Critic's Pick: Three Films by Elaine May

If you haven’t heard the name Elaine May, then you need to get on down to the Belcourt for the Three Films by Elaine May series; you’re in for three unforgettable films. May was a pioneer for women directors in Hollywood, and her style of comedy often lampoons the follies of foolish men. A New Leaf, for instance, is a hilarious rom-com starring Walter Matthau as a rich playboy gone broke who conjures a scheme to marry a nebbish botanist (played by May herself) and murder her for her wealth. If you’re looking for something much darker, then you can’t go wrong with Mikey and Nicky, featuring the dynamic duo of John Cassavetes and Peter Falk in a frank and honest film about mobsters going through a friendship breakup (and an ending that will haunt you for hours afterward). Don’t skip over Ishtar either, as this flop-turned-cult-classic features unforgettable performances by Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, who play a pair of lounge singers suddenly wrapped up in a government conspiracy. Every film here is worth its weight in cinematic gold, so don’t miss out on this series running Aug. 11 through 17. For showtimes, visit belcourt.org.

Aug. 11-17 at the Belcourt

2102 Belcourt Ave.