Prizzi's Honor (1985)

This is one satisfying mob hit...

A mafia movie starring Jack Nicholson (one of the worlds greatest actors; ever) and co-staring greats like Anjelica Huston and Robert Loggia, directed by the well respected John Huston; I mean, this is a dream come true right?

Close.

`Prizzi's Honor' is a black comedy revolving around a mafia family and their dysfunctional lives, and for the most part this movie nails it. There are a few misfires, sadly, but I would be lying if I said that this wasn't very satisfying despite those shortcomings.

Charley Partanna is the number one hitman for the Prizzi family. He was at one time engaged to Dominic Prizzi's daughter Maerose. After humiliating her family and Charley (by shacking up with another guy) Maerose is ostracized by the family, allowed only to interact with them on special occasions. The film opens on such an occasion, the wedding of Maerose's sister. At this wedding Charley happens to meet Irene, a beautiful blonde who strikes his fancy. They dance, they part, they reunite, they fall in love and decide to marry. Turns out that Irene is also a hit(wo)man and complications thus ensue as her identity is revealed. Twists and turns and doublecrossments abound as the film spirals towards a very `Mr. and Mrs. Smith' type conclusion; all of which add layers to this well written and well acted film.

The script is a gem, caging wit alongside passion and espionage to create a smart and engaging film that is as thrilling as it is comical. The gags are subtle, never over-the-top (this isn't `Mafia' people) and they elevate the film, giving it an edge that is welcome.

The performances make and break this film; and this is precisely what I mean about a few misfires. First off, Jack Nicholson delivers seriously one of his finest performances of all time. This one ranks up with `The Shining' and `About Schmidt' for me as one of the `other' layers of Jack. For anyone who claims that Jack can only play `Jack' they need to watch this film. He creates a perfect comedic caricature complete with a new voice, a new walk and a new smile. He's completely transformed. Kathleen Turner is one of those actresses I feel never got as big as she should have been. She always seems to really entertain me, and while I felt that she took a backseat to Nicholson here (he really is all sorts of amazing) she really did her best to rise above. Robert Loggia is another standout. He is one of those actors who acts from his head to his toes, and he pulls it off brilliantly. I remember a scene in particular when he walks out of an elevator and chats up a young lady. He's out of focus and practically out of view yet our attention is driven to him because he is still very much in character.

And then we come to William Hickey and Anjelica Huston; the two Oscar nominees (Nicholson was also nominated, but deservedly so). I really wanted to like these performances, but they were either extremely annoying or nothing special at all. Hickey for instance was awful in my book. I loathed seeing him on the screen. I really wish that Loggia had received the Oscar nomination instead for his performance was much richer and far better executed. Huston was not bad, but she did nothing special for me. I really enjoyed her `there is no honor' speech, but I feel that her win was unnecessary (as was her nomination) and that she really only took home the Oscar because of her family ties.

Avery, Winfrey and Tilly were much more deserving.

In the end though, I must admit that despite its few shortcomings the film really delivers. It's funny, it's smart and it's engaging from start to finish and Nicholson really delivers a knockout performance. I guaranty that you'll enjoy this movie (that is unless you don't) and highly recommend it to any fan of the cast or the genre. I love gangster movies, and this one has an edge. A solid B+, maybe even an A- thanks to an A+ performance by Jacky-Boy. November 6, 2008

Amazingly weak considering the talent

I remembered this being good, but those were rose-tinted lenses. The script is lame, all the "mafia" folks are anything but Sicilian (laughably so), Jack is definitely no Italian and not even very convincing in this role (he's just not a tough guy, deep down), and how did Angelica get an Oscar for this? She's barely ok, and her father's direction is some of the worst of his mostly splendid career.
This whole film just feels weak and flaccid. It might be meant to be a joke but it's almost never that funny, not very dramatic, and basically just flat. I wanted to like it but facts is facts. I've no idea why it seems so good to so many. Rose lenses as well? Have they seen GoodFellas, Casino, or the Godfather? THOSE are real mob flicks, black humor and all. THIS is some weird mishmash that just never gets off the ground. All the plot twists add up to little suspense. And some of the looping (voice dubbing) is simply horrible! It's like a bad 70s tv show at times.
There are some amusing moments and Jack is never all bad, but his chemistry with Turner is weak, and she seems very poor up against Jack's aura (even when he's weak he's a star, some guys just got it).
I love Jack and John Huston is one hell of a director when he's happening (though Polanski used Jack to far greater effect, and Huston too for that matter, in Chinatown), but save your time and watch the Godfather parts one and two again (or Chinatown, also long but more gracefully so). They are classics. This is a b-movie. April 19, 2008

prizzi's honor

A fine crafted and acted story. That is why I bought it. To view it any time I wish. September 5, 2007

The mafia in its family disguise or Father Christmas at Easter

When the mafia becomes the argument of an action film and little more it is no longer funny, it is no longer strange, it is no longer fascinating. It is nothing but outlandish and terroristic. It takes all Jack Nicholson can give to make these characters in anyway palatable, and even so. In the Prizzi family all other considerations than the family is outlawed, except maybe for a couple of weeks and the woman concerned by this out-breeding passing passion has to submit and take the color of the wall on which she is being pinned. If she does not then she will be executed and cut off. There is no depth in that film, no subtleties or even subtlety. Get the message, bang it down on the table and then cram it down your brain. Business is business and in-breeding is the rule. I will always wonder why a hit-woman with a reputation of efficiency and effectiveness misses her husband when he intends to kill her though she manages to shoot one bullet first. Suspend your disbelief and incredulity. The cinema is the new church of the visual dominant animal man is. To see is to believe. But at times to believe is easier when you are blind, and probably deaf too. Apart from that it is interesting even if we do spend a little bit too much time in planes going east and planes going west, kind of an airlift between New York, or whatever may titillate you, and Los Angeles, or whatever it takes to please you.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine & University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne
April 11, 2007

Great Movie

I highly recommend this movie. The performances were great and so was the writing. I wished there had been some extras on the DVD . January 1, 2007

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