Elaine May's tense, well-paced thriller is her third film, and one of her most innovative. Using three cameras that she sometimes left running for hours, May captured a spontaneous, real interaction between actor Peter Falk (of the TV series COLUMBO), and actor (and maverick director) John Cassavetes. Their relationship and their personalities drive this portrait of one evening in their thirty-year friendship. When Nicky calls Mikey yet again to bail him out of trouble--this time a contract on his life for money that he stole from his mob boss--Mikey, as always, shows up to help. Overcoming the obstacles of Nicky's paranoia and blind fear, Mikey gets him out of the hotel where he has holed up, and starts to help him plan his escape; however, Nicky keeps changing the plan, and a hit man is hot on their trail. As they try to make their escape, the two friends have to confront issues of betrayal, regret, and the value of friendship versus self-preservation. The performances of Falk and Cassavetes make this much more than a gangster movie--it's a compelling portrait of human foibles, loyalty, and inner conflict.