<p>Fading Gigolo<br /><br />English (A) ***<br /><br />Director: John Turturro<br /><br />Cast: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber<br /><br />An amicable septuagenarian in a Jewish neighbourhood in Brooklyn tries to coax his nondescript florist friend into a ménage à trois with the former’s dermatologist. <br /><br />What ensues is a soft, endearing tale, involving a widow, a secret admirer and some appropriate jazz that flows and meanders in sync with the mood of the movie. It is once in a while that conventionally inelegant themes like these are portrayed in a sophisticated manner and make the viewer actually feel at ease, maybe even putting a quaint smile on their faces. <br /><br />Murray (Woody Allen), the owner of a rare and used book shop which has to be shut, is asked by his attractive dermatologist (Sharon Stone) to find a man who is willing to be a part of a ménage with her and her friend.<br /><br /> Murray approaches Fioravante (John Turturro), a florist, grappling with finances. A price of $1,000 is what is at stake. Of course, Murray gets a cut, price negotiabe.<br />Fioravante is subsequently introduced to many other women, leading to further encounters. <br /><br />Enter Avigail (Vanessa Paradis), a widow of a rabbi of the Hasidic Jews. True to her faith, mother to her six children and the never-taking-off-her-sheitel woman. <br /><br />A massage session with Fioravante breaks Avigail down. Turturro has done a beautiful job in conveying the profounder meaning of a touch that can be so comfortingly pristine. <br /><br />The conversation involving pseudonyms for the two men and Fioravante terming Murray a pimp is charming, without a hint of vulgarity. <br /><br />Murray’s African-American family adds colour to the plot with its innocence and vivaciousness. <br /><br />Liev Schreiber as Dovi, the neighbourhood patrol man of Shomrim has done well as the jealous and silent friend. Sofia Vergara is impeccable as the “over-enthusiastic” rich woman, who ‘scouts’ for partners. <br /><br />Woody Allen has aged well, like wine, from being Alvy Singer to Murray. Turturro is at his dexterous best, both with directorial and acting skills. <br /><br />A different yet familiar plot, the story runs smoothly like a needle on a record. A refresher for the senses numbed from mundane entertainment.</p>
<p>Fading Gigolo<br /><br />English (A) ***<br /><br />Director: John Turturro<br /><br />Cast: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber<br /><br />An amicable septuagenarian in a Jewish neighbourhood in Brooklyn tries to coax his nondescript florist friend into a ménage à trois with the former’s dermatologist. <br /><br />What ensues is a soft, endearing tale, involving a widow, a secret admirer and some appropriate jazz that flows and meanders in sync with the mood of the movie. It is once in a while that conventionally inelegant themes like these are portrayed in a sophisticated manner and make the viewer actually feel at ease, maybe even putting a quaint smile on their faces. <br /><br />Murray (Woody Allen), the owner of a rare and used book shop which has to be shut, is asked by his attractive dermatologist (Sharon Stone) to find a man who is willing to be a part of a ménage with her and her friend.<br /><br /> Murray approaches Fioravante (John Turturro), a florist, grappling with finances. A price of $1,000 is what is at stake. Of course, Murray gets a cut, price negotiabe.<br />Fioravante is subsequently introduced to many other women, leading to further encounters. <br /><br />Enter Avigail (Vanessa Paradis), a widow of a rabbi of the Hasidic Jews. True to her faith, mother to her six children and the never-taking-off-her-sheitel woman. <br /><br />A massage session with Fioravante breaks Avigail down. Turturro has done a beautiful job in conveying the profounder meaning of a touch that can be so comfortingly pristine. <br /><br />The conversation involving pseudonyms for the two men and Fioravante terming Murray a pimp is charming, without a hint of vulgarity. <br /><br />Murray’s African-American family adds colour to the plot with its innocence and vivaciousness. <br /><br />Liev Schreiber as Dovi, the neighbourhood patrol man of Shomrim has done well as the jealous and silent friend. Sofia Vergara is impeccable as the “over-enthusiastic” rich woman, who ‘scouts’ for partners. <br /><br />Woody Allen has aged well, like wine, from being Alvy Singer to Murray. Turturro is at his dexterous best, both with directorial and acting skills. <br /><br />A different yet familiar plot, the story runs smoothly like a needle on a record. A refresher for the senses numbed from mundane entertainment.</p>
