Faces Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A rich guy gets bored, yells a lot, and somehow gets nominated for an Oscar; it’s the original ‘Succession’, but with more screaming.

🍿 Faces: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Richard’s Announcement and Departure

Richard Forst, a middle-aged businessman, abruptly informs his wife, Maria, that he wants a divorce and is leaving. Their marriage has been deteriorating for years, marked by a lack of communication and underlying unhappiness. This unexpected announcement sets off a chain of events for both Richard and Maria as they navigate their newfound freedom.

Richard and Jeannie

After leaving Maria, Richard seeks solace with Jeannie Rapp, an escort he’s been seeing. He seems to believe he’s in love with Jeannie, and perhaps the feelings are reciprocated. The scenes between Richard and Jeannie explore themes of aging, the search for intimacy, and the complexities of relationships built on transactional foundations.

Maria’s Night Out and Chet’s Arrival

Distraught and seeking distraction, Maria goes to a nightclub with friends. There, they meet Chet, a charismatic young man. The women bring Chet back to Maria’s house, where they continue the evening’s revelry. Chet’s presence serves as a catalyst for Maria’s exploration of her own desires and frustrations.

Maria’s Despair and Chet’s Attempt to Help

After her friends leave, the night takes a dark turn. Maria, overwhelmed by the emptiness of her life, attempts suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. Chet discovers her and tries desperately to induce vomiting, grappling with the gravity of the situation and the profound despair of a woman he barely knows.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Richard Forst (John Marley): A disillusioned middle-aged businessman who leaves his wife in search of something more.
• Maria Forst (Lynn Carlin): Richard’s abandoned wife who seeks connection and validation after her husband leaves.
• Jeannie Rapp (Gena Rowlands): A young escort who becomes involved with Richard and offers him a different perspective.
• Chet (Seymour Cassel): A young man from Detroit who seduces Maria and challenges her views on life.
• Freddie Draper (Fred Draper): A drunken friend of Richard’s who is present during his night out.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Richard Forst: “I don’t feel like getting depressed tonight.” – Richard says this in response to Maria’s suggestion to watch a Bergman film, highlighting his avoidance of serious emotions.
• Maria Forst: “There’s a Bergman film in the neighborhood.” – Maria’s comment is a reference to Ingmar Bergman, a director known for his serious and introspective films, indicating her intellectual interests.
• Chet: “What’s the point?” – When trying to help Maria, Chet asks ‘What’s the point?’ as the meaning of life and love escapes him.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $275,000
• Domestic Gross: None
• Worldwide Gross: $7,236

💥 Faces Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, wow, ‘Faces’ is intense! It’s like peering into a stranger’s messy divorce but feeling strangely connected to their pain. The handheld camera made me feel like I was right there in the room, awkwardly close to every drunken outburst and tearful confession. Gena Rowlands is captivating; you can feel her character’s struggle with loneliness. Definitely not a feel-good movie, but a powerful one that sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of independent cinema”
  • “Those interested in character-driven dramas”
  • “Viewers who appreciate realistic and unflinching portrayals of relationships”
  • “People interested in films that explore themes of isolation and existentialism”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes including marital infidelity”
  • “Suicide attempt”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Alcohol use”
  • “Scenes of emotional distress”

Professional Reviews

• New Yorker: “Kael was more interested in the theater audience’s reaction to the picture than the picture itself. She noted that everyone in the crowd seemed to accept this ‘bad office party’ with the utmost seriousness, as if what they were witnessing was extremely personal and important.
• PolarisDiB: “It’s a great film, though it’s an uphill battle to watch. It’s amazingly written but it’s very inaccessible. I’d recommend it, but you must heed that it won’t be something you can just sit down and escape into.
• KoiMoi: “Faces is one of the first American films to reach to the core of people’s relationships. It provides wonderful insight into a lifestyle that is distinctly American. The detached way that the characters interact most of the time is only a logical conclusion of the commerce-driven world we live in.

Audience Reactions

The raw, realistic acting made the characters feel like real people with real problems.: Viewers praised the film’s unflinching portrayal of marriage and its ability to evoke uncomfortable truths about human relationships.

Overall Consensus: Faces is a raw and unflinching look at marriage and loneliness, dividing audiences with its intense style and lack of easy answers, but earning praise for its powerful performances and realism.

Awards

1. National Society of Film Critics Awards (Best Screenplay)- 1968
2. National Society of Film Critics Awards (Best Supporting Actor)- 1968

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Cassavetes used a mostly non-professional crew and shot the film in 16mm black and white to give it a raw, cinéma vérité feel.”
• “The film was shot over a period of several months, mostly at night, because the actors had other jobs during the day.”
• “Steven Spielberg worked as an uncredited production assistant on ‘Faces’ for two weeks early in his career, after Cassavetes invited him to the set.”

🖥️ How to Watch Faces?

Faces (1968) is available for streaming and digital purchase on platforms such as Criterion Channel, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video. Check your local listings or streaming services for current availability and rental options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Faces, you might like these similar films:

• Husbands (1970): Also directed by John Cassavetes, it explores similar themes of male friendship and midlife crises with a raw, improvisational style.
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966): Examines the volatile dynamics of a troubled marriage through intense dialogue and emotional confrontations, similar to the marital strife in ‘Faces’.
• A Woman Under the Influence (1974): Another Cassavetes film focusing on the raw and unflinching portrayal of a woman struggling with mental health issues and her relationships.
• Marriage Story (2019): A modern drama that delves into the complexities and emotional toll of a dissolving marriage with nuanced performances and realistic dialogue.

🛒 Faces Related Products

• John Cassavetes: Five Films (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A collection of five essential films from groundbreaking director John Cassavetes, presented in high-definition Blu-ray quality. This collection showcases Cassavetes’ unique style and features groundbreaking performances.
• John Cassavetes: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series): Explore the mind of John Cassavetes with these insightful interviews. Gain a deeper understanding of his filmmaking process and artistic vision.
• Faces (1968) Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. Perfect for framing and displaying your love for classic independent cinema.
• Cassavetes on Cassavetes by Ray Carney: Nearly 100 pages about the making of Faces. Book provides more light on how Cassavetes got the amazingly intimate and exposed performances he did.

🎧 Soundtrack

Faces features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Love Is All You Really Want” – performed by Jack Ackerman

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Face Off – Nicolas Cage Plays Everyone, EVEN YOU – Best Movie Ever

Ever wondered how Nicolas Cage can play *anyone*? This hilarious review of “Face/Off” breaks down his iconic performance and makes you wonder if he’s actually just playing himself. Seriously, it’s worth a watch just for the Cage-isms!

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