Mikey and Nicky (1976)
2.5/4
Elaine May is a woman of extreme talent. She knows dialogue very well; she is one of the best writers in film. But where I think her talents fall short is her 1976 effort 'Mikey and Nicky'. Personally, I think this movie would be better on the stage than the screen; so much of it is talking and acting to the camera, and not really much else. There really isn't a located plot either. I found this movie to ramble on and on from scene to scene, and thought that it failed immensely as sharp, edged entertainment like some of Elaine May's other work. While I have to admit that the two leads are very good when they're on the screen, I found this movie, unlike other movies with John Cassavettes and Peter Falk, to be curiously boring and uninteresting.
The film follows Nicky (John Cassavettes), on the run from the mob, as he turns to his old friend Mikey (Peter Falk) for desperate help.
The plot has lots of twists and turns, but none of them really come unexpected. Unfortunately, this movie isn't able to tread any new ground, and you can't stand the characters. While, yes, it's true, the two leads do have chemistry, and the dialogue is well written by Elaine May, but it never goes anywhere. This is a fascinating experience for me, everyone I know who's seen this movie really likes it and or loves it, except for me. I can understand why people can like the movie, but not love it.
I think the best part of Mikey and Nicky is Elaine May's dialogue, because that's what makes the performances good. But what I don't think works is the tired approach to the story, which isn't anything but predictable. Elaine May may have taken an interesting risk here; but, unfortunately for me, I think she failed. 'Ishtar', I think, is still a better showcase of May's talents, because that movie has everything that this movie tried and failed at - an interesting direction, some good acting from Hoffman and Grodin, and lovable characters.
2.5/4
Elaine May is a woman of extreme talent. She knows dialogue very well; she is one of the best writers in film. But where I think her talents fall short is her 1976 effort 'Mikey and Nicky'. Personally, I think this movie would be better on the stage than the screen; so much of it is talking and acting to the camera, and not really much else. There really isn't a located plot either. I found this movie to ramble on and on from scene to scene, and thought that it failed immensely as sharp, edged entertainment like some of Elaine May's other work. While I have to admit that the two leads are very good when they're on the screen, I found this movie, unlike other movies with John Cassavettes and Peter Falk, to be curiously boring and uninteresting.
The film follows Nicky (John Cassavettes), on the run from the mob, as he turns to his old friend Mikey (Peter Falk) for desperate help.
The plot has lots of twists and turns, but none of them really come unexpected. Unfortunately, this movie isn't able to tread any new ground, and you can't stand the characters. While, yes, it's true, the two leads do have chemistry, and the dialogue is well written by Elaine May, but it never goes anywhere. This is a fascinating experience for me, everyone I know who's seen this movie really likes it and or loves it, except for me. I can understand why people can like the movie, but not love it.
I think the best part of Mikey and Nicky is Elaine May's dialogue, because that's what makes the performances good. But what I don't think works is the tired approach to the story, which isn't anything but predictable. Elaine May may have taken an interesting risk here; but, unfortunately for me, I think she failed. 'Ishtar', I think, is still a better showcase of May's talents, because that movie has everything that this movie tried and failed at - an interesting direction, some good acting from Hoffman and Grodin, and lovable characters.