there is one thing I can take from Gloria, it is having the pleasure to watch Rowlands give a career-best-type of performance as the strong and demanding title character.

Unfortunately, Gloria has too many problems for me to enjoy most of it. It’s messy, repetitive, and much of the dialogue is unforgivably cringey…at least for one character in particular that I’ve already ranted about. But there are moments of good tension, some fun action instigated by our title character, and a great lead performance. For how strong of a foundation this film has, it could have and should have been better. But maybe you’ll get more enjoyment out of it than I did.

Gloria is now available on Blu Ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Home Video Distributor: Kino Lorber
Available on Blu-ray - July 18, 2023
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Region-free playback

The brilliant Gena Rowlands (A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night) gives an Oscar-nominated performance (Best Actress, 1980) as an ex-gun moll and showgirl suddenly forced to protect a six-year-old kid in Gloria. Pioneering director and Rowlands’ partner, John Cassavetes (Faces, Husbands), known for his unique approach to filmmaking, creates a powerful, tension-filled story. An accountant (Buck Henry, Heaven Can Wait) is in possession of a ledger which could put a number of mob bosses behind bars for a long time. Before he is killed, however, he manages to entrust the ledger and his son to a neighbor, Gloria, for protection. Gloria reluctantly takes the kid on the run while keeping the mob at bay, sometimes at the point of a gun. Finally, tired of running, she decides to confront them head on!

Video

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, this restoration taken from an old print from Sony Pictures is decent but not particularly fantastic. There are white specks that are present throughout, but are not too distracting. The image detail is pretty good, grain is balanced well, and color depth, while not super rich, is stable and pleasing.

Audio

Everything in the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless track is great. Dialogue, music, and sound effects are all stable, clear, and mixed well. Nothing to complain about here.

Supplements:

Other than the two trailers, this release is pretty barren in terms of extras.

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

• Two theatrical trailers

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 123 mins
Director: John Cassavetes
Writer: John Cassavetes
Cast: Gena Rowlands; Buck Henry; Julie Carmen
Genre: Crime | Drama
Tagline: She's tough, but she sides with the little guy.
Memorable Movie Quote: "...Had to shoot me with a Magnum!"
Theatrical Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Official Site: https://kinolorber.com/product/gloria
Release Date: October 1, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: July 18, 2023
Synopsis: The brilliant Gena Rowlands (A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night) gives an Oscar-nominated performance (Best Actress, 1980) as an ex-gun moll and showgirl suddenly forced to protect a six-year-old kid in Gloria. Pioneering director and Rowlands’ partner, John Cassavetes (Faces, Husbands), known for his unique approach to filmmaking, creates a powerful, tension-filled story. An accountant (Buck Henry, Heaven Can Wait) is in possession of a ledger which could put a number of mob bosses behind bars for a long time. Before he is killed, however, he manages to entrust the ledger and his son to a neighbor, Gloria, for protection. Gloria reluctantly takes the kid on the run while keeping the mob at bay, sometimes at the point of a gun. Finally, tired of running, she decides to confront them head on!