Powerful performances by Cassavetes and Falk.

Aside from its mild likeness to Peter Yates' "The Friends of Eddie Coyle", Mikey and Nicky is basically the John Cassavetes film that wasn't made by John Cassavetes. I say this with the utmost respect for Elaine May, who wrote and directed this facilitation of Cassavetes and Falk. I have to add that had the directing credit belonged to the man who influenced this film, this would have been remembered as one of his finer works, or at least well above his average.

Maybe should be called Mikey & Beatnicky. Still, not as bad in that regard as Cassavetes things usually are (maybe because it isn't being directed by him). Both leads are very good indeed; but inevitably comes across as just another wandering aimless 70s thing. Beatty was giving me casting concerns, but he comes off better toward the end (especially when detailing his humdrum assassin's woes to Falk). Worst scene is the interminable thing at the hooker's place--indulgence personified.

I love crime movies. It's a special treat, though, to find one with a different perspective. The plot of this film could have made for a fine thriller, but instead we have a brilliant, tense drama, and to tell the way it's done is to spoil the mystery that makes the film work so well to begin with. I can say that Falk and Cassavetes are very entertaining. The cinematography is outstanding, too.

Very unusual crime drama that features excellent performances and often makes the viewer uncomfortable.

After directing comedies A New Leaf in 1971 and The Heartbreak Kid in 1972, May tried a major creative shift with a film about a pair of small time hoods bonding and bristling over the course of one fear-fueled evening. It has an unexpected urban grit and edginess. John Cassavetes is a shade too manic at times, but Falk is terrific. As a whole, it's underwhelming, playing less as a potent character study and more like a riff, an experiment in storytelling style that doesn't completely cohere.

Interesting casting here, including Walter Matthau's wife Carol and Martin Balsam's ex-wife Joyce in key roles.