Mikey & Nicky (1976)

It's been a few years, but the 18 year earlier version of me that loved this movie was just totally taken with the central setup of trying to make an audience sympathize with two thoroughly unlikeable men. This was pre-Sopranos and pre-Mad Men, so maybe it's less compelling these days, but I described this elsewhere as Elaine May reining in Cassavetes just enough, or Cassavetes freeing up Elaine May just enough. It might be my favorite on-camera Cassavetes.

In the scene where Nicky baits an African American in a bar, one line in the DVD version has been looped so that a voice bearing absolutely no resemblance to Cassavetes' says "Dat ol' black man!" In the Anchor Bay VHS version (and in May's original screenplay) Cassavetes says "The jig's up!"

Weird.

Also, would like to see the original Warners VHS to determine if that's the original release version reedited by the studio. Subsequent releases are May's cut.

Shit, I have the VHS somewhere...

I have the DVD. He does say 'dat ole black man.' I personally think it's Cassavetes's voice, just a racist octave deeper.

This is one of those films that, for me, really captures a certain shade of humanity. It reveals, without getting too pretentious, what it's like to be a human. I've personally always been fascinated by films where people just talk (MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, Bergman films such as AUTUMN SONATA, SERENADE, etc., DOGVILLE, etc.) and this is one of the few independent films I wish more people would see.

In fact I've watched and love this film way more than CITIZEN KANE, which may reveal more about me than those films.

THAT said:

I personally, in my relationships, have stepped into both Falk's and Cassavetes's shoes. I've betrayed people, been the butt of jokes made by close friends, etc. Not many films really capture all those ugly wrinkles in relationships so lovingly. Yeah, Falk and Cassavetes are pretty awful people, but it's clear May loves 'em, or least is fascinated.

Though I do agree the scene where they woo that pale girl as she tries to discuss the war in Vietnam is painful. Something to do with how annoying she is and how long the scene lasts. I usually skip it, though I know May was trying to be fair and ensure her scorn for women was also presented.

You can't even see Cassavetes' face in the shot. I doubt it's his voice.

Strange that the line would be changed, whatever the case with dubbing.

Well, May obviously mixed and matched audio and video. There's quite a few shots where you can hear the actor's voice and their mouth in the scene is not even moving. I can't remember the scene specifically, but there's one in watch Falk is pretty mad and grimacing (I think it's the watch-breaking scene) and then out of nowhere he has this evil smile, seemingly shot in slow-motion, and it totally does not line up with his frustrated expressions in shots before and after. Reminds me of VonTrier's method of using all kinds of emotions in all kinds of shots from several different takes all in one scene.

It's probably Cassavetes saying the line, bit it's too clean and ADR'd to sound right.
But that's the line I remember hearing for the last 20 years. There are probably alternate prints floating around.