Review of Fading Gigolo (2013) by Alice S — 31 May 2014

I never thought all-nose-and-ears John Turturro to be "a beautiful man," but age has really agreed with him, as he is indeed smoldering and sexy in an earthy way in his directorial debut. Cross-generational friends, played by Woody Allen and Turturro, embark on a prostitution business venture, and Fioravante, the titular fading gigolo, stoically seduces the stereotypical bombshells (played lusciously by Sharon Stone but somewhat tritely by Sofia Vergara, who seems so naturally sexy that she probably can't "act" sexy).

In the diverse neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, racial and ethnic tensions arise, but a small oasis of intimacy is found between Fioravante and a young Hasidic widow who calls upon his services but not in a sexual way. Vanessa Paradis is lovely, reserved, and beguiling as Avigal, and her cathartic crying upon Fioravante's straightforward massage is uncomfortable yet freeing.

Beautiful moments abound in their budding meeting of the souls, but Turturro's script misses several beats, perhaps in favor of not spelling things out for the audience that could really have used some spelling out. How is Fioravante so good with the ladies, and how did Murray know he would be? What was his past like? Was he a bit of a Lothario before tragedy transformed him into this melancholy florist? Did pimp and gigolo already know Avigal's endgame? Does Avigal even like Dovi beyond neighbors since he's such a badgering "but I'm a nice guy" jackass?

"Fading Gigolo," with its meditative explorations of human intercourse, is like a Woody Allen movie not written or directed by Woody Allen - down to its jazzy, sublime soundtrack and unfortunately forgotten details.