Loss of a legend: My top 5 favorite Mike Nichols movies

Working Girl

I've already written one extensive Mike Nichols obit today, so I won't bore you with another one. Suffice to say -- the man was prolific and incredibly talented. He was an actual EGOT -- he won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony during his multi-decade career. He died today at 83, leaving behind a phenomenal filmography.

But because he didn't have a signature style Nichols was never as celebrated as his contemporaries like Scorsese and Spielberg. He also could be wildly inconsistent. While most his movies were well received, there was the occasional flop. Although his work was almost always classy.

I figured I should do some sort of tribute to this gifted man (who was also a celebrated performer, bringing improv comedy into the mainstream alongside his performing partner Elaine May). So here are my five favorite Mike Nichols movies:

Wolf

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) - Nichols' first film, this bold and brilliantly adapted version of the Edward Albee play cemented his status as a major director. He scored two of the greatest performances Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor ever gave as a boozy couple unraveling over the course of one night. An early film that dealt frankly with sex and the darkness lurking beneath the American dream.

The Graduate (1967) - This is understandably Nichols' most famous film. It made a movie star out of Dustin Hoffman and features Anne Bancroft in one of the sexiest performances of all time. A wonderful time capsule of the late '60s, with a killer soundtrack. The Graduate helped kick off a fruitful period of truly original filmmaking. A must-see for anyone suffering from post-college angst.

Carnal Knowledge (1971) - Frequently and unjustly overlooked, this masterpiece on sexual insecurity and obsession may be Nichols' greatest film. It features one of the best Jack Nicholson performances of all time, as a shameless womanizer who refuses to grow up. The film is full of genuinely funny moments but also some very disturbing scenes as well. Not as raunchy by today's standards as it was perceived at the time, but still pretty blunt. And Ann-Margret oozes more sex appeal here than any leading actress of the decade.

Working Girl (1988) - Sure, the hair and gender politics of this movie may be dated but I still find it irresistible. For those of you who wonder how Melanie Griffith ever became a movie star, this is the movie for you. She is really terrific as a secretary who seizes the opportunity to pose as her boss (a dynamite Sigourney Weaver) to advance her career. She has real chemistry with Harrison Ford, who gets a rare chance to play a romantic lead in a comedy. A real crowd pleaser.

The Graduate

Wolf (1994) - Arguably Nichols' most underrated film, this werewolf feature starring Jack Nicholson was misunderstood when it was initially released. It's more of a satire than a straight up horror film. Nicholson plays a mild mannered book publisher who discovers his inner badass after being bitten by a wolf. His romance with Michelle Pfeiffer's character has genuine pathos and the finale is pretty exciting stuff. Bonus points for providing one of James Spader's smarmiest performances.

Nichols was an incredibly versatile talent. His stage work (and even TV directing) is the stuff of legend. When we lose giants like this the one positive thing that comes out of it is that for at least 24 hours people are driven to take stock of their contributions and art. Anyone taking a visit down Mike Nichols' memory lane will not be disappointed.