(In Memory of M. Emmet Walsh 1935-2024)
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)
© thevoid99 2024
Written and directed by Mel Brooks, The Producers is the story of a Broadway producer who teams up with an accountant in financing a sure-fire flop hoping to make money out of the flop and live happily. The film is a look into two different men who team up to find a flop as their choice would prove to be something that might offend so many in the hopes they can succeed by creating a Broadway bomb. Starring Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars, and Dick Shawn. The Producers is a whimsical and lively film from Mel Brooks.
The film follows the life of a washed-up Broadway producer who hears his accountant talking about the ideas of making money in investing a flop where the two come together to find a sure-fire flop as they choose a play written by a former Nazi called Springtime for Hitler. It’s a film with a simple premise in which two men decide to take part in a scheme in the hopes they can make some serious money but the journey in finding the flop, getting the worst director to helm the play, and get a terrible cast would prove to be hard. Mel Brooks’ screenplay play into this unlikely partnership between the producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and the account Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder) as the former coaches the latter in what it takes to raise funds and such while convincing the Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind (Kenneth Mars) to have his play be made with the help of the notoriously-flamboyant director Roger De Bris (Christopher Hewett). It all play into this scheme where Bialystock and Bloom take careful planning into as it would culminate in the opening night where they hope to unleash the mother of all Broadway bombs.
Brooks’ direction is quite straightforward in terms of the compositions and setting as much of the film is shot on location in New York City with some of its interiors shot at the Chelsea Studio in the same city. While there are some wide shots including a key scene at the Metropolitan Opera House, much of Brooks’ direction rely on close-ups and medium shots to play into the interaction of the protagonists and the adventure they take. At the same time, Brooks would infuse elements of life-hearted banter as it relates to the nerve-stricken Bloom and the aggressive Bialystock where they encounter so many things. Brooks would also put in some moments that are funny such as a Swedish receptionist named Ulla (Lee Meredith) whom they hire just so she can wear skimpy clothes and dance. When the character known as L.S.D. (Dick Shawn) comes into the picture to audition for Hitler, the humor would amp up into the film’s climax for the play’s opening night. Yet, its aftermath that would lead to the funnier moments as it relates to the reaction of Springtime for Hitler and what the audience would see whether Bialystock and Bloom’s scheme would work. Overall, Brooks creates a witty yet exhilarating film about two Broadway producers trying to cash in by financing a sure-fire flop.
Cinematographer Joseph Coffey does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it is straightforward and colorful for many of the scenes in the day as well as the way the play is presented in its lighting. Editor Ralph Rosenblum does nice work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into the humor. Production designer Charles Rosen and set decorator James Dalton do amazing work with the look of Bialystock and Bloom’s office as well as the staging of the play. Costume designer Gene Coffin does fantastic work with the lavish costumes from the dress that De Bris wear as well as the costumes at the play. Sound editor Alan Heim does terrific work with the sound as it is straightforward to play into the atmosphere of the crowds at the play. The film’s music by John Morris is wonderful for its playful orchestral score that add a lot to the film’s humor as it include a few original songs by Mel Brooks such as the titular song to the play.
The casting by Alfa-Betty Olsen is great as it feature some notable small roles from William Hickey as a drunk at a bar, Renee Taylor as an actress playing Eva Braun, Madelyn Cates as a landlord claiming to be a concierge, Barney Martin as an actor playing Hermann Goring, Andreas Voutsinas as De Bris’ assistant Carmen, Estelle Winwood as one of the old ladies that Bialystock woos to get her money, and Lee Meredith in a funny performance as the very attractive receptionist Ulla. Christopher Hewett is superb as the flamboyant and openly-gay play director Roger De Bris who cares more about extravagance rather than the story. Dick Shawn is hilarious as L.S.D. as a singer who auditions to play Hitler as he acts like a Beatnik of sorts as he consistently brings in the laughs.
Kenneth Mars is excellent as Franz Liebkind as the author of Springtime for Hitler as this former Nazi who wrote the play to show Adolf Hitler in a different light while being furious if things don’t go his way. Finally, there’s the duo of Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder in incredible performances in their respective roles as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom. Mostel brings an energy and determination to his role as a man that is willing to humiliate himself to pleasure old ladies as well as deal with the struggles of being a producer. Wilder is definitely the funnier of the two in the way he is wracked with nerves as he comforts himself with a tiny piece of his blanket as well as display this abundance of energy that had been repressed in him. Mostel and Wilder are a joy to watch in the way they interact with each other as well as be foils to each other.
The Producers is a phenomenal film from Mel Brooks. Featuring a great cast, a witty story, some catchy songs, and an abundance of funny moments that are fun to watch. The film is a whimsical comedy that play into two men trying to pull a scheme by choosing the worst story ever in the hopes they can make money. In the end, The Producers is a spectacular film from Mel Brooks.
Mel Brooks Films: (Twelve Chairs) – Blazing Saddles - Young Frankenstein - (Silent Movie) – High Anxiety - (History of the World Pt. 1) – Spaceballs - (Life Stinks) – Robin Hood: Men in Tights - (Dracula: Dead and Loving It)
© thevoid99 2018
