[LastFilmIWatched]Faces(1968)

Title:FacesYear:1968Country:USALanguage:EnglishGenre:DramaDirector/Writer:JohnCassavetesMusic:JackAckermanCinematography:AlRubanCast:JohnMarleyGenaRowlandsLynnCarlinSeymourCasselFredDraperValAveryElizabethDeeringGeneDarflerDorothyGulliverJoanneMooreJordanDarleneConleyRating:8.0/10IttakesanacquiredtastetobecomfortablyandthoroughlyengagedinCassavetes’intenselydishearteningdramaturgyofbourgeoisennui,FACESisirrefutablyafeatherinhiscup,notintheleastforitsunsparingcinéma-véritébravura,onecouldonlyimaginewatchingitinfrontofacelluloidwiththoseintrusive,sidlingüber-closeupsunderlinedbythatgrainymonochrome,howdifferentwoulditbefromanythingelseintheyearof1968?WatchinginonaTVscreenmightbealessdizzyingexperienceanditmayevenlendahelpinghandfortheaudiencetobecomemoreappreciatedofCassavetes’scalpel-likedissectionofaninternecinerelationshiptanglewherenoonecomesoffasunscathed.Thefilmtakesthecourseroughlywithinoneday,wearepeeringintothedisintegrationofa12-year-oldmarriagebetweenRichardFrost(Marley,whophysicallyresemblesanelderversionofCassavetes),awell-offmoviefinancierandhisyoungerwifeMaria(Carlin),plusitsimmediateaftermath.WhatticklestheideaofdivorceintoRichard’smindisanotherwoman,JeannieRapp(Rowlands),aclassyfilledejoiewhoistentativebythecourtshipfromoneofherpatron,whomshemightalsofallfor.WhilstRichardvisitsJeannieinherapartmentwiththepresenceofherotherclients,Maria,pent-upafterreceivingtheboltfromtheblue,hangsoutwithhergalpalsinaclubandtheybringbackayounggo-godancerChet(Cassel)tofindsomecheapsolace,buttheproblemisalwaysthemorningafter,doesshehavethecouragetofaceanewday?Whatelsecanadomesticatedwomandowhensheisgoingtoacast-off?Thestorypansoutintimatelyinitsinterior-exclusiveepisodes,burnishedbywhatdynamoofacast,thefilmgalvanizesourattentionfromAtoZ,itishardtotellwhetherthedialogueandplay-offissemi-improvisedorstrictlyscript-based,butCassavetesrelentlesslypresseshomeabrisktensionofficklenessandturnsofmoodsthroughthelengthyprocedures,twofriendsbanter,jape,danceuntiloneofthemfindshimselfbecomesaninconvenientthirdwheelandhesnaps;thesamecoup-de-théâtreoccursalmostrepetitivelyineachepisode,whetheritisbetweenRichardandMaria’sabruptlydisconnectedduologue,orthetangibledisquiet/agitationbetweenJeanineandherclientJimMcCarthy(Avery,awonderfulchameleon),orlaterthemachoconfrontation/reconciliationbetweenJimandRichard.ButitisthechapterwhereMariaandco.facingoffawoman-pleasingChefleavesthemostindeliblemark,foritsutterlyfrankexposeofalonelywoman’sdelusionanddesperationundertheinfluenceofalcohol,theunsungherohereisDorothyGulliverx27;simportunateFlorence,youcannothelpbutfeelingpityforher,butthepityisconcomitantwithawhiffofinvoluntarydisgust.Thecastispuregold,JohnMarleyupstagestherestwithhissilverfoxalluresodamningpungentineverylinedeliveryandgesticulation,deceptivelypapersoverRichard’sdarkstreakwithawinning/poignantcomboofopen-facednessandbluntness,onlybelieshisshallownessandmiseryinthemorningafterasanexasperatingcuckold.Ms.Cassavetes,theunparalleledGenaRowlandsdrumsnuancesintoeveryporeofherbodyandeveryglanceshecasts(alsothankstothemajesticallyin-your-faceshotstocreatethatstunningeffect).HoweveritistwonewbieswhoaregivensomelegitimateOscarlove,LynnCarlinisstrippeddowntoherrawemotioninherfilmdebut,whichpowerfullyelicitsMaria’scloggedmentalstateandcounterpoisesitslife-threateningafter-effect;ontheotherhand,ablondandyouthfulSeymourCasselbeautifullyoozessexappealandwide-eyedsophisticationasanunexpectedlyselflesssymbolofsaviortoallthosewrenchedanddissatisfiedhousewives,hisChetisthediagonalcounterpartofRowland’sJeanine,onlyinexeuntomnes,hehastorashlyfleefromawindowwhereasshemighteventuallygetwhatshewants,ifonewannawriteaboutsexpolitics,FACESisagoldmine.Mostsuitably,FACESshouldbeensconcedasasmolderingpendantofMikeNichols’WHO’SAFRAIDOFVIRGINIAWOOLF?,botharehell-bentintearingdownsmokeandmirrorstodebunklethargy,inactionandmythomania(amongmanyothermaladies)aboundinallrelationships,dareyoutowatchthemcheekbyjowl!referentialpoints:Cassavetes’AWOMANUNDERTHEINFLUENCE(1974,7.3/10),OPENINGNIGHT(1977,8.1/10);MikeNichols’WHO’SAFRAIDOFVIRGINIAWOOLF?(1966,8.2/10)