John Turturro built his reputation by starring in a slew of independent features that showcase a vast range and immense talents, including Coen brothers classics like Barton Fink and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but John’s talents stretch farther than just acting. As a writer and director, Turturro has gained a few filmmaker credits with titles like Romance & Cigarettes, but his most recent film has gained some pretty deserving hype because of an on-screen team-up with famed goofball Woody Allen. Yes, Turturro’s new film Fading Gigolo pits these two Brooklyn natives as dear friends, one being a pimp and the other being his gigolo – guess which is which?
Also starring Sharon Stone, Sofía Vergara, Vanessa Paradis, and Liev Schreiber, this sweet tale of love and companionship puts Turturro and Allen in a world full of guilt, paychecks, and the conflicting emotions that accompany such a lifestyle. While some of the story sluggishly moves along, I actually enjoyed this different type of sexual comedy, giving audiences a break from the usual fratboy mentalities that pollute such a genre. Turturro’s vision is a mature view of sex coming from characters who are in the latter stages of life, and despite some downfalls, the chemistry between Allen and his fellow New Yorker is worth a few good belly laughs.
Last week I had the chance to sit down with John Turturro in New York while he was doing some press for Fading Gigolo. Talking about the film, John revealed what spurred his latest passion project, the importance of his connection with Woody Allen and the added ego boost that comes along with knowing that Sharon Stone and Sofía Vergara would still pay for his “services” – any man’s dream.
Check out the video below, and be sure to catch Fading Gigolo in theaters for a different kind of sex comedy!
