Cheap Prizzi's Honor (DVD) (Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner) (John Huston) Price

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Customer Reviews of Prizzi's Honor

Black Humor At Its Best
Nobody could have played Charlie Partanna like Jack Nicholson, who gives an exceptionally fine performance as a stereotypical mob hitman. Angelica Huston is wonderful in her Oscar-winning role as Maerose Prizzi, the black sheep of the family and former love-interest of Partanna's. And Kathleen Turner lights up the screen as the sexy, mysterious woman that Partanna falls for. Fine acting, great story, all in all a great film.

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Star-Cross'd Hit Persons
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 on the East Coast; the other is Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), based on the West Coast, who accepts an assignment to kill Partanna before meeting and then falling in love with him. The romance flourishes for a time. Previously, Partanna had ended his relationship with Maerose Prizzi (Angelica Huston), the Don's beloved but volatile granddaughter. 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. He 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.

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ALL IN THE FAMILY
The Prizzi's are the second best (celluloid) Mafia family ever to come out of New York. The script is a masterwork, the best line deadpanned by Nicholson to John Randolph: "I didn't get married so my wife could go on working (in Brooklynese, it comes out "woiking")." William Hickey, frail, onion skinned, gravel voiced is unforgettable as Don Corrado Prizzi (lovingly called Padrino by Jack's Charlie Partanna). The Oscar won by Angelica Houston was richly deserved in what was her father's last film. Always exit on top.