The MovieIt looks like a Woody Allen movie. It sounds like a Woody Allen movie. Woody Allen is in it. But it’s NOT a Woody Allen movie. Fading Gigolo is the latest directorial/screenwriting work from John Turturro (Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?), who also stars alongside the aforementioned Mr Allen. Even without Allen’s presence you would be sure to think he had taken a few notes from his back catalog.
Allen plays Murray, a man who is finding difficulty in keeping his family bookstore open. His friend Fioravante (Turturro), a florist, is also having financial difficulties. Murray recounts a story where his dermatologist (Sharon Stone) is seeking a man to join her in a threesome with her friend Selima (Sofia Vergara) and offering financial incentive to the right person (because that would be required). Fioravante decides to take up the offer and splits the money with Murray. Sensing an opportunity, they start a male escort service with Murray pimping out Fioravante to the wealthy female establishment of New York. Matters soon become complicated when Fioravante develops feelings for a client named Avigal (Vanessa Paradis) and a member of the local neighborhood watch starts to investigate Murray’s suspicious behavior.
So the Allen “feel”? There’s a quirky playfulness here wrapped around a dramatic central element. It is a balance of comedy and drama, with character interplay tied together with customary banter. It is an adult-centric film, somewhat verging on vulgar in parts but delivered with a sweetness and charm that make it palatable. For all the comedy potential of the plot, it really is a look at relationships; the divide between the superficial and the intimate. The film is well directed. A tight start sets up the film well and gets us into the meat of things quickly, held by a script that is focused and develops the characters well. Turturro does well but the film really belongs to Allen, probably turning in his best performance in years. He really solidifies this as more of a character piece than an out and out comedy. The film really hits its stride when Allen and Turturro share time together. They make a great pairing in both the comedic and the dramatic moments. Stone and Vergara do solid work in their respective roles but it is Paradis who truly stands out amongst the female cast members, largely due to the deeper writing and more emotional arc her character undertakes.
Much like Allen’s films, there is nothing particularly groundbreaking but it is pretty enjoyable. Where the film stumbles, it is down to Turturro. While the script is enjoyable enough it doesn’t delve too deeply into many of the emotional issues it raises, a missed chance to craft something more memorable. It aspires to be an adult comedy for adults but never really brings that home. The humor works well but it is the weightier matter than is flawed. It verges on the vulgar but never really offends; touches on the emotional but never goes too deep. Fading Gigolo is a little too inconsistent and erratic in tone to label it a total success but there is enough here to recommend.
THE PACKAGEFading Gigolo has a pretty vibrant transfer. The color red is prominent in the film’s palette and is represented well giving the film a warm lush appearance. Detail is crisp throughout the presentation. Sound is well balanced, exterior sound comes across well, and dialogue is always clear: essential for a film of this nature.
Extras contain a much welcomed commentary track by Writer/Director/Star John Turturro and his assistant Cameron Bossert. They delve behind the scenes talking about themes explored in the film, inspirations, location, musical choices and more. A nice, personal addition. The disc also includes several deleted scenes. Solid additions sure to please a fan of the film.
The Bottom LineFading Gigolo is not as refined as a Woody Allen movie, but the roughness around the edges actually gives it a little more charm. It tells an interesting tale and employs a talented cast to do it. The subject matter may be a bit of an acquired taste for some but the film handles it with a lot of heart and humor. It’s well worth your time checking this one out and bodes well for the future of Turturro behind the camera.
Fading Gigolo is available on DVD and Blu-ray on August 19th, 2014. A link to purchase via Amazon is below.
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