JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonPrizzi’s Honor (1985)
August 20th 2007 00:00
The Godfather of Killer Romance
The UK DVD Cover - Available in Oz
Writer:Richard Condon
Starring:Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Anjelica Huston, William Hickey, Robert Loggia, Anjelica Huston, Lawrence Tierney, John Randolph
“Do what? Do I ice her? Do I marry her? Which one of these?” – Charley
Prizzi’s Honor is a mobster black comedy that’s delicious guns and bullets spicing sires romance igniting a deceptive wink to family loyalty. Veteran Actor/Writer and Director John Huston was thought to be past his time when this under estimated gangster milieu became a sleeper hit.
Garnering 8 Oscar nominations and an extended run at cinemas, elements of the premise were later lifted for the heavy on the Parmesan Mr and Mrs Smith.
The story centers around Charley Partanna, (Jack Nicholson) the hitman godson of the Prizzi crime family Don (William Hickey) in New York City.
While attending a grand wedding for one of the Don’s nieces, the feared and sometimes ruthless Charley falls in love at first sight with the mysterious dame in a lavender dress named Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner).
None to bright, Charley is a dedicated assassin but unfamiliar tender emotions and feminine wiles soon scramble his brain. Oblivious too the feelings of his disgraced ex, Maerose Prizzi (Anjelica Huston) a volatile, stubborn but also needy complication hints at the complexities this progressively less detached executioner is going to face.
You have something in your eye, oh its just Anjelica.
John Doe Says:
This is classy entertainment that avoids the grit but doesn’t lose its prestige. John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The List of Adrian Messenger, The Dead, Treasure of Sierra Madre, The Ashphalt Jungle, Under The Volcano, Fat City, The Man Who Would be King, The Kremlin Letters) was a skilled craftsman who’s honed technique translates into a cinematic style that bonds the clever screenplay and ensemble cast.
The one time great white hunter weaves sound, vision and film language economically, he knows what the audience needs to see and doesn’t waste time with peripherals. Beautifully shot and scored, there is an essence and majesty to early scenes that offer a stained glass atmosphere shattered with laughter.
The film was adapted for the screen by Richard Condon (The Manchurian Candidate), author of the original novel. The screenplay employs all the tools of drama, comedy and thriller. Deft scenes of serious characters existing in absurd perspectives twist like spaghetti spiraled onto a fork.
Benefiting from the off camera nepotism happening at the time (Jack was dating Anjelica who was the Directors daughter) the combustible chemistry of the stars is all captured. The pace and tone are maintained through simple visual communication which means that you are seldom distracted from the performances and their lines.
Jack (5 Easy Pieces, The Last Detail, The Passenger, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, The Shining) morphs himself with a puffed out top lip and jowls that distort his face removing most of his arsenal of ticks. Portraying an unintelligent, physically encumbered hood the eye brows are at ease and smirk becomes an uneasy grin. The charisma subdued but always evident there are subtleties at work here that didn’t resurface again until About Schmidt.
He bounces off Kathleen Turner (Romancing The Stone, Virgin Suicides, Roger Rabbit, War of the Roses, Serial Mom) who recalls her Body Heat temptations of the flesh as the pair are exploited for all their appeal.
Anjelica Huston (Witches, The Grifters) deservedly won the golden statue for Best Supporting Actress, her part demands multiple signals that conflict. She is vulnerable but independent, sympathetic yet insincere and her pristine exterior hides a menagerie of moods.
All the cast deserve mention as they each ensure there roles are memorable regardless of the number of lines.
Funny and well told, John Doe missed it the first time he saw it but there is a supreme love of movies gleefully saluted in this often overlooked gem by a master of the medium.
The DVD:
Transfer:16:9 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras:Nil
The Director with his pawns
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Comment by Damo
Very dark comedy with dark motives all around.
I am still tossing up if it was a good or bad film.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
This is another film that I've always meant to see, but haven't. Must add it to my list....!!
Tracy
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
anything with Nicholson in it has got to be good...even if the film itself stinks, he always manages to carry it off with such expertise...
But I actually liked this one too...dark humor at it's best!
Great review and clip...
Take care buddy,
Nick
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, I agree with what you said about Jack Nicholson, Nick:
Tracy
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It is a film that has improved with age. The script is very contemporary, it even goes into Sopranos territory with the humour.
Good or bad it is undeniably entertaining.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Agreed Jack is usually good in most things (Though crap like As Good as It Gets is unbearable) ....Prizzi is one of his great post 70's performances and the calibre of the rest of the cast and comedy lift it too.
Good to see you.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I think you will like this one, it blends romance and comedy with skill.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen this one? The cast is exceptional and Kathleen brings her 80's bombshell image along for the ride.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
I can see why some people wouldn't appreciate the movie as much--lots of esoteric mob humor in there that you have to be familiar with.
Besides the many attributes you have listed, JD, I love this one because it features one of my favorite (if not the favorite) character actors, William Hickey, as Don Corrado Prizzi. His simultaneous sweet little old man/ruthless mob boss persona in the film is pure comic genius!
"He must pay, Grandfather! He dishonored--"
"SHADDAP!!
Have another cookie, my dear?"
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I love William Hickey (Little Big Man, Remo, The Boston Strangler, Mickey and Nicky, Wise Blood, Name of the rose) too, he is a fantastic presence and grabs the attention whenever he is onscreen..
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD