Customer Reviews

Prizzi's Honor [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Only after seeing this film can you be expected to believe that this is a charming comedy about two killers (PC: hit persons) who are deeply involved with mob families, fall madly in love, and then....

One is Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a contract laborer for the Prizzi family headed by Don Corrado (William Hickey) on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who had already accepted an assignment from the Prizzis before meeting Partanna and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. The complications that ensue are best revealed while viewing the film.

Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), Don Corrado Prizzi 's beloved but volatile granddaughter. She is determined to regain the favor of the family's elders, especially its Don. Later, Huston received an Academy Award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role. She deserved it. Although apparently quite talented in his line of work, Charley often seems somewhat dimwitted, at least when contrasted with Irene who seems highly intelligent as well as physically attractive. Watching Nicholson play a smitten, almost schoolboyish Charlie is indeed a treat.

Director John Huston does a brilliant job of juxtaposing romantic comedy with mob-directed violence. Amidst all the laughter, people really do get killed. William Hickey certainly deserved his nomination for an Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role, won in 1985 by Don Ameche for his work in Cocoon. Hickey and other members of the cast were blessed with having an immensely clever script by Richard Condon, based on his novel. Listen carefully to Hickey's reading of his lines while also paying close attention to his masterful use of body language. Don Corrado Prizzi is indeed a lovable but deadly senior citizen. Yes, this film is highly entertaining. Witty, at times zany. However, as directed by John Huston, it also has layers of subtle menace as it examines darker regions of human nature.

A young boy, in his cub scout uniform at Christmas, recieves his first pair of brass knuckles. Then as a young man we see him taking a blood oath and swearing loyalty to "The Family". "The Family" is the Prizzi's, and the boy has grown up to be their number one hit man. He is Charlie Partanna, godson to Don Corrado Prizzi, head of "The Family". Another sequel to the Godfather? NOT!
"Prizzi's Honor"(based on a novel by Richard Condon) is a comedy with it's own brand of humor, a take off of mob family style movies. Director John Huston spins us a web of loyalties, and deciets,and schemes so out there you just have to laugh.
When Charlie meets and falls for Irene, a woman outside the family,he discovers that she also is a "contractor". As a matter of fact she has done a job for the family, but has also ripped them off. Charlie doesn,t know whether to "ice her or marry her"
So he marries her.They do jobs together. All seems well. But it is not...MaeRose the grandaughter of The Don, who has loved Charlie all her life, has been dishonored in the eyes of the family due to a break up with Charlie five years earlier. She is determined to get back in with the family, and with Charlie, and she has her own way of icing the competition, no guns or knives needed. Her scheme sets into motion a chain of events that leaves the whole family not knowing who to trust,and loyalties,especially Charlie's are put to the test.
This comedy/drama has a terrific cast... Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner will blow you away with their performances as "contractors" in love, William Hickey brings his own special brand of charm as "The Don". Angelica Huston, who we first see in a black and red dress that makes you think of a black widow spider,is superb and won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the jilted Mafia Princess. Also look for Robert Loggia in his usual great style as a heavy.
The Anchor Bay DVD is great. The picture and colors are clear and bright. It looks like a new film. The sound is in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and sounded very good. Everything was distinct. It is in widescreen,with full screen on the other side.
There are no special features with this one, but I can't take anything away from the film or DVD for that. Maybe someday they'll have a special edition in 5.1 with some added features and then we'll have to go to 6 stars. I enjoyed this DVD just the way it was. If you're a Nicholson fan,you will too!
Kick back and enjoy this one..........Laurie

In a recent poll that Premire magazine conducted, it was picked unanimously by filmmakers worldwide, if they were allowed to revote many filmmakers would have voted Prizzi's Honor for best picture at the academy awards.Out of Africa ended up winning and no one even talks about it anymore, at IMDB.com Out of Africa rates the lowest out of the five nominies.

If you like this movie don't let it slip through your memory, let others know about so hopefully one day it will be as popular as The Graduate. The film is amazing, John Hustons direction....FANTASTIC. Jack Nicholson gives a great performance. The film is a great black comedy that you can watch over and over again. The dvd is a emmbarresment to the film, ugly transfer, no special features, and the aspect ratio is wrong. The film was shot with a 2:35:1 aspect ratio and the dvd is presented in a 1:85:1 aspect ratio.

Anchor Bay did the same thing with the Sleuth dvd,though it was only minor, the Sleuth dvd presented the film in a 1:66:1 aspect ratio. With a new release of Sleuth they're finally presenting it in its correct 1:85:1 aspect ratio.

To all of us who love Prizzi's Honor, please write to Anchor Bay and tell them to put special features and present the film in its right aspect ratio. The dvd wouldn't be so bad if it was presented in 2:35 and had a amazing transfer. Great film Not to be missed!

What a terrific movie. There are so many memorable scenes and lines in this film. The acting by Nicholson, Russell and especially Angelica Huston is nothing short of spectacular. A very well done dark humor film that one can easily see over and over again. Many will laugh and remember the line toward the beginning of the move by Nicholson, "practice your meatballs!"
The look on Angelica Huston's face is priceless.

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

John Huston takes on the mob in Prizzi's Honor. Jack Nicholson plays a low level hit man for the Prizzi family. While at a wedding he meets a beautiful stranger and falls for her. Eventually he marries her.

He is given another assignment, kill his wife. The question is who comes first, his "family" or his wife?

This is a brilliant black comedy. John Huston proves that he not only can handle crime drama but crime comedy. This was one of last films and was one of his best films.

Jack Nicholson gives one of his finest performances. This is probably one of his most underrated performances. There is no flashy scenes just a great character.

Kathleen Turner has never been better. Again, this is not a flashy role, just well written. This is her greatest performance.

But the find of the film is Angelica Huston. Angelica made a film with her father before and had a terrible experience. After that, she had minor roles in lesser films. This would give her an Oscar and a new film career.

Buy this if you want to have a wickedly fun time!

DVD EXTRAS: None

The Academy and other awards are well deserved ! Prizzi's Honor is a delicious comedy, but by no means is it your standard traightforward "sitcom" type comedy. If is a "bent" Godfather, a caricature of the Mafia for our enjoyment, with excellent delivery from all performers, especially from the inimitable Jack Nicholson. An appetizing story line, great "black" humor, an artistic accomplishment ! Chances are you will either love or hate it, perhaps wonder what it is ... If you find yourself not "communicating" with this film, merely making attempts to "classify" or just trying to understand it, it means that you expect and like something else, and should watch something else instead. I loved this picture, and strongly recommend it !

For all it's comic tone, this is one of the hardest hitting gangster flicks I think I've seen in a long time - if ever. It's pure film noir though you wouldn't think so until the ending - which is just about as hard as nails. I'm not saying it's the 'best' gangster film I've ever seen, but sheesh, it packs a punch you'll be reeling from by the time the credits roll. And sure we expect brutality as the foundation for any decent mob flick, but this one kind of reached into new territory for me. The movie played out the way it had to and it's kind of tough to stomach on an emotional level. But from the point of view of the story, and it's characters, the movie does not falter and stays true to its logic.

The performances are great all around. The old don in this movie is incredible - creepy and decrepitly sinister, a very unique 'don' character in the catalogue of mafia movies. Charlie's father was great, and of course Nicholson does a GREAT job as Italian gangster Charley Pattana - his acting is distinct and fitting (i.e. he goes beyond himself as himself). Kathleen Turner as his love interest then wife, Irene, was likeable as well. I wasn't always sure I bought the chemistry 100%, but the movie is bigger than just their relationship - which certainly wasn't bad by any accounts - just not 'sizzling', for all the love that was professed. Then again this is love between a hit-woman and a gangster, so I don't know what exactly one could hope for. There was a certain touchingness in the trust that develops between them, and of course there's a comic tone that lightens the whole thing in the first place - but never to the detriment of the story. The light tone in fact only enhances its noirish resolution in the end driving the hammer down upon the nail of irony - or destiny, as this movie would have it.

Irene: "I've been doing 3 or 4 hits a year for the last few years, most of them full pay."

Charlie: "That many?"

Irene: "Well, it's not that many when you consider the size of the population."

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.

Yes, it's better than Fargo, and in my opinion Dr. Strangelove (although I loved both of those movies). It's got great acting, perfect story and it deals with the mob, what more could you ask for. The ending is great as well, but I won't spoil it.