Prizzi’s Honor Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two hitmen fall in love, get married, and then realize their in-laws are trying to kill them, so they decide to take care of the problem themselves…permanently.

🍿 Prizzi’s Honor: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Love at First Sight Amidst the Mob

Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a hitman for the powerful Prizzi crime family, falls head over heels for Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner) at a wedding. Irene, seemingly a sophisticated tax consultant, captivates Charley immediately. Their whirlwind romance quickly escalates, leading to marriage, much to the chagrin of Charley’s former flame, Maerose Prizzi (Anjelica Huston).

Hidden Identities and Conflicting Loyalties

As Charley and Irene’s relationship deepens, secrets begin to surface. Charley discovers that Irene is not who she seems – she’s a contract killer, just like him, hired by the Prizzis for a job in New York. This revelation complicates their relationship, forcing them to navigate the treacherous waters of their profession and their newfound love. Their marriage becomes a delicate dance of trust and suspicion.

Contracts and Betrayal

The situation intensifies when both Charley and Irene receive contracts – to kill each other. Irene is also revealed to have stolen money from the Prizzis in a casino scam orchestrated by her estranged husband. Torn between their feelings and their loyalty to their respective organizations, Charley and Irene face an impossible choice: honor their contracts or betray their families and each other.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson): A somewhat dim-witted hitman for the Prizzi family who falls in love with a rival assassin.
• Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner): A beautiful and skilled freelance assassin who becomes entangled with Charley Partanna.
• Eduardo Prizzi (Robert Loggia): A high-ranking member of the Prizzi family who helps manage the family’s criminal operations.
• Angelo ‘Pop’ Partanna (John Randolph): Charley’s father, who is also involved in the Prizzi family business.
• Don Corrado Prizzi (William Hickey): The elderly and ruthless patriarch of the Prizzi family, whose authority is absolute.
• Maerose Prizzi (Anjelica Huston): Charley’s ex-fiancée and member of the Prizzi family who seeks revenge.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Charley Partanna: “I love youse. I love youse. I love youse. That’s it. I love youse.” – Charley declares his love for Irene, emphasizing the intensity of his feelings in his own unique way.
• Charley Partanna: “Marxie Heller so fuckin’ smart, how come he’s so fuckin’ dead?” – Charley says this after killing Marxie Heller.
• Irene Walker: “I’m a tax consultant.” – Irene’s initial deceptive introduction of herself to Charley.
• Don Corrado Prizzi: “Have another cooooookie.” – Don Prizzi offers this line in a menacing way, contrasting the innocuous act with his sinister demeanor.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $16,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $26,657,534
• Worldwide Gross: $26,657,534

💥 Prizzi’s Honor Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved Prizzi’s Honor! It’s such a unique take on the gangster genre, mixing dark humor with romance. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Charley is hilarious, and Kathleen Turner is so captivating. The scene where they realize they’re both hired to kill each other is priceless! I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire movie, and the ending was perfect in its own twisted way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in mafia stories with a satirical twist”
  • “Admirers of Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, and Anjelica Huston”
  • “People who enjoy films directed by John Huston”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and gore”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Depiction of criminal activities”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Huston’s direction is sharp, and the cast is uniformly excellent. Nicholson delivers a nuanced performance as the not-so-bright Charley, and Turner is alluring as the mysterious Irene. A darkly comic gem that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
• Roger Ebert: “Prizzi’s Honor is a brilliant black comedy that satirizes the mafia genre. Nicholson is perfectly cast as the dim-witted Charley, and Huston’s direction is masterful. It’s a wickedly funny and surprisingly romantic film.
• The New York Times: “A darkly comic tale of love and betrayal within the mafia. Nicholson and Turner are a captivating pair, and Huston’s direction is assured. It’s a stylish and entertaining film with a sharp wit.

Audience Reactions

The dark humor and unexpected twists kept me guessing until the end.: Viewers praised the film’s unique blend of comedy and crime, highlighting the performances of the cast and the sharp direction.

Anjelica Huston’s performance was outstanding; she truly deserved her Oscar.: Anjelica Huston’s portrayal is widely commended as her character is smart, and a key person who is intertwined in every characters affairs.

Overall Consensus: Prizzi’s Honor is a darkly comedic and stylish take on the mafia genre, praised for its excellent performances and sharp direction, though some find the humor too dark.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Supporting Actress)- 1986
2. Golden Globe (Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy)- 1986
3. Golden Globe (Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy)- 1986

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “John Huston is the only director to direct two members of his own family to win Academy Awards: his father Walter Huston in ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ and his daughter Anjelica Huston in this movie.”
• “Jack Nicholson’s character, Charley Partanna, was originally offered to Robert De Niro.”
• “Anjelica Huston initially turned down the role of Maerose Prizzi because she didn’t want to work for her father, but he convinced her by telling her that she was the only one who could play the part.”

🖥️ How to Watch Prizzi’s Honor?

Prizzi’s Honor is available for rent or purchase on various platforms. You can find it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable availability. Some platforms may offer a free trial period.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Prizzi’s Honor, you might like these similar films:

• The Godfather (1972): A seminal gangster film exploring family, loyalty, and betrayal within a Mafia dynasty.
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005): An action-comedy where a married couple discovers they are both assassins hired to kill each other, similar to the premise of conflicting loyalties and romance.
• Analyze This (1999): A comedic take on the gangster genre, focusing on a mobster who seeks therapy, sharing the satirical approach to Mafia stereotypes.
• Married to the Mob (1988): Another comedic look at the mafia life and the complications that arise from it.

🛒 Prizzi’s Honor Related Products

• Prizzi’s Honor [Blu-ray]: Own the darkly comedic masterpiece in high definition. Enjoy crisp visuals and enhanced audio for the ultimate viewing experience.
• Jack Nicholson: The Complete Filmmaker Collection [DVD]: A collection of Jack Nicholson’s best films, including Prizzi’s Honor. Experience the brilliance of one of Hollywood’s greatest actors.
• Prizzi’s Honor Movie Poster: High-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. A great addition to any film enthusiast’s collection.
• Mafia Crime Boss Board Game: A strategy board game where you build your criminal empire, inspired by classic mob films like Prizzi’s Honor. Outsmart your opponents to become the ultimate crime boss.

🎧 Soundtrack

Prizzi’s Honor features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Una furtiva lagrima” – performed by Gaetano Donizetti
• “Night Train” – performed by Buddy Morrow

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Kevin Spacey funny Jack Nicholson Story #shorts @lexfridman

Ever wonder what it was like on the set of Prizzi’s Honor? Kevin Spacey tells a hilarious story about Jack Nicholson… let’s just say, it involves a *lot* of drugs! It’s a quick, funny peek behind the scenes that you won’t want to miss.

✨ Rate