FADING GIGOLO

Woody Allen plays a pimp in John Turturro's new film, FADING GILGOLO
Woody Allen plays a pimp in John Turturro’s new film, FADING GILGOLO

When Woody Allen is not writing and directing his own movies, he’s mentoring.

The story goes that John Turturro was telling his barber about this idea for a film and his barber, who is also Woody’s tonsure tech, passed the pitch on to him. Woody liked it enough to track Turturro down. As a reward, Turturro cast him in the picture as his character’s pimp.

In FADING GIGOLO, Turturro plays Fioravante who works part time in a book shop that is, like so many bibliotheques, closing down. The bookshop owner, Murray, worries that his friend is going to find it hard to make ends meet purely from his other gig as a florist, and thinks of him when his female dermatologist asks him if he knows of anyone who might be hired to partake in a menage a trois with another woman. Murray immediately thinks of his cash strapped friend and after some persuading, initiates a meeting with the medic.

Dr. Parker, played with a steely vulnerability by Sharon Stone, is a successful professional with a non-present spouse. The neglect is niggling at her. Not only does she need nurturing but by taking a lover she is exacting a revenge on her errant husband.

After her first encounter with Fioravante, Parker recommends him to her friend, Selima, a sizzling performance by sexy and effervescent Sofia Vergara, cinematic Viagra. They see him individually and together.

What could have been a sleazy and salacious story becomes a funny, bitter-sweet experience.

Fioravante isn’t some oafish stud but a listener, a cook, a dancer and floral decorator. Not hunky handsome but possessed of a no-bullshit charm that females find irresistible.

Thrown into the mix is Avigail, a Chassidic widow of a Rabbi, who Murray cajoles into having a massage by Fioravante. It’s a tactile revelation that leads to unrequited romance and Vanessa Paradis’ portrayal of the cloistered woman is beautifully realised.

The widow’s visits to the gigolo instigate a sub plot involving a Jewish cop played by Liev Schreiber and Murray’s lawyer, Sol, a side splitting performance by the incomparable Bob Balaban.

The textures and nuance of the Brooklyn neighbourhood, the rabbinical courts and Murray’s domestic situation of a black woman and her four kids ensure FADING GIGOLO does not fade into frivolous fantasy.

Beautifully photographed by Marco Pontecorvo, with a sumptuous production design by Lester Cohen, and glorious costume design by Donn Zakowska, the film looks a million dollars.

A killer soundtrack featuring a couple of songs from Dalida, two tunes from Gene Ammons , and vocals from cast members M’Barka Ben Taleb and Vanessa Paradis, add to the laudable audible sensation.

A Spike Lee perennial and Cohen Brothers favourite, it seems odd John Turturro has only ever worked with Woody once before in HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. Hopefully, they’ll get together again soon.