Tag: Mike Nichols

THE FORTUNE (1975)

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Directed By: Mike Nichols 

Written By: Carole Eastman (As Adrien Joyce) and Selene Elizabeth Bryce 

Cinematography: John A. Alonzo 

Editor: Stu Linder 

Cast: Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Stockard Channing, Florence Stanley, Scatman Crothers, Dub Taylor, Richard B. Shull, Tom Newman, Christopher Guest

The early 1900s with its Mann Act (disallowing women to be transported across state lines for immoral reasons) brings a married man to devise a scheme for taking his upper-class girlfriend away with him. He simply has her marry his unmarried buddy. However, it doesn’t take very long before both men start laying claim to her affection. Until, that is, she’s about to be cut out of her parent’s fortune. So, a new scheme is devised, which only adds to their problems, as well as to the sly whimsy of this movie.

This is one of those films that’s almost good, as it definitely has the talent behind the scenes and on screen. While it has its moments and should definitely be funny, it should also definitely be better and a bit more impressive. 

What we get feels more practice and too small in scope it feels limited. Honestly, it feels sort of like Mike Nichols trying to do a Robert Altman film only with less of an ensemble but somehow them all being connected

This is an All-Star. Peace Comedy directed by the late legendary Mike Nichols is a dark buddy comedy that should be more cynical, yet stays lighthearted. 

Jack Nicholson is truly the All-Star and stealer of the film throughout. It seems like his role is defined by his crazy and wild hair with a noticeably receding hairline like Larry in The Three Stooges or Steve Carell’s slick-back hair look in the first season of The Office.

Nicholson has a more interesting character and seems like he is truly having a lot of fun with the role. With slicked-back hair that stands up and half the time the comedy can be found in his facial reactions to things that are priceless. You almost wish she was in a better film as he is more alive than the material

The same can be said when it comes to costar stocker Channing

Whereas Warren Beatty is more of the straight man the buttoned-up character, a little anal retentive. Where his look and costumes do most of the work as he plays a known lothario

Warren Beatty feels too self-conscious and a stick in the mud. He’s almost the villain of the film.

He means to end the star of the film, but feels like he’s doing a favor as a guest star in the first half of the film though it does revolve around his character’s plan.

One element, a brief scene wears a brown face, which might be more distasteful today, even though the characters are despicable after all.

The film comes across as a love triangle or polyamory romance that tries to be a classic comedy duo with Nickelson and Beatty, which should work but feels like everything is just a bit off

Stocker Channing completes the lead trio, the woman at the center of it, all who stands to make quite a nice inheritance, but falls in love with both the lead, despite being with Warren Beatty character, a romantic triangle.

She seems to get more of the physical scenes and is quite playful throughout 

There is plenty of opportunity for physical comedy.

The premise of the movie is never quite as funny as it should be. It seems like there’s a lot of setup with very little payoff, especially considering the caliber of the cast, which might have made the writers try harder to make things comic, but also maybe made it too highbrow or maybe they had to follow, the stars specific instructions as to what they wanted out of them

There is plenty of humor but more bickering than anything else.

The film does have great cinematography though 

What about the film is that everyone seems to try so hard for so little as the film tries to be a slapstick screwball comedy centered around the morals of the time it takes place coming across like a loss. Forbidden comedy from that period. 

I can’t say it was fun finding these Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty films that are a bit more early in their career that seem to be forgotten or generally hard to find 

If you are a completist, just want to see this film for the two stars it might not be worth it, but it won’t be the worst thing you’ve ever seen either. It just might be slightly disappointing. At least they knew to keep it short and under 90 minutes 

Grade: C

THE BIRDCAGE (1996)

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Directed By Mike Nichols 
Written By: Elaine May 
Based on An Earlier Screenplay By: Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon & Jean Poiret
Based in the play La Cage Aux Folles by: Jean Poiret
Cinematography: Enrique Lubezki
Editor: Arthur Schmidt 

Cast: Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski, Dan Futterman, Calista Flockhart, Tom McGowan, Grant Heslov, Kirby Mitchell, Ann Cusack, Trina McGee-Davis

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right-wing moralistic parents.

this film at the time was a little daring or a bit of a gamble for a mainstream audience. Though it was also self-assured because of the popular cast. Though behind the scenes you had a bunch of heavy hitters. Who managed to raise the bar on a familiar tale and still knock it out of the park. 

Which shockingly had some actors playing against type. Where we have a fun yet more restrained Robin Williams while playing more of a funny conservative grouch. Seeing gene hackman in drag is certainly different and new.

The film also tries to put in some satire of the political culture at the time and while camping up gay culture at least offers a glimpse inside of it and offers representation.

This film also is really the big screen introduction of Nathan Lane as Albert the drag queen lover who has been practically a mother to robin Williams son in the film. Playing a role that was abandoned by Steve Martin last minute due to scheduling problems. Thilough broadway star Nathan lane took it and made it a star-making Role.

Hank Azaria also makes his presence felt in his supporting role as the couples maid, assistant and cook. Who is also part of the slapstick laughs later in the film.

This is one of those films that came around at the right place and right time. As the film and play was already a hit In France and waiting for an American remake for years that never got made which might have been out of fear in the 1989’s to portray a gay relationship. non chalantly with mainstream big name actors. So that when it did come along the culture was a bit more relaxed and if made today might not even bat too many eyelashes.

Luckily it is still hilarious to watch even on this day and age. Even when the Jokes are a little more obvious they still make you laugh. As there is wit on display as well as physical comedy and just plain old slapstick in the third act.

Out of the cast if anyone is flat It’s the young couple looking to get married played by Claista Flockhart and Dan Futterman though in a film filled with flamboyant and over the top characters you need some to be more quiet and seemingly normal to even it out a little. though they come off a little dull and Futterman Looks way older than Flockhart 

While the film is a laugh riot from beginning to the end it also has character moments that come off more serious and dramatic. As even after the so called Macho lesson the scene where lane tries to act like a straight male in a suit is a thing of beauty and partial pain.

You can feel its theatrical roots throughout it truly strongly in The theirs act where everything comes to a head. What truly is amazing is that while it was dating at its time it plays off so cute that now it feels like a more modern comedic classic that the whole family can enjoy. Even if there are times when it feels overloaded with stereotypes. 

It is so styled yet feels so haywire. That while it might seem like it is filling turbulence it’s always smooth sailing. 

Though there is an overwhelming comedic quality with heart and care that had me going to see it in theaters more than once or twice. 

Grade: A-

WOLF (1994)

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Directed By: Mike Nichols 
Written By: Jim Harrison & Wesley Strick 
Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno 
Editor: Sam O’Steen 

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Christopher Plummer, Richard Jenkins, Kate Nelligan, Eileen Atkins, David Hyde Pierce, Om Puri, Ron Rifkin, Allison Janney 

Worn down and out of luck, aging publisher Will Randall is at the end of his rope when a younger co-worker snatches his job out from under his nose. But after being bitten by a wolf, Will suddenly finds himself energized, more competitive than ever, and possessed with amazingly heightened senses. Meanwhile, the beautiful daughter of his shrewd boss begins to fall for him – without realizing that the man she’s begun to love is gradually turning into the creature by which he was bitten.

I remember being entertained when I first saw this movie on video. Watching it now It comes across as instantly dated. As that is only part of the problems one might have with the film. 

Watching this film you can tell Mike Nichols who is a great and legendary director. Is more of a character and actors director more than a genre director. He brings esteem to the proceedings in what could have been easily more exploitive fare. 

Who brings a well-known and established cast to the movie. Actors who wouldn’t necessarily be bothered to be in this type of film. At the later stages of esteemed careers. 

As much of this movie plays out as a drama and romance rather than a monster movie or horror film. As a first, the film chooses to showcase the peers he gets from being a werewolf that helps bring vitality to him

And his life. Where he stands up for himself. Then it becomes more of a burden in his romance with the boss’s daughter but only after he finds out his wife is cheating on him.

It seems like they either tried to keep the horror elements on the periphery or forgot about it at times and were only interested in the dramatic thriller aspects of the story. Because it seems like there are scenes of it largely being absent, then “oh yeah” moments. 

After a while he has to deal with corporate politics and then being a suspect in his wife’s murder and trying to prove his innocence. 

While Jack Nicholson looks a little ridiculous in his wolf persona. It does make him seem more seasoned and watching him actually get into a battle as one looks a little silly but also reminds you what type of film you are watching. That tries to distinguish itself away from the fantasy elements. As it seems to look more ridiculous when it selves into them, but It’s not like it’s Corporate storyline is all that sharp about a senior getting pushed out by a younger contender who he helped train.

The film ends up playing way too long and very predictable. As the film seems to go through the motions. As it involves mostly main characters, is that a message to the audience that the older you are the more then you take? and the more thorough it must all be. 

As the film seems to want to make an example between the battles of nature and the battles in the business world and how they are similar. 

James Spader does what he does best. Where he puts on a spin on his upper-crust yuppie character image, but once we get to the third act of the movie. You can kind of predict his character arc. Even though when he starts acting peculiar the special effects give it away. Even though he doesn’t act too differently.

Considering the talent involved in this film. This should have been more memorable. As it is actually kind of forgettable. There are barely any memorable scenes. Even though Michelle Pfeiffer is the only one who has a history more with genre films out of the cast. Plus her playing in a werewolf movie after playing Catwoman is an amusing film irony.

Michelle Pfeiffer almost comes across as just another big name in a star-studded well-respected cast because while she is the female lead. She is the damsel in distress throughout most of the film or just simply the love interest. 

The special effects involved make the final fight look ridiculous. Rick Baker designed them and while One can give credit as at least they are practical effects instead of digital. 

This seems to join the ranks with THE HULK films. Just as there isn’t anyone good of those films. It’s Really hard to find a really good to outstanding Werewolf movie but you are more likely to find the latter than the earlier one. Though it is a little long in the tooth when it comes to running time 

Grade: C+