Review of Faces (1968) by Laird J — 14 Jun 2008

The gritty naturalism and psychic characterizations of Cassavetes are to this day unparalleled by American independents. Alcohol fuels and enhances the wild (and violent) mood swings of a couple in what is probably the last days of their marriage.

The men of Faces are walking mid-life crises, insecure in their masculinity, desperate to relive their youthful sexual escapades, to have their whole existence validated by the women they seek to dominate.

They are self-centered, pathetic, whimpering cowards who lie to and manipulate everyone around them in order to satisfy whatever psychological or sexual need that plagues their soul. The women then are just like walls on a racquetball court: a place for these men to bounce their neurosis and insecurities off of, with little concern of what effect, if any it might have on the women.

The psychological verisimilitude and depth achieved in just one scene in Faces outweighs that of entire films that would claim to be about similar material. Brilliant and disturbing, and at times extremely humorous (and really it would be unbearable grim and unrealistic were there not so much levity).

The performances which, as the title suggests, often consist of little more than a glance or an expression are pretty much flawless. While not much of a landmark in cinema style, it's a masterpiece in its own right for all of the reasons mentioned above, as well its mere existence as an American independent feature made in 1968.