Wonderful Movie

Great Film overall

Best movie ever!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This film begins with a woman named "Frankie" (Michelle Pfeiffer) arriving on a bus to Altoona, Pennsylvania to be present as a godmother for her young niece. At that exact moment a man named "Johnny" (Al Pacino) is being released from prison there as well. Frankie then heads back to New York City on a bus to resume her job as a waitress in a small restaurant where--as luck would have it--Johnny ventures inside and applies for a job as a cook. Although Johnny becomes quite smitten with Frankie, she is hesitant to have anything to do with him even though she is just as lonely as he is. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film was rather slow at times but there was sufficient romance and a bit of humor here and there to keep things interesting. I especially liked the performance of Nathan Lane (as Frankie's good friend "Tim") who was responsible for almost all of the comedy. In any case, I found this to be an enjoyable movie for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

With its smooth transition from stage to screen, "Frankie and Johnny" had a bit of a makeover from frumpy outcasts to a more sugary enhanced blue-collar romantic comedy. This was partially due to the casting of Michelle Pfeiffer who replaced Kathy Bates in the role of Frankie where the more dramatic edge becomes more in place. Pfeiffer was still very good in her performance and even through the not so glamorous greasy spoon diner that Frankie and Johnny (Al Pacino) work, the feel-good atmosphere is truly omnipresent the whole time though.Pfeiffer can't fully conceal her pearly white teeth to the camera as it does upstage her shadowy eyes and her disheveled hair which matches the atmosphere of the ragtag greasy spoon Greek diner where she waits tables. But still she does embody that natural humbleness and insecurity about her which comes at the attraction of Pacino's Johnny who can find her inner beauty better than her outer beauty.Pacino is naturally charismatic as newly reformed middle-aged man who has just been released from prison after serving time for writing bad checks. Now all he wants to do is start his life over. No sooner does Johnny find a job working as a cook at Apollo's owned by Nick (Hector Elizondo). As soon as he laid eyes on Frankie, he knew he found his true love. However, Frankie still can't find it that easy to commit his hard to resist charm. It's because she's never fully recovered from her last boyfriend who cheated on her.But Johnny will not stop in his quest to win her heart even we know very well in the end that Frankie and Johnny will become a couple. Though their struggles to gain each other's trust in romance is equally capricious as it is believable. It just feel natural that Frankie and Johnny would feel a bit of unease when they first become romantic to each other.Producer-director Garry Marshall succeeds in keeping up the warm and fuzzy feelings from his previous film "Pretty Woman". He brings his stars to the table and uses his manipulative craftiness for the next 90 minutes. It may be cheap, but the chemistry within both Pacino and Pfeiffer are very effective in their delivery.The script was written by original playwright Terence McNally based off of his original play "Frankie and Johnny in Le Claire de Lune". It's more laden with dialogue than the original screenplay, but still succeeds in keeping it believable and cleverly funny. Best part about the script was that it was written straight from the heart.Although it is billed as a Greek restaurant, the staff are quite ethnically diverse even though it is a family-run operation. Still anyone can truly feel at home, even the staff. The two main standouts include the seductive and cynical Cora (Kate Nelligan) and the frumpy but kindly Nedda (Jane Morris). While Cora's sexual innuendos can sizzle your gyros, it's Nedda's social awkwardness that churns in plenty of laughs.While Frankie can find reassurance from her neighbor down the hall Tim (Nathan Lane), one of the funniest gay men in comedy, it's Cora who gives more tough love for Frankie when it comes to romance in all her cynical glory.Although, we knew from the beginning the Frankie and Johnny will become a couple, it's still one of those heartfelt movies we can enjoy and Pacino and Pfeiffer have amazing chemistry with each other even if their jobs aren't the greatest, Marshall shows that love is universal no matter what you do or who you are.

You have to admit when watching this film , Johnny steals everyone's heart's. Who wouldn't like someone like Johnny in their lives? I mean the guy is just really the one to be with. Boy I'm so mind blown of Al Pacino's character, he is just literally romantic. As Bruno Mars has said in his song "Uptown Funk", Michele Pfeiffer definitely is pure gold and with this role, she killed it. She really knows how to act as a emotionally disturbed woman who has been through a lot. I mean, I honestly thought that she was a wimp for keep on saying no to him but, as the story goes, you really go deep on the reasons why she is finding life hard. That's what I like about this movie, it opens up reality such as domestic abuse. It really stands out on the issues we are facing in real life unfortunately. Thankfully Frankie met the wonderful Johnny and her next door neighbour left her abusive partner for his misery. I love this movie, it's so powerful and emotional that I think it should've been deserved an Oscar, not a nominated Golden Globe...

Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nathan Lane, Kate Nelligan and Hector Elizondo star in Garry Marshall's 1991 romance comedy-drama based on a play, "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune." This takes place in New York where we meet Johnny (Pacino), an ex-con who gets a job working as a short-order cook. We also meet waitress, Frankie (Pfeiffer) who is afraid of starting over because of her past, abusive marriage. Johnny also had a failed marriage, but when he meets Frankie, he instantly falls for her. She's reserved at first, but eventually tries to move on with him. Lane (The Birdcage) plays Frankie's neighbor friend, Tim, Nelligan (Dracula) plays waitress, Cora and Elizondo (Pretty Woman) plays boss, Nick. This is a pretty good romance flick that also references the love song. Pacino & Pfeiffer not only reunite 8 years after "Scarface," but are good in this and have great chemistry. I recommend this.