Fading Gigolo – movie review

          Written, directed and starring John Turturro, “Fading Gigolo” is a comedy about a man who decides to become a professional Don Juan in order to provide money for his friend, Murray. Fioravante (played by Turturro) is a fairly non-descript guy you wouldn’t look twice at if you passed him on the street. He takes his part-time role of “ho” seriously, however, and successfully transforms from the not-getting-a-second-look guy into the man you want to be with. You want to be with him whether he’s just listening to you, providing platonic touch or servicing you and a friend in a ménage-a-tois. The story unfolds into an interestingly and slightly complicated tale of emotions and love and money.

          I loved this movie, and I loved John Turturro as Fioravante. His face and character stand up to close scrutiny in scenes with little dialogue. Yes, he’s just a plain guy but via his acting – in both the movie and in the change Fioravante’s psyche must undergo with each client – he superbly transforms into a handsome, sexy, and savvy gigolo.

          The movie also stars Sharon Stone and Sophia Vegara as a couple of Fioravante’s customers.  Also excellently participating in this lovely film is Vanessa Paradis who plays a Hasidic widow and Liev Schrieber, a Hasidic neighborhood patrolman who follows Paradis through her meetings with Fioravante.

          Oh, I forgot to mention Woody Allen…how did that happen? Allen rarely just acts in films but he plays Fioravante’s friend and manager, Murray. He is the beneficary of a portion of the money from the ‘business.’  [Regardless of guilty or not guilty, it’s too bad we’ll never be able to see Allen without always wondering. It detracts somewhat from his excellent acting.] Murray’s relationship with Fioravante is poignant and filled with the stuff we all want our friends to have:  quiet support, pushy support and encouragement, unfailing admiration, and lots of humor.

          Did I say I love this movie? Well, I do and recommend it highly. It receives five out of five ticket stubs from me.



 

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Dancing in Jaffa – movie review

         This hour and 40 minute film documents the journey of one ballroom champion returning to his home town to teach children of two divergent groups to dance. These children are not just from different neighborhoods, they’re from different heritages and religions, cultures perpetually on the brink of war.


          Internationally renowned ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine returns to his city of birth, Jaffa along the coast of Israel to teach 10 year old Palestinian-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli children to dance and compete …together.  The film follows specifically the complex stories of a couple of different children who have had to deal with issues of prejudice, religious and cultural separation and politics of the unsettled region.

          While the individual stories are tender and touching, the bigger story is how the teaching experience becomes a microcosm of the Middle East’s struggle to work together in harmony.

          This is not a big film. It didn’t need to be made. The cinematography isn’t perfect. But I’m sure glad it was made. There’s nothing like showing children dealing with issues that adults have created for them.  We’re screwing up these precious, innocent, little sponges of delightful curiosity with our wars and politics and religious differences that get in the way of respecting the ways of others.

          Okay, okay….I’ll remember that this is a movie review and step down from my soap box and just say:  you’ll learn something if you take the time to see this little film. You’ll learn something about life in another part of the world and … about yourself.

Four out of five ticket stubs

Contact Antonia at antoniasseniormoments@hotmail.com