Preston Barta // Film Critic
“Fading Gigolo,” 90 min.
Rated R for some sexual content, language and brief nudity.
Director: John Turturro
Stars: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber and Sofía Vergara
Rating: 3/5
With “Fading Gigolo,” John Turturro brings his gifts back behind the camera, as well as in front, for the all-star comedy about a mild-mannered florist named Fioravante (Turturro) whose lifelong friend, Murray (Woody Allen), wants him to be New York City’s go-to middle-aged man-whore.
Turturro proves that he can handle a light comedy as an actor as well as a writer-director. It’s easy to see how he got Woody Allen to be a part of this (he’s only been in less than a handful of films that he didn’t direct), as you could imagine Allen directing this film too. Many scenes begins with comedy and light chuckles and end on a touching note. And although this is a bit of a fairytale story, Turturro never leaves the bounds of reality. Despite its tonal and narrative structure issues, it’s a bittersweet film for older crowds to enjoy.
Our Interview with John Turturro – Film Impact, Working w/ Cast
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“Fading Gigolo” opens tomorrow in select theaters.
“Locke,” 85 min.
Rated R for language throughout.
Director: Steven Knight
Stars: Tom Hardy, Olivia Colman and Ruth Wilson
Rating: 4/5
Like “Buried” (2010) with Ryan Reynolds, this feature keeps things dead simple: one man and one location. “Locke” does not include car chases or crashes. It’s merely a movie in which Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) drives around in a car for the film’s 90-minute duration and induces intense phone conversations about concrete and a newborn. So those looking for flashy visuals and big action scenes should turn elsewhere, for “Locke” is a triumph in minimalist filmmaking and a master class in acting.
“Locke” opens in select theaters.
Coming soon: Interview with writer-director Steven Knight!
