FADING GIGOLO (review)

Review by Benn Robbins

Fading Gigolo is a very refreshing film about connection and the basic human need: Love.

It is the fifth film by actor/director John Turturro and it is one of his finest.

Told against the backdrop of New York City, Fading Gigolo begins as Turturro’s character, Fioravante, a quiet florist and his good friend, Murray, perfectly played by Woody Allen are packing up the last of Murray’s antique books store as it closes forever.

As they pack up the books Murray tells Fioravante of a strange happening at his dermatologist’s office.

Murray’s doctor, Dr. Parker, played by Sharon Stone, mentions to him that she and her beautiful girlfriend might be interested in a menage a trios and did he know anyone who might be interested.

To which Murray turns to his friend and says, “I was thinking of you.”

Seeing the potential of financial gain and with his failed bookstore gone, Murray begins to convince Fioravante, who is also in need of money, that he should go ahead with it. Thus a very strange, sometimes awkward and usually funny partnership is born with Murray, now dubbing himself Don Bongo and Fioravante, now calling himself, Virgil as his “ho”.

Unlike most films of this nature, this film really focuses on the women and how Fioravante can fulfill needs in their life, not just sexual, that are missing.

This is most demonstrated with the interaction of him with one of the more unusual “clients” Murray comes across. Avigal, played wonderfully by Vanessa Paradis in her first English language film) is the widow of a well loved and respected Chasidic Rabbi. She married very young and now has six children and lives a very solitary life within her Hasidic community. Longing for something more she accepts Murray’s proposal to meet with Fiorevante and what she experiences with him is the one thing she has been desperate for: affection and companionship.

This film truly gets right, the interactions of people.

People who really aren’t looking for anything other than to have someone be present and experience life with them. Wealthy socialites, widows, single moms, long time friends or someone you just meet on the street, It is all about connections and companionship, whatever that word means to you.

I would be remiss not to mention the stellar supporting cast. Sofia Vergara (Machete Kills) as Dr. Parker’s (Stone) sexy fiery girlfriend is so good and not just a gorgeous face.

Liev Schreiber is amazing and totally not in the film enough as Avigal’s guardian and brawny Shomrim (Orthodox community policeman), Dovi. He has secretly loved Avigal his whole life, from afar. His jealousy and actions that set off the third act are amazing and hilarious. Which brings me to the awesome casting of Bob Balaban as Murray’s lawyer who sort of helps Murray out when he gets in heat with the Hasidic community.

This film, to me, a native Bostonian, is a quintessential New York film.

I don’t really know what that means but it, like the films before it, I consider New York films. Films such as Annie Hall, A Bronx Tale, Mean Streets, Manhattan and so many more, they just make me want to go and walk around Manhattan, soak up the smells of Little Italy, get soup buns in Chinatown, get mesmerized by the lights of Times Square, drink a coffee in SoHo.

It just makes me want to be in New York and I love it.

I highly recommend this film. It is sweet, touching and very funny.