Romance & Cigarettes (2005)

A down-and-dirty musical set in the world of working-class New York, tells a story of a husband's journey into infidelity and redemption when he must choose between his seductive mistress and his beleaguered wife.

Director:

John Turturro

Writer:

John Turturro

Stars:

James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Gandolfini	...	Nick Murder
Susan Sarandon	...	Kitty Kane
Kate Winslet	...	Tula
Steve Buscemi	...	Angelo
Bobby Cannavale	...	Fryburg
Mandy Moore	...	Baby
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Constance
Aida Turturro	...	Rosebud
Christopher Walken	...	Cousin Bo
Barbara Sukowa	...	Gracie
Elaine Stritch	...	Nick's Mother
Eddie Izzard	...	Gene Vincent
Amy Sedaris	...	Frances
P.J. Brown	...	Police Officer
Adam LeFevre	...	Fruitman

Storyline

Nick and Kitty Murder are married middle-aged working class New Yorkers. Kitty catches Nick in an indiscretion when she finds a love poem, extolling the virtues of one specific body part, Nick wrote to his mistress, Tula. The poem is the last straw for Kitty regarding their marriage. Kitty has the support of their three grown daughters - biological or other - her cousin Bo, her pastor and others at the church. They help her with among other things finding and thus dealing with Tula, who she does not know, and looking back at if she made a mistake in choosing Nick over her first love. On the other side, Nick turns to his co-worker Angelo, and a local police officer/ex-military man for advice, which he also gets unsolicited from his tough talking mother. Nick still has Tula, a frank-talking Northern English sex shop clerk, who truly loves Nick's body parts as he loves hers. A little emotional distance may provide Nick and Kitty the best perspective of what their future holds.

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Plot Keywords:

anal sex | sex | dream | redemption | arms tied overhead | 

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Taglines:

A Savage Musical

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content including some strong dialogue, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Icon Film Distribution [UK]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2006 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Apisties kai tsigara

Filming Locations:

13023 150th Ave, Jamaica, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,630, 5 October 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$540,085, 13 January 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, GreeneStreet Films, Icon Entertainment International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer-director John Turturro chose the songs featured in this film before he had secured their rights. While waiting for Gandolfini to be free from shooting The Sopranos (1999), the director went around to secure these rights from their songwriters and singers.

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Goofs

When Nick first comes into the house toward the beginning of the movie, his daughter's band is playing outside. When he shuts the front door, the music volume does not change. It should become more muffled with the door shut.

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Quotes

Baby: Dad?
Nick Murder: Yeah.
Baby: I'm going into wedlock.

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Connections

References Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)

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Soundtracks

Answer Me, My Love
Written by Fred Rauch, Carl Sigman and Gerhard Winkler
Used by permission of Bourne Co. (ASCAP)
Performed by Gene Ammons
Courtesy of Prestige Records/Fantasy, Inc.

User Reviews

Tuturro and the Coen Brothers unite for a bizarre musical

"Romance and Cigarettes" is an outrageous musical about the working class. It takes some getting used to, but it's well worth it, thanks to all of the talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes. It's risky, it's off the wall, it's bold, and at times, it's a riot. And you can't beat the soundtrack or the dancing policemen.

James Gandolfini plays Nick Murder (who else), a cheating husband married to Susan Sarandon and involved with the nearly unrecognizable Kate Winslet, a red-headed slut. They have three daughters: Constance (Mary-Louise Parker), Rosebud (Aida Turturro, Gandolfini's sister in the Sopranos; Turturro is one year younger than Gandolfini and Mary-Louise Parker is three years younger), and Baby (Mandy Moore), who have their own romance problems. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Bobby Carnavale, Eddie Izzard, and Christopher Walken. The characters all break into song with no notice, and the music includes "Piece of My Heart," "This is a Man's World," "Delilah," "Trouble," and many others.

The film chronicles the choice Nick Murder must make as he grapples with his life.

Very quirky and not for everyone, but some really marvelous performances, great music, and both fun and poignant moments.