Refocus: The Films of Elaine May

Spanning from obscurity to notoriety, the films of director, screenwriter, actor and comic Elaine May have recently experienced a long-overdue renaissance. Although she made only four films -- A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey and Nicky (1976) and Ishtar (1987) -- and never reached the level of acclaim of her frequent collaborator Mike Nichols, May's work is as enigmatic, sophisticated and unceasingly fascinating as her own complicated, reluctant star persona. This collection focuses both on the films she has directed, and also emphasises her work with other high profile collaborators such as John Cassavetes, Warren Beatty and Otto Preminger.

Author: Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Published: 07/05/2019
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781474440189

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2020

About the Author

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas is an Australian film critic. She has written six books on cult film with a focus on gender politics, and has published for fifteen years in magazines, journals, edited collections and home entertainment releases. Alexandra recently co-authored a book on filmmakers Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, and in 2017 co-curated the "Pioneering Women" program at the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival which celebrated Australian women's filmmaking in the 1980s and 1990s. Alexandra is also a member of Alliance of Women Film Journalists.

Dean Brandum is an independent film historian. He gained his PhD at Deakin University (Australia) in 2016 for analysis of historical box office takings. He has taught at a number of universities in Melbourne and has written for various publications, generally on the topic of film distribution. His first book Technicolouryawn: Melbourne Drive-ins in 1970 is forthcoming.