Love Streams (1984)

100% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(1,395 ratings)

In this emotional roller coaster ride, Robert Harmon (John Cassavetes) is a street-wise, sometimes obnoxious writer currently working on a book about the seamier side of buying/selling love, and Sarah Lawson (Gena Rowlands) is an emotive wife and mother struggling through a divorce and custody… More In this emotional roller coaster ride, Robert Harmon (John Cassavetes) is a street-wise, sometimes obnoxious writer currently working on a book about the seamier side of buying/selling love, and Sarah Lawson (Gena Rowlands) is an emotive wife and mother struggling through a divorce and custody battle. When Sarah lands on Robert's doorstep with her suitcases, it seems at first that she has returned to her husband. Robert has several women staying at his place (research sources!), but when his real ex-wife arrives with their young son, he sends the women packing. Sarah, it turns out, is Robert's sister. As the two work out their own live's hurdles -- Robert, the unaccustomed father with his 8-year-old son, and Sarah, trying to cope with her custody battle and its results -- their way of handling adversity and personal burdens becomes the real subtext of the film. This film won the Golden Bear Award at the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 16 min.
Directed By: John Cassavetes
Written By: Ted Allan
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Aug 24, 1984 Limited
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Love Streams is at once a culmination of the director's obsessions and his most atypical film.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
There's no other American director who can do what John Cassavetes does on the screen.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is exasperating, because we never know where we stand or what will happen next. I think that's one of its strengths: There's an exhilaration in this roller-coaster ride through scenes that come out of nowhere.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
John Cassavetes's career of risk taking comes to a climax in this rich, original, emotionally magnificent 1984 film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
This is a great film, and worthy of the effort it takes to sit through it.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A risk taking highly emotional drama about love, loneliness, making a connection and desire.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
One of Cassavetes' most maddening films, but also one of his most wondrous and special.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
With Israeli filmmakers Golan and Globus watching over him, director John Cassavetes was guilty of less self-indulgence than usual, and the result is one of his best movies ever.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

As in any Cassavettes, the good outweighs the bad because the good is fucking amazing.

Cast

            Gena Rowlands as Sarah Lawson

            John Cassavetes as Robert Harmon

            Diahnne Abbott as Susan

            Seymour Cassel as Jack Lawson

            Margaret Abbott as Margarita

            Jakob Shaw as Albie Swanson

            John Roselius as Ken

            Michelle Conaway as Agnes Swanson

            Eddy Donno as Stepfather Swanson

            Doe Avedon as Mrs. Kiner

            Tom Badal as Sam the Lawyer

            Gregg Berger as Taxi Driver

            Risa Martha Blewitt as Debbie Lawson

            Tony Brubaker as Frank

            Alexandra Cassavetes as Backup Singer

            Dominique Davalos as Backup Singer

            Raphael de Niro as Billy

            Robert Fieldsteel as Dr. Williams

            John Finnegan as Taxi Driver

            Joan Foley as Judge Dunbar

            Leslie Hope as Joanie

            Jamie Horton as Porter

            David Rowlands as Psychiatrist

            Al Ruban as Milton Kravitz

            William L. Thompson as Porter

            C. Frank Beetson Jr. as Cashier

            Phedon Papamichael as Taxi Driver

            Logan Carter as Female Impersonator

            Lenny Geer as Lenny

            Kelly Lawrence as Female Inpersonator

            Susan Wolf as Jade Meadows Swift

            Neil Bell as The Dog Man

            Joan Dykman as Phyllis

            Jim W. Jones as Taxi Driver

            Francois Duhamel as Porter

            Michael Stein as Porter

            Christopher Morley as Female Impersonator
See full cast