Mike Nichols was one of the giants of late 20th century entertainment - he deserved a bio but this, while there's lots of good stuff about it, isn't it. I think so much of what Nichols did needs to be placed in context - which is kind of there but there's not enough.
Nichols was a refugee from Germany, dad was a doctor but died young, Mike had a skin condition that meant he lost all his hair. His rise was fairy rapid - at university he met Elaine May and discovered impro. He and May became stage stars, Broadway stars then he turned into a giant director of theatre and film.
There were dark periods - a difficult childhood, a lack of faith in his abilities as a film director in the 70s, an addiction to medication that contributed to depression and a mental breakdown - and less flattering aspects such as a lust for money and compulsive womanising. But the picture is overwhelmingly positive - intelligent, charming, a firm decision maker, a long legacy of great work.
The book is long, at times fascinating, at other times a slog. There's too many comments from actors, who tend to gush at the best of times - I mean, they're smart actors but still actors, we don't hear as much from say editors, DOPs or executives
There are big gaps on the personal front - his three kids barely get a look in, neither do his first three wives (outside of reference to his womanising), but we do get pages and pages on Diane Sawyer. There are pages on the influence of Nichols and May - I think like a lot of comedy you just had to be there - plus The Graduate, Annie, Spamalot - but notable gaps: nothing on Luv, Plaza Suite, Fools, The Apple Tree, Streamers, Comedians, Family and disappointingly little on films like Wolf, Regarding Henry, What Planet are you from?
At first I was understanding of these omissions but I gradually became annoyed especially as so many pages were devoted to other stuff.
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