Husbands (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Husbands. Criterion collection 2 DVD special edition. Cassavetes not only has 2 top 500 films but is rightly known as grand forerunner of independent American cinema. His films have a definite atmosphere and authenticity about them that isn’t just a stagey showcase for actors. Cassavetes, as auteur, gets credit for that look and atmosphere- it’s very anti-Hollywood. He not only sets the tone for future independent cinema (both the good and bad traits of) that still lingers today but is truly one of the great actors turned directors. Raw, uncompromising emotional fireworks.

JOHN CASSAVETES was one of American Cinema's most challenging filmmakers. Unique in that after his first experience making a Hollywood film with Hollywood's money, A CHILD IS WAITING, he vowed never again to make another film where he did not have total control over everything, including the advertising. As a result, he financed most of his films out of his own pocket. HUSBANDS was made with an Independent producer's financing, but Cassavetes had comeplete creative control. I first saw HUSBANDS in high school when CBS ran it as a late night movie. I did not understand any of it. CBS ran it two or three more times and I watched it every time, to try and figure out what other people thought it was great and that I was missing. I wanted to make my own films then, even as a teenager, and I wanted to find out what made John Cassavetes such a power in American Independent Filmmaking. It wasn't until I read ACCIDENTAL GENIUS by MARSHALL FINE that I finally understood. Then, when the American Independent Film Movement took off after the rise of Sundance and the Digital Revolution, I started making my own films following the Cassavetes Model. I discovered the importance of writing a story and characters, and then giving the characters over to the actors to interpret. HUSBANDS is still Cassavetes' most difficult film to follow. But there are very few filmmakers as fearless and naked in their filmmaking as JOHN CASSAVETES. For that reason enough, I wholdeheartedly recommend HUSBANDS. You may not enjoy it. You'll probably hate it. The first time at least. But watch it and listen to MARSHALL FINE's commentary and you will discover much more than you ever imagined. Then give it some time and watch HUSBANDS again. You may still not like it. But you WILL respect it. And if you are or whant to become a filmmaker--or a better filmmaker--you will learn the ferocity of Making An Honest Film. GOOD LUCK, AMIGOS!!!

Oh my god. This is at Cassavetes cruelest. Almost as cruel as Nicky in Elaine May’s best movie. But when JC gets on his horse, you better watch out! The first party scene is EXCRUCIATING. And the funfest doesn’t end there. There’s, what….Three hours of abuse left to go? Oy.

i've bought this on dvd and now the criterion blu-ray. i consider cassavetes to be the best director to ever exist. i truly hate this movie and i watch it once a year. this movie is a chore at no time do you watch this movie - you live it. i hate this movie, it's a masterpiece.

Husbands was a film I appreciated, you can see the amount of effort that went into this story from all involved. I admired the sense of improvisation that you see on screen between the three leads. They work together like a strong jazz band, playing off one another. The film as a whole I liked, but I can see why others may not. It’s a study on masculinity with almost all male characters. Some of the scenes are very controversial. I am glad I watched the film and would recommend it to people who work and admire theater acting.

Cassavetes Film are the Ultimate "Masterclass" in Filmmaking and Acting. Very Thrilled to have this.

Absolutely daring portrayal of USA bourgeois manhood.

Cassavetes has done a great job of drawing portraits of the main characters--very loose but keen on detail, and very natural. Great acting all around. Unfortunately the main characters are absolutely insufferable. Evidently the point of the film is supposed to be death, the loss of a good friend, but this theme gets lost in all the characters' tiresome hijinks--getting drunk, clowning around like 13-year olds, unfunny humor that they think is hilarious (I got so tired of hearing Cassavetes' charater wheezingly laugh at all of his own pointless "jokes"), add a bit of domestic violence on Gazzara's character's part, a spur-of-the-moment to London for gambling and picking up women...it's a great relief when the boys return home to the US and you know the film's about to end. I'm not one of those who believes one has to care about or like characters in a film. But I expect to get some kind of insight out of watching their trajectory in the film. I got nothing out of Husbands except an occasional urge to pack them onto a bus with one-way tickets, where they could drink and guffaw and chase women and be as annoying as they wanted, some place far away.

This is a great film with the 3 great friends in real life starting together. As with all Cassavettes films it’s a clever, tense, involved script. I’m a Huge Ben Gazzara fan and this is an absolute must.