A Woman Under the Influence

A manic depressive middle class housewife (Gena Rowlands) wants nothing more in life than to satisfy her also slightly off husband (Peter Falk) and be a rock for the rest of her family. As her behavior grows increasingly more erratic, he sees no choice but to institutionalize her for six months and hope for the best upon her return. John Cassavetes' independent groundbreaker is more admirable for its efforts and intentions than for actual execution. Like many of his films, A Woman Under the Influence is self-indulgent and feels strained and stretched to the limit far after a scene or an idea has run its course. However, Rowlands and Falk are nothing short of extraordinary for their brave, unadulterated performances.

Husbands

Feeling their mortality after burying their pal, three middle aged man go on a bender that begins in their hometown New York and ends across the ocean in London as they drink, mourn, exercise, philander, and reevaluate their lives. "Husbands" was John Cassavetes followup to his acclaimed "Faces" and it is, like his other films, a plot thin reflective film that deals with human interactions and emotions. Its stars, Ben Gazzara, Peter Falk, and Cassavetes himself are incredibly strong in their roles and their characters are fleshed out particularly well. However, powerful moments get stretched out and lost in repetitively long sequences. Still, Cassavetes was a director who never followed a rubric, and I appreciate his films because they give you an opportunity to think and reflect. By not rushing and employing a traditional plot and focusing on character, they take on a richer quality. Still, I will not say they are easy going and especially here with "Husbands", again with the incredibly long sequences, it can be hard to sit still.

Faces

After a night of carousing with a friend (Fred Draper) and a call girl (Gena Rowlands), a successful business man (John Marley) returns home to his wife (Lynn Carlin), with whom he seems to get along with. After dinner and some fooling around, he quickly becomes enraged and abruptly asks for a divorce, leaving the house to return to the prostitute. His wife then goes out with her friends and finds herself home alone with a swinging, mindless younger man (Seymour Cassel). "Faces" is an intentionally rough looking and uncomfortable film directed by John Cassavetes, a director whose style strikes me as more European than any American director I can think of (there's even a reference to Bergman here). Shot in grainy black and white and comprised largely of closeups, "Faces" abandons any traditional film narrative resulting in a very realistic portrait. Things are presented on screen and not explained, leaving the viewer to draw their own conclusions. The acting in the film is of the highest order as well. John Marley, who played Jack Woltz in "The Godfather", is very strong and believable as the successful and unsatisfied young man and Gena Rowlands, Cassavetes' wife and film regular, is wonderful as well. Lynn Carlin submits fine work as Marley's vulnerable wife and Seymour Cassel has a very powerful scene we don't expect when his dopey character is introduced. John Cassavetes was a visionary director who was uncompromising with his work. Here, as with much of his work, the result is brimming with authenticity.