Prizzi's Honor (B or 3/4 stars)
Jack Nicholson plays Charley Partanna, the adoptive son of a rich crime syndicate family (the Prizzis) in 'Prizzi's Honor' (based on a black comedy novel directed by the great John Huston). The Prizzis are a formidable family of mobsters (led by William Hickey's character), as devoted to their code of honor as they are to breaking laws & killing people. Charley is their hit man, but he is not so honorable. While attending a big mob wedding, he tosses his longtime sweetheart (and the Don's outcast granddaughter) Maerose Prizzi, played by Anjelica Huston, to the side in favor of a beautiful blonde woman wearing a lavender dress named Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner). 'Supposedly' a tax consultant, Irene is actually a paid free-lance killer (like Charley) and a thief - yet this endears her to him.
See, the Prizzis had hired her to kill Charley. But when it's discovered that Irene has betrayed the Prizzis, Charley finds himself with a huge dilemma: in a role reversal ... does he now kill Irene or trust her and run away with her? Expediting this line of thinking, Irene helps Charley make up his mind by attempting to kill him! Can either of them go through with the contracts their given? They love each other, but do they have it in them to kill the other?
This film received 8 Oscar nominations and won Best Supporting Actress for Anjelica Huston (well-deserved). But I must say, while I enjoyed the film, I don't think it quite deserved the accolades it got -- maybe writing, maybe the supp. performances. But that's about all. Jack Nicholson does his Jack-o thing. He's quite funny, here (employing as woe-is-me attitude & an accent). But his Oscar nom? Suspect. Kathleen Turner is solid as Irene; I just wish the character had more to chew on, script-wise. And as mentioned, Anjelica Huston is wonderful as the jilted Italian princess. Huston is playful in the role, but there's also a quiet melancholy that is so appealing; and juxtaposes the rest of the loud cast. Furthermore, though hers is a small role, it's pivotal because after her own family cast her out, she spins around the family's tarnished honor to get her back in good favor.
'Prizzi's Honor' has some really great scenes. One includes Charley & Irene calmly discussing their supper plans while getting rid of a body. I also loved when Irene explained how she would dispose of some foes (using a fake baby). See, most of the dialogue/script situations are dark & cynical, yet humorous. It's fun to poke fun at the Mafia. The underworld can be an unforgiving institution to belong with. So when sh*t hits the fan, it CAN be funny. 'PH' packs in love, sex, murder, etc. But yeah, too much of the plot meanders, the film goes on a tad long, and I simply wasn't blown away. 'Prizzi's Honor' is enjoyable (when you are in the right mood), but that's about it.
See, the Prizzis had hired her to kill Charley. But when it's discovered that Irene has betrayed the Prizzis, Charley finds himself with a huge dilemma: in a role reversal ... does he now kill Irene or trust her and run away with her? Expediting this line of thinking, Irene helps Charley make up his mind by attempting to kill him! Can either of them go through with the contracts their given? They love each other, but do they have it in them to kill the other?
This film received 8 Oscar nominations and won Best Supporting Actress for Anjelica Huston (well-deserved). But I must say, while I enjoyed the film, I don't think it quite deserved the accolades it got -- maybe writing, maybe the supp. performances. But that's about all. Jack Nicholson does his Jack-o thing. He's quite funny, here (employing as woe-is-me attitude & an accent). But his Oscar nom? Suspect. Kathleen Turner is solid as Irene; I just wish the character had more to chew on, script-wise. And as mentioned, Anjelica Huston is wonderful as the jilted Italian princess. Huston is playful in the role, but there's also a quiet melancholy that is so appealing; and juxtaposes the rest of the loud cast. Furthermore, though hers is a small role, it's pivotal because after her own family cast her out, she spins around the family's tarnished honor to get her back in good favor.
'Prizzi's Honor' has some really great scenes. One includes Charley & Irene calmly discussing their supper plans while getting rid of a body. I also loved when Irene explained how she would dispose of some foes (using a fake baby). See, most of the dialogue/script situations are dark & cynical, yet humorous. It's fun to poke fun at the Mafia. The underworld can be an unforgiving institution to belong with. So when sh*t hits the fan, it CAN be funny. 'PH' packs in love, sex, murder, etc. But yeah, too much of the plot meanders, the film goes on a tad long, and I simply wasn't blown away. 'Prizzi's Honor' is enjoyable (when you are in the right mood), but that's about it.