Review of Fading Gigolo (2013) by Walter M — 29 May 2014

"Fading Gigolo" starts with Murray(Woody Allen) closing up his bookstore for the last time with his friend Fioravante(John Turturro, who also wrote and directed), a florist, helping. During which, Murray tells him of a conversation he had with Dr. Parker(Sharon Stone), his dermatologist, about a threesome she is seeking with a friend. For which, Murray suggested Fioravante for which Parker would pay nicely for the privilege. At first, he is very reluctant, at least until he sees his dwindling checking account. Meanwhile, Murray takes his stepchildren to Avigal(Vanessa Paradis) to be deloused.

Most actors this side of Ryan Gosling would be laughed out of the theatre if they tried to cast themselves as god's gift to women. But not John Turturro who possesses just the right amount of charisma and old world charm to make it work.(Plus, it is fun to imagine him and Woody Allen hanging out in real life.) However, as a director, he does not have quite the right feel for a comedy, being bailed out by Woody Allen's still wonderful comic timing(at least with other people's material) and Vanessa Paradis' gently moving performance. That all goes to serve a movie about a New York City that is transitioning from Bloomberg's two New Yorks to De Blasio's united city. And is there anything more New York than an egg cream?