Fading Gigolo- Review by Frank L.

Director: John Turturro
Writer: John Turturro
Stars: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone

Woody Allen is in his element as Murray, a New Yorker through and through, with his fumbling, wide- eyed, endearing innocence. After three generations, his much loved antiquarian bookshop has been forced to close its doors to the New York cognoscenti. Murray is resourceful and cash is needed. He strikes upon the unlikely idea that Fioravante a handsome enough, middle aged friend (John Turturro) who is now engaged in flower arranging, and is also short of cash, might find an outlet for some of his latent talents as a gigolo. Operating under the unlikely but rather magnificent name of “Virgil” after a somewhat nervous start, Virgil is not slow in providing what is needed for his eager ladies of a “certain age” including Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara. A more complicated set of needs develop when a Hasidic widow, Avigal, (Vanessa Paradis) arrives on the scene.

Woody Allen as the conductor of Virgil’s new career is splendid with his exemplary quips delivered with rhythm-perfect timing. Turturro and Paradis are well cast and complement each other in their wooing. The vignettes of New York set in Brooklyn are atmospherically magic and Dovi (Liev Schreiber), a Williamsburg Hasidic cop, is ace. The entire is a celebration of the endless possibilities that make up New York. A charming movie which makes you feel good like a good pastrami and rye eaten on a New York sidewalk. Turturro as writer, director and actor is entitled to take a very large bow.