Husbands

Certainly captures a moment in

Devastatingly raw and funny, John Cassavetes creates a tension-filled atmosphere like no other in Husbands. Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara and the director himself provide powerhouse performances and enable this film to be one of Cassavetes' best works.

A very anti-hollywoods type of film from the 70's churned out by actor-turned-director John Cassavetes. The 3 leads are pretty engaging and there are a few strong moments. Overall, Husbands is a mildly fascinating yet narratively fumbled indie.

Silly three men messing around. Sketchy and lengthy. This is terrible and disgusting, but somewhat gripping. I love their broken friendship. There are some funny moment, too.

I loved it so so much. These characters (these men!!) were so awful and so frustrating it's such a perfect description of the kind of male friendships that tends to drive me insane. The ones that make you wonder if those supposed friends are really friends? because they just seem constantly aggressive and annoyed with one another and never seem kind, open or understanding. And they were so unlikable as people that I almost couldn't stand it. They're so unlikable but somehow at the same time I couldn't help but being drawn to them (and therefore, kept watching the movie and didn't just turn it off). I just love it so much. ++ John Cassavetes officially won my heart with that small dialogue about astrology ("I'm a Sagittarian and I'm short. But I have a lot of charm don't I?" PLEASE)

Cassavetes is pretty hit-or-miss for me, and this one is more of a miss. It's intimate and important, but it can't help but seem like an overlong ripoff of Catcher in the Rye, with multiple middle-aged protagonists and a fear of death replacing a fear of failure. The shots are close and almost claustrophobic, and the dialogue carries the director's signature style - with an authentic, improvisational feel, with characters talking over one another rather than simply reading lines. The film is unnecessarily long (how many scenes of this trio getting drunk and trying to pretend they're young do we really need?), but provides an important look at an uncomforable subject - aging from the male perspective - that innovates from where midcentury productions like Death of a Salesman left off, allowing them to commit acts of cruelty or anger, recognizing the faults of the three leads and providing some background into their motivations, but refusing to forgive them. I suppose its repetitive nature can be construed as a function of the film, to reiterate the themes, but it does feel without purpose at times. Falk, Gazzara, and Cassavetes are all certainly good actors, but the distinctive lack of structure in their delivery will likely polarize potential fans. (3.5/5)

A very dark comedy/drama that leaves you feeling empty, but I am sure that despite its random narrative it is one that all husbands would identify to some level with. Also a cultural timepiece of the expectations of husbands and their lives.

I feel the movie itself was well done and it had a somewhat unique premise. The major drawback was these guys are the kind of guys whose general demeanor I hate. I guess the creators succeeded in holding my attention, but I wish I wouldn't have wasted the time with this movie because I strongly dislike those guys, particularly cassavetes's character.

At nearly two and a half hours, Husbands is a story without a story, depicting three men practically entirely in their very unhealthy friendship.

I love Cassavetes, and the acting in this is, of course, terrific. But how much misogyny is really necessary here?!