The story starts by introducing the character Charlie Simms (O'Donnell) is a student at boarding School, but unlike his friends, he has very little money, and has to work through the thanksgiving holidays. He gets a job "babysitting" a retired Army Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Pacino).At first this guy seems to be amazingly arrogant, but it's a defense mechanism. He is fed up with life after an accident with a grenade that lost him his sight.

Before seeing this film, I knew it would be a very interesting film, as I enjoyed most of Al Pacino's work . After sitting through it though, I can fully understand why he won the 1992 Best Actor Award at the Academy Awards for this film. If I hadn't have known that he could see, I wouldn't have been able to tell that he was acting! That is just how good a portrayal he makes of the bitter, twisted Army Officer.

For Chris O'Donnell, this was his breakthrough film. His performance as the innocent, naive student perfectly complements Frank Slades character. Also, there is a fleeting glimpse of the Brit actress Gabrielle Anwar. Her scene although brief, helps to show a lighter, more human-side to Franks persona. At the end of the film you can't help but care for Frank.

This film is absolutely unmissable. the film gets very serious, but it is perfectly balanced, with a solid plot, and an outstanding script. Which is perfectly demonstrated near the end when Pacino gives his speech which I found very interesting and also true.

Delores Van Cartier (Goldberg) – a lounge singer in Rino converts from a loud luxurious life to one of that of a nun when she witnesses her lover ad henchmen commit a gangland murder. Deloris does nothing but create havoc and chaos which leads to a bad relationship between her and her mother superior (Smith) who in the end forces Deloris to join in the convents abysmally tone deaf choir – to keep her out of mischief and from disrupting the rest of the nuns. However its not long until Deloris takes over control of the choir and transforms the screeching nuns into heavenly angels; belching out 60’s tunes and boogie woogie before the congregation. The church and convent are revitalized, confidence building and community transformations leads to news coverage and a leek in the police leads the whereabouts of Deloris getting back to the thugs trying to kill her. Hilariously funny mission of saving Deloris from her lover leads to a cat mouse chase around a casino in Rino. A truly heartwarming and feel good film, jam pact with charm and charisma and outstanding acting from Smith and Goldberg. A transformation movie but not of bad girl goes good, but good nuns becoming great.