ROMANCE & CIGARETTES (2005)

Directed & Written By: John Turturro
Cinematography By: Tom Stein
Editor: Ray Hubley

CAST: James Gandolfini, Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon, Mandy Moore, Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi, Elaine Stritch, Tony Goldwyn, Mary Louise Parker, Amy Sedaris, Aida Turturro, Bobby Canavale, Kumar Pallena

The film has it’s moments, But in the end feels like a disappointment. It feels like John Turturro has something to say and wants the film to have a deeper meaning but doesn’t exactly convey, it’s message clearly.

The film plays like a experimental film. This film would have been a interesting piece of cinema if it had been made in the 70’s. When films were more daring and audiences were a little more willing to watch them. Being made today the film comes off as a little too off. One minute it seems like a musical. The next it seems like a 1950’s melodrama that has been updated for modern times. Then it seems like a screwball comedy but there seems to be more scenes of unintentional comedy then actual comedy.

The musical scenes have the songs played and then having the actors sing along to them with choreography. There are only 3 scenes where the musical sequences really match the music with the emotion displayed by the characters in the scenes. The opening number, The underwater scene with Kate Winslet and Susan Sarnadon in church. Other then that all the characters seem off a bit with made up depth most of the time.

The direction is top notch and the cast is obviously up to the challenge I only wish the script was up to their talents. Another artistic element I think would have helped is f the film was in black & White. It would place the film in some alternative but same universe. That wouldn’t make the film seem so outlandish.

There are no particular stand-out’s in the film as far as acting goes. In fact I was left wondering why certain people were even in the film except for just adding star power to a already powerful cast. Particularly Mary Louise Parker who seems like she is from a different movie. The same thing with Bobby Canavale but at least he adds laughs to the film.

The film was Self financed and Self Released at least in the united states.

It’s not horrible, I found myself really wanting to like it. In good faith though I couldn’t say this film was good

GRADE: C-



GRADE: C-