Faces
Faces is considered to be the first breakout independent film, as it was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Cassel's performance. The opposite end of the spectrum from Minnie and Moskowitz, Faces is the anti-love story of an unsatisfied married couple who seek solace with others—he with a prostitute (Gena Rowlands), and she with an aging hippie (Seymour Cassel). The film is not easy to watch as the characters strip each other down emotionally, revealing painful vulnerabilities and shortcomings. The relationships of the characters feel so volatile, ranging from screaming laughter to violent rage in seconds, that it creates an unbelievable tension that is maintained through the film's two hours.
by M. William Helfrich