2024 Blind Spot Series: Mikey and Nicky

 

(In Memory of M. Emmet Walsh 1935-2024)

Written and directed by Elaine May, Mikey and Nicky is the story of two small-time mobsters who have become estranged as one of them is hiding from a boss after stealing money as he seeks the help of his estranged friend. The film is a crime drama that explores two former friends who deal with their estrangement as well as the trouble they’re both in as it is told in the span of one entire night as the titular characters of Mikey and Nicky are played respectively by Peter Falk and John Cassavetes. Also starring Ned Beatty, Rose Arrick, Carol Grace, William Hickey, Sanford Meisner, M. Emmet Walsh, and Joyce Van Patten. Mikey and Nicky is a gripping and rapturous film from Elaine May.

Set in Philadelphia in the span of an entire night, the film follows a small-time mobster who calls his estranged best friend for help after being in hiding over a theft as he’s also pursued by a hitman. It is a film that is about male friendship between two lifelong friends as they spend an entire night on the run from a hitman while trying assess the situation created by one of them who has become paranoid and unruly. Elaine May’s screenplay is largely straightforward as it is told in the span of 12 hours where Nicky is hiding in a hotel as he knows there’s a contract for his head as he’s stolen money that left someone dead as the boss Dave Resnick (Sanford Meisner) wants Nicky dead with the hitman Kinney (Ned Beatty) in pursuit. Mikey gets the call from Nicky after years of not getting anything from him as he tries to help yet the two would go on the run throughout the city as they also cope with their estrangement as Nicky acts erratic as well as changing plans much to Mikey’s frustrations for much of the night.

May’s direction is quite unique for the fact that much of the film is shot at night and has a looseness in the way she approaches a crime film involving two men who are on the run. Shot on location in Philadelphia as well as Los Angeles, May creates a film that is filled with tension as it plays into these two estranged men who both have families yet Mikey is the one that is devoted as he would call his wife Annie (Rose Arrick) a few times telling her that he’ll be late as she knows something is up. There are some wide shots that May would create to play into the tension and looseness as much of the dialogue feels improvised. Yet, May chooses to be more intimate in the way the titular characters interact with one another through medium shots and some close-ups that includes scenes of Kinney waiting in a car to do his job.

May also plays into this sense of chaos that Nicky would put Mikey through such as a meeting with a hooker in Nellie (Carol Grace) whom Nicky treats terribly and convinces Mikey to try and have sex with her. It is among these dark moments in the film that would lead to its third act as it shows why these two men have been estranged with Nicky becoming more erratic and abusive despite the seriousness of his situation. May also infuse some humor as well as dark humor in how Nicky reacts to things as well as to liven things up as it would be this distraction of him avoiding the issues he is facing. The film’s third act is definitely filled with a lot of dramatic suspense with Mikey making a decision for himself as it also plays into this ending that not surprising but heartbreaking. Overall, May crafts a compelling and riveting film about two estranged friends who are on the run from a hitman as they deal with their estrangement and the severity of their actions.

Cinematographer Victor J. Kemper, with additional work from Lucien Ballard, Bernie Abramson, Jack Cooperman, and Jerry File, does excellent work with the film’s cinematography for using low-key lights for many of the exterior scenes at night as well as some stylish lighting with Ballard bringing a softer look for the film’s final sequence. Editor John Carter, with additional work by Sheldon Kahn, does nice work with the editing as it is largely straightforward that does include some rhythmic cuts to play into the dark humor and suspense. Production designer Paul Sylbert and set decorator John P. Austin do brilliant work with the look of Nell’s home as well as the home where Mikey lives with his family and a few places they go to.

The sound work of Christopher Newman and Larry Jost is terrific for the sound as it is largely straightforward in the way music is played in a bar or the way things sound from afar or up-close outside in the streets. The film’s music by John Strauss is wonderful for its jazz-like score that plays into the drama and suspense while its soundtrack include music from the O-Jays, the Andrew Sisters, and standards performed by Strauss.

The film’s superb ensemble cast feature some notable small roles and appearances from M. Emmet Walsh as a bus driver who gets into a fight with Nicky, Sy Travers as a hotel clerk, Danny Klein as Mikey’s young son Harry, Virginia Smith as Nicky’s mother-in-law, William Hickey as a mob figure in Sid Fine, Sanford Meisner as the mob boss Dave Resnick whose money was stolen by Nicky, Rose Arrick as Mikey’s wife Annie who would learn more about Nicky and Mikey’s issues with him, and Joyce Van Patten in a fantastic one-scene performance as Nicky’s estranged wife Jan who reluctantly helps Nicky despite her disdain for him over his erratic behavior and lack of remorse for his own actions. Carol Grace is excellent as Nellie as a prostitute who is a lover of Nicky yet proves to be far more engaging in the view of Mikey as she is treated horribly by Nicky who only wants her for sex and to slap around.

Ned Beatty is amazing as the hitman Kinney as a man who goes on the pursuit of Nicky as he becomes frustrated in his search and having to wait around as he drives throughout the city as it is a bit of a comical performance but also dark in what he had to do. Finally, there’s the duo of Peter Falk and John Cassavetes in great performances in their respective roles as the titular characters. Falk as the more sensible Mikey is someone that is respectful as he tries to help Nicky yet is constantly frustrated while is put into situations that get him into trouble as he would be pushed to the edge. Cassavetes’ performance as Nicky is a lot more energetic to convey the paranoia and erratic behavior as a man that knows he’s going to be killed as he tries to kill time in order to avoid Kinney. Falk and Cassavetes together have a unique chemistry in the way they play off one another with Falk being the straight man and Cassavetes being the wilder of the two as they also have a looseness into their performances as they are a major highlight of the film.

Mikey and Nicky is a phenomenal film from Elaine May that features tremendous leading performances from Peter Falk and John Cassavetes. Along with its supporting cast, gritty visuals, its exploration of male friendship, and a fun music soundtrack. It is a crime drama that doesn’t play by the conventions while also exploring a man facing death and his friend to save him despite his many frustrations towards him. In the end, Mikey and Nicky is a sensational film from Elaine May.

Elaine May Films: (A New Leaf) – (The Heartbreak Kid) – (Ishtar) – (Mike Nichols: American Master)

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