Fading Gigolo is the new film from John Turturro. Turturro will be doing triple duties as writer, director and actor. One of the other stars is Woody Allen.
The synopsis:
Fioravante decides to become a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash-strapped friend, Murray. With Murray acting as his “manager”, the duo quickly finds themselves caught up in the crosscurrents of love and money.
It has been described as a tender, sweet comedy. Turturro himself said it’s a mix between ‘Midnight Cowboy‘ and Woody Allen’s own Broadway Danny Rose. It’s turning out to be a very Jewish comedy.
The dates:
‘Fading Gigolo‘ is set to be released sometime in 2013. Amazingly, IMDB is listing actual release dates for three territories.
Argentina – 5 September 2013
Denmark – 7 November 2013
Sweden – 15 November 2013
The cast:
John Turturro
John Turturro stars as Fioravante. Fioravante is the title character, our cash strapped gigolo, whose adventures lead to him meeting various women.
Oddly, we have seen little of his character so far in filming, but that could be because he hasn’t got the profile of some of his guest stars. Turturro’s best known for his collaborations with the Coen Brothers, starring in such classics as ‘The Big Lebowski‘, ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?‘ and ‘Barton Fink‘.
Fading Gigolo is his fifth time as writer/director, having previously worked behind the camera on his own films ‘Passione’ and ‘Romance And Cigarettes’. Turturro also appeared in Hannah And Her Sisters, and worked with Allen on the broadway stageplay ‘Relatively Speaking‘ in 2011.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen stars as Murray Schwartz. The owner of the struggling M. Schwartz & Sons Rare & Used Books, and his financial trouble leads him to help his friend Turturro is a crazy money-making scheme.
Woody Allen appeared in many scenes around NYC, including plenty with Turturro, Paradis, Schreiber and a bunch of children. He plays baseball, he gets arrested and there’s plenty of shocked looks.
Turturro had Allen in mind from the start. But he was able to get the script to him because they shared the same hairdresser.
Vanessa Paradis
Vanessa Paradis stars as Avital. A Hasidic widowed woman, she is the lice lady to Turturro children.
Sporting a wig and looking glamorous, Paradis appeared all throughout filming, including many outdoor scenes with Woody Allen, Liev Schreiber and many adorable looking kids.
Paradis’s acting career has been big in her native France, and has not really had a major role in an English-speaking film. Paradis is famous for more than acting, being a succesful model, singer and more.
Liev Schreiber
Liev Schreiber stars as Ode. Ode is a Williamsburg Shomrim Officer, one of a group of volunteer law enforcers around the New York Jewish communities. Like Paradis, he’s also a Hasidic jew. He’s the figure of law trying to break up the illegal antics of Turturro and Allen.
Schreiber was featured quite heavily in New York filming, in his very distinct law enforcing outfit. He brought his physical presence to the role – breaking up fights, arresting Allen and brandishing a bat in one scene.
Schreiber’s best known for his action roles, including playing against Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘, making this is first major role in a comedy.
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone stars as Dr Parker. She is a dermatologist one of the ladies that employs the services of Turturro’s gigolo to live out her fantasies, in particular one with Sofia Vergara. The scene is cut short by some mayhem, involving firefighters. She appeared in at least one other scene, sporting a bright red dress.
Stone turned up half way through filming but stayed til the end. She looked every part the upper crust sophisticant. Probably the most famous of the cast, she spent plenty of time having her photo taken and signing autographs when she wasn’t filming.
Stone needs little introduction, but she has crossed paths with Allen – twice. She had a brief but significant cameo in Stardust Memories, and she starred along side Allen in the 2000 Alfonso Aráu film Picking Up the Pieces.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara stars as Selima. Vergara plays a wealthy woman who is looking to fulfill a sexual fantasy, and hires Turturro to help her. She had few scenes in public, but she is top billing in IMDB. She made lots of news when paparazzi managed to snap lingerie shots of her on the set.
Vergara is best known from her regular role on the ABC sitcom ‘Modern Family‘. She’s been appearing in films along the way, including comedies like ‘Smurfs‘ and ‘The Three Stooges‘.
The rest of the cast
Jill Scott was announced to appear but it looks as though this did not happen. Max Casella and Gina Kuzmina round out the cast.
Locations:
Filming was contained in New York City. They filmed at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, which is also the venue for Allen’s regular Monday night Jazz concerts. Other Manhattan locations; Westsider Books became Allen’s book shop, a scene in lingerie store La Petite Coquette and also Lexington Candy Shop.
Many of the Paradis and Schreiber scenes were shot in Brooklyn, around Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Prospect Park.
The wrap
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve heard much more, with some word that several actors have definitely wrapped. We can only assume the film is in post production.
It will be good to have a light-hearted comedy featuring Woody Allen this year, as his own film Blue Jasmine is a serious drama.
Check out all our detailed Fading Gigolo coverage from last year, including lots more pics, video, quotes from the cast and more.
