Mikey and Nicky
Directed by Elaine May
Written by Elaine May
1976/US
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Criterion Channel
Mikey: I’m not gonna stand here at one o’clock in the morning and discuss what’s gonna happen to me when I die. I mean, that mishegoss I leave to the Catholics.
[he walks off]
Nicky: Aren’t you gonna die some day? Aren’t you gonna die some day? Aren’t you gonna die some day? I just wanna know, are you gonna die some day?
This character study/thriller is something unique from Elaine May and uses two great actors to their limits.
First, I think this is a movie that is best seen knowing as little as possible about the plot. I will not spoil the ending but may be saying more than the viewer needs to know which is really nothing.
Anyway, Nicky (John Cassavetes) has many problems: he has an exquisitely painful stomach ulcer that threatens to rupture; he looks to be at the height of the manic phase of a bipolar disorder; and he is terrified that people are out to kill him. The paranoia is justified since Nicky has crossed a crime boss in some unforgiveable way and is on the run. He is also sort of a jerk who thinks it is funny to humiliate people and fun to stir up trouble.
So Nicky calls his childhood friend Mikey (Peter Falk) for help. Nicky can’t stay in one place for long so the two spending the night careening through Philadelphia and getting into one crazy jam after another. The two also discuss old times and relearn hard truths. With the always effective Ned Beatty.
I liked this even better on a second viewing. I keep getting a feeling that there’s something that should be justly criticized but no I love it unreservedly. I love Peter Falk and this complex portrayal is one of his very best performances. The film has the Cassavetes improvisational feel. I have no idea what he contributed other than some equally good acting. It’s hard to explain but the dialogue is written in such a way that it could be hilarious if the subject matter weren’t so dark. This is not an upbeat movie but I highly recommend it.
SPOILERS
No spoilers!
