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“You
know what happens when you’re making
a movie — if it’s any good —
at a certain point in the cutting room,
it jumps in your hand. It's alive, from
that point on it tells you what it wants...”
—Nichols
A childhood war refugee from Berlin, Mike
Nichols (born Michael Igor Peschkowsky in
1931) emigrated to the US with his family
in 1938, and has since grown into one of
the most acclaimed film makers of the late
20th Century.
A director, producer and writer, Mike Nichols'
initial rise to fame came in the late 1950s
as half of a satirical comedy act with Elaine
May, whom he met while performing with Chicago's
Compass Players (which later became Second
City). After the team broke up in 1961,
Nichols tried directing for the first time
on the Broadway stage with comedies like
Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.
It wasn't until 1966 that Nichols turned
his talents to film, debuting with the acclaimed
film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,"
and demonstrated that adult themes could
be sensitively handled and still draw a
large audience. Nichols followed up his
first success with "The Graduate,"
winning a Best Director Oscar for his work.
After the critical and box-office successes
of his early films, Nichols' career hit
a lull with box-office flops like "The
Day of the Dolphin" and "The Fortune"
despite their well-known casts and notable
performances. It wasn't until eight years
later that Nichols stunned audiences and
critics alike with "Silkwood,"
a film that brought him back to the Hollywood
spotlight.
Since the early 1990s, Nichols' films have
dealt with a variety of subjects including
political sex scandals homosexuals, drug
addiction, and family drama. Mr. Nichols
continues to fascinate audiences with entertaining
and satirical views of the human condition
using familiar settings and identifiable
characters.
Mike Nichols currently lives in the US
with his wife, reporter Dianne Sawyer. |
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The
Graduate (1967)
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"Are you trying
to seduce me, Mrs.
Robinson?"
Photo © Embassy
Pictures Corp. |
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"Elaine! Elaine!"
Wedding day blues
for Benjamin and Elaine. |
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It is the late 60s, and confused college graduate
Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) returns
home. Overwhelmed by his options, Benjamin's
situation takes a turn for the worse when
he is seduced by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft),
a much older friend of the family. To complicate
the situation further, Benjamin continues
his affair, even as he falls for the woman's
innocent daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross).
The vengeful Mrs. Robinson tries to thwart
Benjamin and Elaine's new relationship by
arranging Elaine's wedding to another, a decision
that leads to one of the most memorable endings
in film history.
From its editing, cinematography, and
acting performances to the classic soundtrack
by Simon and Garfunkle, this is the film
that clearly established Mike Nichols as
a director. Upon its release, "The
Graduate" successfully spoke to an
entire generation of alienated and disaffected
youth with its sharp and pointed satire,
and continues to do so till this day.
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| Silkwood
(1983)
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Meryl Streep and Cher
"share"
a moment. |
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Meryl Streep as Karen
Silkwood, here with
a co-worker. |
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Karen Silkwood's true story is the basis for
this five time Academy Award-nominated drama.
"Silkwood," played by Meryl Streep,
is a divorced mother who works at a local
nuclear plant. Her life is turned upside-down
when she, along with several other workers,
find they have been contaminated by radiation.
Unconvinced the company that owns the plant
is being forthright about her illness, "Silkwood"
conducts her own investigation. In the process,
she becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth;
working for her union to expose lies and cover-ups
at the plant. This quest soon pushes a wedge
between her and her boyfriend (Kurt Russell),
and makes her a pariah to her co-workers.
"Silkwood" ultimately uncovers evidence
of negligence on the part of her employers
and pays for this discovery with her life.
This film features many standout acting
performances, including Cher's portrayal
of Karen's lesbian friend, a role which
landed her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar
nod. "Silkwood" is more than just
the story of one woman's crusade. Nichols
has sensitively captured the plight of women
- not only within a male-dominated society
- but, under the intimidating eye of big
business.
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Working
Girl (1988)
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Harrison Ford as Jack
Trainer, changing
in his office after
pulling an all-nighter. |
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One of the crucial
scenes in the film,
as Tess' boss forces
Trainer to make a
critical choice. |
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Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is a struggling
yet ambitious secretary from Staten Island.
Her boyfriend (Alec Baldwin) is a filanderer,
and her boss, Katherine, is a cut-throat witch
(Sigourney Weaver) intent on keeping Tess
on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.
But she has dreams of being a Wall Street
success, and when her boss injures her leg
in a skiing accident, Tess gets her chance
to prove she's up to the task. After passing
herself off as an executive, Tess enlists
Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) as her business
ally in a financial mega-deal. As the business
blossoms, so does the romantic relationship
between the two. When Katherine returns early
from her injury, and discovers what Tess has
been up to, she manuevers in and stops at
nothing to return Tess to her place on the
corporate food chain.
Mike Nichols' "dramedy" satires
the office politics of the 1980s as a plot
device for a romantic fairy tale. When you
remove the now somewhat outdated corporate
politic story line, what remains are some
excellent performances and an endearing
love story. This film garnered 6 Academy
Award nominations.
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The Birdcage (1996)
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Lane's Albert can't
hide his shock at
his new 'heterosexualized'
apartment.
Photo
© Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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One of the crucial
scenes in the film,
as Tess' boss forces
Trainer to make a
critical choice. |
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Mike Nichols returns to his roots in farcical
comedy with this 1996 remake of French comedy
"La Cage Aux Folles." Robin Williams
stars as gay cabaret owner, Armand Goldman,
who lives in Miami's South Beach section
with his flamboyant life partner and star
performer, Albert (played to perfection
by Nathan Lane). Hijinx ensue when Armand's
straight son, Val (Dan Futterman) returns
home from college to announce his engagement
to Barbara (played by Allie McBeal herself,
Calista Flockhart), the daughter of a conservative
politician. When the campaign hits some
bad press, Barbara's parents (Gene Hackman,
Dianne Wiest) decide to travel to Miami
to meet their daughter's future in-laws,
who they think are a conservative, heterosexual
couple. When Val finds out they are coming,
he convinces Armand to "straighten"
up his home and Albert - a daunting task,
indeed. Hank Azaria is a scene stealer as
Agador, the houseboy who dreams of being
Gloria Estafan.
Each of these couples are loveable despite
different sexual preferences, upbringing,
and professions. Nichols has said in interviews
that to him the movie is about reconciliation.
Perhaps, he also meant it on a personal
level. This film marks the first time he
worked with Elaine May since their Broadway
act split in the 60s.
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