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Film: Mikey & Nicky
Director: Elaine May
Country: USA
Released: December 1976
Runtime: 106 minutes
Genre: Crime Drama
Studio: Castle Hill / Paramount
Influenced: Jim Jarmusch, Abel Ferrara, Paul Thomas Anderson, Lynne Ramsay, Safdie Brothers
Elaine May is one of the great unsung heroes of American cinema. Her first two directorial efforts – A New Leaf (1971) and The Heartbreak Kid (1972) – were comedies involving treachery within a marriage, while Mikey & Nicky is a drama revolving around betrayal within a friendship. Shot in 1973, the film went through a troubled production process, including delays, extensive editing and a release that was postponed for several years. The film eventually came out in 1976, three years after its initial production. May was known for her meticulous approach to filmmaking, often shooting a significant amount of footage – in this case, over one million feet of film, an extraordinarily high amount by any standard – then taking an extensive amount of time in the editing process. May withheld footage and insisted on maintaining creative control, at the expense of conflict with the studio, which eventually took legal action against her, leading to further complications and delays in the film's release.
Those who knew May from her early comedy club days in Chicago and New York, in partnership with Mike Nichols, remember her taking notes for a play about two low-level mobsters, who are childhood friends who turn on each other. The movie follows the lives of Mikey (Peter Falk) and Nicky (John Cassavetes), who are embroiled in a world of betrayal, paranoia and impending danger. The plot revolves around Nicky, a small-time criminal, who believes that he is being hunted by mobsters after he stole money from a crime boss. In his desperate attempt to save himself, Nicky turns to his childhood friend, Mikey, for help. Mikey, who is torn between loyalty and self-preservation, agrees to assist Nicky and offers him refuge throughout the night. The film takes place in the dark and gritty streets of Philadelphia, adding to the atmospheric tension that permeates the story.
As Mikey and Nicky try to elude their pursuers, their friendship is tested to its limits. Through a series of flashbacks and conversations, the complex dynamics of their relationship are revealed, exploring themes of trust and betrayal. There are moments of real suspense, when Mikey and Nicky hide in seedy hotel rooms and navigate through the city's back alleys, and other moments that really capture the fear and paranoia that consume the characters, heightening the tension. One of the notable innovations of the film is its improvisational approach, with May allowing the main actors, Falk and Cassavetes, to improvise many of their lines and interactions, resulting in authentic and raw performances. This improvisational style adds a layer of realism, making the emotions and actions feel genuine and unscripted.
Mikey and Nicky's legacy primarily rests on its portrayal of complex male friendships and also what would now be called toxic masculinity, as embodied primarily in the actions of Nicky and his treatment of women. The film is also hailed as a character study that examines the human psyche under pressure and the fragile nature of trust. The film's dark and gritty atmosphere, combined with the exceptional performances by Falk and Cassavetes, has made it a cult classic among cinephiles and a significant influence on subsequent crime films. It is also prized for May's directorial style and her unique ability to capture the emotional depth of her characters. No other film allowed her the same freedom to showcase her talent for crafting intense and intimate scenes, solidifying her reputation as a skilled director.
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