Marisa Tomei Reveals the Film That Redefined Cinema For Her

For nearly every actor, there's a single movie that stands out as the ultimate source of inspiration—the one that made them want to pursue the craft. This could be anything from a little-known foreign film to a massive blockbuster that demonstrated the magic of holding an audience spellbound. For Marisa Tomei, that film is a classic from a director consistently named a favorite by Hollywood's elite, and it's easy to understand why.

A New Vision for Hollywood

Anyone who appreciates cinematic art holds John Cassavetes in high regard for revolutionizing Hollywood with his independent filmmaking, breaking rules to forge a new path. His first film, Shadows, was a monumental moment for the industry. Its experimental, improvisational style, heavily influenced by its jazz soundtrack, ushered in an era where authentic, naturalistic stories found an audience. Cassavetes proved you didn’t need a fancy studio, a huge crew, or big-name stars to create something powerful.

He quickly became a pivotal figure in cinema, often working with his wife, Gena Rowlands, whose sheer talent elevated his projects to another level entirely. Their work together has inspired generations of movie lovers. Many point to A Woman Under the Influence—a raw look at domestic life, gender roles, and mental breakdown—as their masterpiece.

The Performance of a Lifetime

While Tomei also admires that film, she names Opening Night as her personal favorite. It’s a masterfully constructed story featuring a stunning performance by Rowlands as a Broadway actress whose mental stability unravels after she witnesses the death of a young fan. Tomei, whose career has spanned from Chaplin and her Oscar-winning role in My Cousin Vinny to The Wrestler and Avengers: Endgame, said that seeing Opening Night was the moment she truly understood what film could be.

It's a bit ironic how a love for such raw art eventually leads to a role in the MCU, as the two seem to exist on opposite ends of the creative spectrum. Still, in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Tomei explained her deep connection to the film. “Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes. [I chose this one] because of Gena, because I watched it when my mind was first opened up to what cinema could be when I was a young actress starting out and discovering the scope of film.”

"The Whole Package"

Elaborating on her admiration for the actress, she added, “Everything that Gena does in this, as well as in A Woman Under the Influence, the way that it explores femininity and masculinity and the devastating edges of masculinity, as well as so many colours that a woman can be: her fierceness, her devastation, her heartbreak, her going mad…”

Tomei also highlighted the surprising behind-the-scenes reality of making such a high-caliber film, explaining that her choice was about more than just the on-screen product. “And then to understand a film could be shot in someone’s house, that you could just do this, you could find a way to carve your own path away from prescribed studio roles. So, I chose this for the whole package.”