A common friend's sudden death brings three men, married with children, to reconsider their lives and ultimately leave together. But mindless enthusiasm for regained freedom will be short-lived.
Digitally restored, it remains a gruelling and sometimes exasperating film, notable for its raw performances – as well as its avoidance of close-ups and point-of-view shots.
Cassavetes is determined to tell the truth about misogyny, which is theoretically to his credit, but the movie is unyielding and underdeveloped, like a semi-interesting draft for something John Updike decided against writing.
Pauline Kael, reviewing the film at the time, wrote, "I think I gave my all by sitting through it." I know how she felt.
Husbands is something to be savoured.
Husbands may not be structurally perfect, but it’s an unsentimental dissection of ego, fear and masculinity nonetheless.
If Cassavetes' hipster cine-language has lost a little of its age and the innovative improv style won't be for everyone, the themes he tackles, riffed by a masterful group of actors, remain enthralling.
The result is highly uneven, painfully drawn-out, deeply sincere, wildly misogynistic and at times agonisingly tedious. It is also intermittently brilliant, with moments of piercing honesty.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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