I would've hated this film had it not been for her Oscar-winning performance as Maerose. The scene where she is dressed in black and lying about Charley ... that was some really haunting stuff. Probably one of the best supporting actress roles I've seen.
Kathleen Turner irritated the daylights out of me and Jack Nicholson was fine but nothing to write home about.
I couldn't disagree more with this comment. I am stunned that she could win an Oscar with such a limited, low key performance. I hadn't seen the film for several years since my first viewing but remembered enjoying it originally. I watched it again today and did not enjoy it anywhere near as much as I remembered. It's rare for my opinion to change about films but it has with this one.
shareI don't think this film has held up well over time. The timing, the tone, the acting: it seems dated or somehow "off." I do think Angelica Houston was the one stand-out performance, and whenever the film focused on her and not KT and JN, it felt fresher, sharper.
I am not a Frankenstein. I'm a Fronkensteen.
I think her performance redeems the film. It's interesting she was not only nominated but won for so little screen time, but she as outstanding. Given that Judi Dench won the award for 6 minutes' screen time, it's ultimately fair. Angelica Houston is outstanding in this film.
shareI totally agree. William Hickey certainly helped but Huston was dead-on and thoroughly deserved her Oscar.
"No, I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox, and you're eating it."
Anjelica's was the only really engaging performance. The rest was a disaster. The script - dull, one-dimensional. And Nicholson - seriously? Seriously?! He was like an amateur in this.
shareI think the character of Maerose Prizzi is Anjelica Huston's best work.
shareI couldn't agree more. I actually didn't mind Turner, but I thought Nicholson's accent was atrocious--worse than his accent in the Departed (which is awful). Anjelica Huston is the one deep, excellent performance. The guy who played the grandfather was bizarre.
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