Minnie And Moskowitz (1971)
JOHN CASSAVETES
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB.5. USA, 1971. Faces Music, Universal Pictures. Screenplay by John Cassavetes. Cinematography by Alric Edens, Michael D. Margulies, Arthur J. Ornitz. Produced by Al Ruban. Music by Bo Harwood. Production Design by Victor E. Petrotta Sr. Costume Design by Jules Melillo. Film Editing by Frederic L. Knudtson.
Seymour Cassel and Gena Rowlands in Minnie And Moskowitz
John Cassavetes brings his take-no-prisoners style of filmmaking to the romantic screwball genre, fashioning a totally off-kilter tale of two unlikely lovers. Classy, ladylike museum employee Minnie (Gena Rowlands) meets violent-tempered, crass parking attendant Moskowitz (Seymour Cassel) and something between them clicks. They go out on disastrous dates that end with misunderstandings and drag-out fights, but work towards the realization that they want to try and be together. The supporting characters that surround them are often even more bizarre than our leads, particularly a hysterical scene in a restaurant when Minnie agrees to go out on a date with a long-suffering admirer who loses his marbles at the dinner table. Unlike most Cassavetes ventures, this one is a bitter pill with a sweetness at its centre.
