FADING GIGOLO (2014)

Written & Directed By: John Turturro
Cinematography By: Marco Pontecorvo
Editor: Simona Paggi

Cast: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Vanessa Paradis, Sofia Vergara, Liev Schrieber, Tonya Pinkins, Michael Badalucco, Aida Turturro
Fioravante decides to become a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash-strapped friend, Murray. With Murray acting as his "manager", the duo quickly finds themselves caught up in the cross-currents of love and money.

While not the type of film you would expect. You find yourself charmed as in the end the film is truly a unorthodox love story with tons of romance.

Now at first it would be easy to write off the film as a vanity project with John Turturro being called in to service beautiful women like Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara. While being a raunch-fest. Both of the actresses look good, Though Sofia Vergara oozes sexiness as she is practically spilling out of all of her outfits

Instead there is a reason why he falls into the gig and also while a bit graphic or doesn't devolve Into a graphic sex comedy. Though a little hard to believe it makes it's case plausible in small subtle ways. That you don't have a hard time following this kind of wish fantasy.

The film is full of character and characters and actually gives the diverse population of New York a time to shine as the film explores and involves many cultures and let's them be human instead of the streotypical caricatures they are usually portrayed in cinema. It allows Turturro to show off his own culture as well as other ones to show a worldliness and acknowledgement, without beating you over the head with it. This film doesn't only shine on the beautiful people the young and upwardly mobile.

It feels almost like a throwback to classic films and classic New York. In it's own way it is a valentine to New York. It has a classic charm.

It is also one of the rare times to see Woody Allen in a film that he didn't write or direct and while he plays a woody Allen-ish character here feels a bit more loose here. Not the nebbish ladies man who is always part of the joke. Here he is more personable not as neurotic and actually quite charming. Just the scenes of him with his girlfriends kids who are all African American is hilarious.

The film has a surprising amount of heart and really is the most it's star has been allowed to show some real acting and emotion in quite a while. I have to say his film is more likeable then his last directorial effort ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES.

The film is cast with some great actors some of whom He has worked with before in front of the camera and behind.

This film is a sophisticated treat that seems more aimed at an older audience, but it is a nice mature romantic film.

Grade: B