a really sweet, optimistic, funny, love story by John Cassavetes. Not at all what you'd expect of him. Gena Rowlands (Minnie) works in a museum, is having an affair with a repulsive married man (Cassavetes) until his wife tries to kill herself in fro... (read more) a really sweet, optimistic, funny, love story by John Cassavetes. Not at all what you'd expect of him. Gena Rowlands (Minnie) works in a museum, is having an affair with a repulsive married man (Cassavetes) until his wife tries to kill herself in front of their kids so he dumps Rowlands. She's on the worst blind date in history when she meets Moskowitz (Seymour Cassell), a ponytailed, luxuriantly moustachioed deadbeat who parks cars. Against the odds they make each other happy. Brilliant final scene with Moskowitz's mother ("You're a pretty girl, you got great hair, you can get a normal man!") who I think was played by Cassavettes' own dear old mum.

Minnie and Moskowitz is the most pathetic and ungraceful love story I've ever seen. Between Minnie, a disillusioned museum curator whose abusive married boyfriend dumps her and leaves her even more uptight and confused than she already was, and Seymo... (read more) Minnie and Moskowitz is the most pathetic and ungraceful love story I've ever seen. Between Minnie, a disillusioned museum curator whose abusive married boyfriend dumps her and leaves her even more uptight and confused than she already was, and Seymour Moskowitz, a parking attendant so desperate for attention that he spends his nights going to bars and restaurants aggravating people, there is a chaotic and disenchanted match from the start. Just like so many pairings that we see every day.

In nearly every love story, there is a man and a woman, the man being confident, funny, either classically hot or attractive in his own way, whose shortcomings are charming, and the woman a wounded soul who could have any man she wants who chooses this guy because there's just something about him. These movies make everyone feel so good because the characters embody what every man and woman wants to be, not what they are. Minnie and Moskowitz, instead of indulging in any hint of fantasy in the realm of romance, depicts people who may just be more common than the attractive, confident people with so much experience playing the field. What's the story behind the love affairs of the ugly, alarmingly awkward man with no life and no job that we all run into, or the woman so crippled by insecurity that it's difficult to talk to her?

This film is not as fascinating as Cassavetes's Faces or Opening Night, but it has that riveting quality that Cassavetes always fought so hard to render, which is an unbridled depiction of people underneath the ego that hides behind itself in nearly all other films. Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel, delivering startlingly pitiable people, are hardly likable. Moskowitz nearly drives us mad, let alone Minnie. He imposes himself so forcefully in her life, the dates are an explosion of the inner voices of ours that respond to the screamingly inept uneasiness on dates we've all been on, rejections we've all swallowed, and arguments we've all had that we know were our own faults. I admire a film like Minnie and Moskowitz because, as the trademark is with the films Cassavetes helmed himself, it identifies with us in 100% honesty. Our egos play no part in company with his characters, thus a tremendous achievement per performance by actor.

Una comedia? A lo mejor si, pero a lo Cassavetes. Un entramado de acciones que rozan con lo irracional, a fin de cuentas una historia de amor loco. Filmado con el impetu tradicional del maestro. Sobre las interpretaciones, son un parrafo aparte, rezu... (read more) Una comedia? A lo mejor si, pero a lo Cassavetes. Un entramado de acciones que rozan con lo irracional, a fin de cuentas una historia de amor loco. Filmado con el impetu tradicional del maestro. Sobre las interpretaciones, son un parrafo aparte, rezuman realismo en cada fotograma. Excelente.

The loudest romantic comedy you'll ever see. It's such a great, genuine spin on the cinematic love story, with wonderful depth in characters and their unique connections. Gena Rowlands is, as always, stunning and she's got at least two monologues tha... (read more) The loudest romantic comedy you'll ever see. It's such a great, genuine spin on the cinematic love story, with wonderful depth in characters and their unique connections. Gena Rowlands is, as always, stunning and she's got at least two monologues that are simply masterful.

John Cassavetes has made great cinema film after film. This especially stands out. I especially love Timothy Carey's performance towards the beginning.

The most untraditional romantic comedy of all time. John Cassevetes masters those moments in life that make us feel awkward and creates characters that are no apprehensive about reliving them. "Minnie and Moskowitz" is both a classic and underrated C... (read more) The most untraditional romantic comedy of all time. John Cassevetes masters those moments in life that make us feel awkward and creates characters that are no apprehensive about reliving them. "Minnie and Moskowitz" is both a classic and underrated Cassevetes film.

As with a lot of Cassavetes, this film can elicit howling laughter at the same time as a kind of disbelief at the painfully awkward, tragic emotional situations unraveling on screen. Characters talk at one another with less hope of being understood ... (read more) As with a lot of Cassavetes, this film can elicit howling laughter at the same time as a kind of disbelief at the painfully awkward, tragic emotional situations unraveling on screen. Characters talk at one another with less hope of being understood than they would have talking at a brick wall: Seymour Cassel as a serial flake who can't get his shit together but is apparently hopelessly in love with Gena Rowlands, the respectable 40-something blonde divorcee who can't cope with her own emotions and hides behind a giant pair of sunglasses. They're perfect for one another, of course. Cassavetes himself is terrific in an uncredited bit part, as is his entire cast of marginal TV actors improvising the dialogue. Absolutely brilliant.

Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel together in a typical Cassavettes style film about love and relationships.

A short and sweet romantic comedy that is delightfully quirky and due for rediscovery. I was sad that this film was not included in the Cassavetes Criterion Collection box set. Gena is as fantastic as ever, especially in her scenes of drunken abandon... (read more) A short and sweet romantic comedy that is delightfully quirky and due for rediscovery. I was sad that this film was not included in the Cassavetes Criterion Collection box set. Gena is as fantastic as ever, especially in her scenes of drunken abandon. I fell that her and Catherine O'Hare are the queens of playing drunk. They make it seem like a dance. Try to find this strange yet charming underrated 70's romance.

i dont think im a big cassavettes fan. i appreciate the new wave style but its just too dry and subtle. granted, ive only seen a couple of his films...and i didnt actually tun the film off so there was something to it.