Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Mikey and Nicky, written and directed by Elaine May



I never saw this film before and I always assumed it was written and directed by Cassavetes. But no, it is Elaine May and in interviews the actors acknowledge that she wrote every word, none of it was invented by the actors on the spot. That is both a testament to Falk and Cassavetes' great acting and May's great writing. Filmed in Philly where she grew up, May claims to have mob people in her family that gave her both the plot idea and the language used.
Nicky (Cassavetes) calls Mikey (Falk) to rescue him—this time a contract on his life for money he stole from his mob boss—Mikey shows up to help.  Mikey gets him out of the hotel where he has holed up, and starts to help him plan his escape, but Nicky keeps changing the plan, and a hit man is hot on their trail. Betrayal and friendship take center stage. 
This is a violent film. Yet all the violence arises from the plot and the characters. The slick streets emphasize the hazardous nature of the night. The treatment of women is both horrendous and believable to the times and the men. Ned Beatty is very good too. Highly recommended although not for a nice night out.

What is your favorite film about the mob (THE GODFATHER I and 2 excluded)

17 comments:

Margot Kinberg said...

I've never seen this one, Patti. But it does sound good. And any honest film about the Mob is going to be not the sort of film to see on a nice night out...

George said...

I'm a fan of Fritz Lang's The Big Heat (1953).

Steve Oerkfitz said...

Can't remember if I have ever seen this one.
My favorite mob movies other than The Godfathers? Hands down it would be Goodfellas. Followed by Once Upon A Time in American and Casino.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

I should have included The Long Good Friday. A British film starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren.

pattinase (abbott) said...

All good ones, S teve. Oh, I had the chance to see THE BIG HEAT a few days ago and passed it up.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Haven't seen The Big Heat in decades. THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY is a classic.

Jeff Meyerson said...

"Made it, Ma. Top of the world!"

Cagney in WHITE HEAT.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I am not sure I have ever seen WHITE HEAT either. Just bits from it. Never a Cagney fan despite Megan's love for him.

Jeff Meyerson said...

I'm with Megan. I love Cagney. We watch YANKEE DOODLE DANDY almost every year.

Todd Mason said...

MIKEY AND NICKY is certainly up there, and not excluding the GODFATHER films. BOUND. And William McGivern's THE BIG HEAT as directed by Lang.

I still haven't gotten around to seeing THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE.

Did see POINT BLANK and PRIME CUT again recently and liked them both even better than the first time.

Sentimental grade-inflation for THE ORGANIZATION.

Todd Mason said...

The original GLORIA.

Steve Oerkfitz said...

Love Friends of Eddie Coyle and Point Blank.
Never liked Gloria. It contains one the worst performances ever by a child actor.
Big Heat and White Heat show up quite often on TCM.

Todd Mason said...

The kid is a bit OTT in GLORIA, but he is supposed to be putting up a smartass/brave front.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Loved GLORIA and strangely can't remember kid's performance at all, POINT BLANK, PRIME CUT but never saw THE ORGANIZATION. THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE is sensational.

Todd Mason said...

THE ORGANIZATION is the third Virgil Tibbs film featuring Poitier...not up to IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, but better than THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS. The solid ending and the shifting notion as to what "the Organization" actually refers to throughout the film both help. Very good cast, too.

Todd Mason said...

Oh, yes. BULLITT.

Todd Mason said...

And the original GET CARTER.