A Reno singer witnesses a mob murder and the cops stash her in a nunnery to protect her from the mob's hitmen. The mother superior does not trust her, and takes steps to limit her influence on the other nuns. Eventually the singer rescues the failing choir and begins helping with community projects, which gets her an interview on TV—and identification by the mob.
Mary Clarence? Like Clarence Williams III from The Mod Squad?
When a worldly singer witnesses a mob crime, the police hide her as a nun in a traditional convent where she has trouble fitting in.
Whoopi Goldberg is the sister act of the title, and boy does she have a great time with the characterisation. It's hardly pulling up any trees, and it holds few surprises, yet it's so warm and gentle with its humour it's near impossible to dislike.
The laughs obviously come from Goldberg's street wise gal trying to adapt to life in a convent. The big message that unfolds, as she gets more at ease with her surroundings, is that not only can earthy girls come to be honourable by learning new fortitudes, but also that they can positively affect those around them in a perceived stuffy environment.
The trajectory of the nunnery choir under Goldberg's tutorship - from wailing cats to cherubic angels - is the film's highlights, while Maggie Smith as the prim and proper Mother Superior is class unbound. Harvey Keitel as the gangster who is after our sister's blood is wasted, and the ending is never really in doubt, yet this is a good pick me up movie, undemanding fun for those after a quick smiley fix. 7/10
**One of the great comedies of the decade.**
We are facing a film that was a huge success when it was released and continues, even today, to have a vast legion of fans. It's one of those light, friendly comedies that doesn't age, is always current, and is a pleasure to revisit from time to time. The expertly written screenplay tells the story of Deloris, a casino singer who must be protected by the police after witnessing her lover, a married gangster, kill a police snitch at close range. The authorities' solution is to hide her in a convent, where she will have to assume a false identity and pretend that she is a nun. Of course, most of the film's jokes come precisely from the difficult adaptation of a showgirl to a strongly strict environment, where obedience and discipline are taken seriously.
The film works wonderfully well, and despite the years that have passed, it remains an amazingly up-to-date film that doesn't show its age. It's one of those films that we can watch and rewatch without getting tired, from time to time, and that is still fondly remembered by many people today. It's not a great film from a technical point of view, with average cinematography and editing, good sets and decent costumes, but no big fights and other challenging technical elements.
The cast is lavish and full of talent. The protagonist is the great Whoopi Goldberg, who was at the time experiencing one of the highlights of her career (shortly before, she had received the Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for _Ghost_), becomes, with this film, truly an icon. Next to her were the grandiose Maggie Smith and the funny Kanthy Najimi, Wendy Makkena and Mary Wickes, who bring to life the most significant nuns of that convent. The villain, in turn, is very well done by Harvey Keitel.