Minnie and Moskowitz (John Cassavetes, 1971)
Gena Rowlands in Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)
John Cassavetes was already on that Kickstarter shit 50 years ago, man. He was the first filmmaker to ever do it. He invented that shit.
Sasha Grey’s header photo on twitter is John Cassavetes. She’s talked a lot before about how Cassavetes is one of her favorite filmmakers. For some reason, I do believe her but one of my friends insists that she’s just being a pseudo-intellectual or a poser so she can further establish this image of herself as the intellectual and profound arthouse porn star or whatever and hasn’t actually seen any of the films that she’s constantly mentioning. To defend her, I’ll just leave this hilarious quote posted by some guy on the internet: “-and she does not seem like a “poser” at all to me. anyway, who is she trying to appeal to? the sizable crowd who watch ass2mouth between servings of the rules of the game and aguirre, wrath of god?
99/365 - Faces by John Cassavettes
My first Cassavettes film. Instantly, it reminded me of Allen’s Husbands and Wives with the same theme and camera movements with the only difference being it’s shot in black and white and removes the documentary style of film making and becomes more of a observational film. The movie puts you into the story of a middle age man who for no reason, decides to leave his wife and finds a younger women. I appreciate the film style and thought the writing was great, but the pacing was irritating and slow. I don’t hate this film and I feel like I’ve learned quite a bit from it, but I don’t think I’ll be returning to it anytime soon. Maybe when I’m at the age of the main character, I’ll return to it and perhaps understand it in a more mature viewing.
I personally think Faces is a tough place to start with Cassavetes. His films ain’t easy to watch to begin with, but Faces could rank as his most difficult. Usually, I would suggest A Woman Under the Influence which I believe is his most accesible film. That’s where I started and Faces might’ve been my second film. The first time I saw Faces, I think I might’ve had the same reaction that you had. I thought it was okay but I didn’t appreciate or understand the pacing and the length. But, I still went on to watch his other films. About less than a year later, my John Cassavetes Criterion boxset arrived so I gave Faces another chance and with that second viewing, everything just fucking clicked. I felt every emotion that the film offered and my mind was completely blown to say the least. I literally could not believe what I just saw. I immediately thought, this is not only the greatest film that I’ve ever seen, but this must be the greatest film ever made. Now, I am just sharing this to you because I hope you give this film and his other films a chance. I just feel terrible for other people who are missing out on having their lives changed by this man. Cassavetes’ films must be seen more than once and I promise you, you will get it, and you will leave with a better understanding of yourself, of life and humanity.
Gena Rowlands plays the role at perfect pitch: She is able to suggest, even in the midst of seemingly ordinary moments, the controlled panic of a person who needs a drink, right here, right now.
—Roger Ebert’s review of Opening Night
John Cassavetes’s “Love Streams” is the kind of movie where a woman brings home two horses, a goat, a duck, some chickens, a dog, and a parrot, and you don’t have the feeling that the screenplay is going for cheap laughs.
—Roger Ebert’s review of Love Streams
