Hard to believe, but Frankie and Johnny opened in theaters thirty-five years ago yesterday, on October 11, 1991. Feels like yesterday, kids.
What more can I say about a movie I consider my most favorite of all time? Well, plenty! It’s Pfeiffer at her absolute pfinest, and she carries the movie with a permanence so fully realized, so natural, that it hardly seems like she’s acting at all. She and co-lead Al Pacino are simply marvelous together. The entire cast is fabulous, with Nathan Lane, Kate Nelligan, and Hector Elizondo leading a gloriously colorful cast of supporting characters. Terrence Malick’s script, adapted from his extraordinary play, is simply exquisite. Characters express simple, yet deeply profound truths that resonate in ways few screenwriters have ever have been able to match. The final act is an absolute tour-de-force from Michelle and Al, a powerfully charged scene that runs the gamut of emotions. I’ve watched Frankie and Johnny countless times and yet I still crack up at the funniest moments and cry like a baby during the most heart-wrenching scenes. That’s why I love this movie so damn much.
Happy 35th, Frankie and Johnny!
Such a lovely film. For me this features Michelle’s best performance(and that’s saying something). The scene where she breaks down and finally tells him her whole story gets me every single time I watch.
LikeLiked by 1 person