Fading Gigolo

A cavalcade of top-shelf stars assemble to create a very funny, very New York comedy. John Turturro wrote and stars in this movie along with funny man sidekick Woody Allen playing the only role he can play, Woody Allen. The stars come out of the woodwork including Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, and a host of familiars. The setting is very New York and centers on a Hasidic community, a very sad and lonely Rabbi's widow played by French actress Vanessa Paradis, and an actual pseudo-police neighborhood watch group called the Williamsburg Shomrim. Tightly packed around this story's core are legions of lonely, beautiful New York women. And then there's the fuse that detonates this story: John Turturro, a flower seller and flower arranger turned gigolo by Woody Allen, who has had to go out of business as a rare book seller and, based on a casual remark by his dermatologist, finds pimping Turturro far, far more profitable.

There are hilarious scenes. There are touching scenes. There are sexy scenes. The movie's all over the map, in a very good way.

I found this to be a very funny, witty movie and a fine love story. It's an adult comedy romp through a postmodern New York City. If that sounds good to you, then this is your movie. If you feel there's no way to make fun of ultra-orthodox New York Hasidic Jews or are offended by strong-willed women who know what they want and are willing to pay to get it, then this movie probably isn't your cup of tea.

We saw this movie through the San Jose Camera Cinema Club.