MIKEY AND NICKY
US, 1976, 118 minutes, Colour.
Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, Ned Beatty, Sanford Meisner, Rose Arrick, Joyce Van Patten.
Directed by Elaine May.
Mikey and Nicky was written and directed by comedienne Elaine May. May had written a number of comedy sketches with her then husband, director Mike Nicholls. She also appeared with Walter Matthau in the film A New Leaf.
As a film-maker, she is eccentric and extravagant. This reached a peak in the mid-'80s with the amount of money spent on the comedy Ishtar with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, which she wrote and directed. With this film, long unreleased and then mainly on video and television, she gives an opportunity for John Cassavetes and Peter Falk to improvise their acting for almost two hours. The film is a two-hander between two gangsters, Mikey, who is pursued by the mob and about to-be killed and goes through his life, and Nicky, his friend, who ultimately betrays him.
The film will be exceedingly tedious to watch for most audiences - although the two actors give tour de force performances. Ned Beatty appears as an assassin. A piece of specialised Americana.
1. The impact of the film, portrait of two characters, their situation, interaction? The skill of their improvised acting? The editing of their performances together? The audience's ability to stay with the performances?
2. The title, friendship, the truth of the two characters?
3. Elaine May, her writing, directing, film-making style?
4. The basic situation: the death of the criminal and the report in the newspaper, Nicky and his fear, in the hotel, dependence on Mikey, paranoia, the friendship, the anguish? His sharing his anguish and his life with Mikey? The talk, the insights into their personal style, relationship over many years? Argument? The review of their life? The hotel sequences, the life of the city, eating together, the cinema, the visit to the cemetery, the girl and sex, the growing dangers, the visit to family, the ultimate betrayal?
6. The actors and their improvising skill, insights? Nicky and his desperation, acting it out, fear, love, friendship, exploring the meaning of his life? Mikey, tentative, friendship, sharing, clash, betrayal?
7. The assassin and the contact, his driving, the wrong street, contact with the bosses, the criminal boss and the friends, meetings and discussions? Mikey and the contact with the assassin? The communications, the shooting?
8. Mikey and his family, the phone calls, contact and betrayal, with his wife, the ultimate fear, Nicky shot at the doorstep?
9. The effect of this two-hour experience of being close to two characters, their lives, meanings, frustrations, betrayal and death?
