Cinematheque

OK. Let's not kid ourselves. This is a Woody Allen film even if he just acts in it. Made like one, looks like one, wouldn't be half interesting without him in it. "Quod erat demonstrandum"...your honour, as Nige would say if he knew any Latin.

It did take a while to get the collective heads around this film. It was, on the surface....superficial, if you will. Other "commentators" have stated that this was a very original concept that Turturro has brought to the screen which has to be debated right from the get go. Bored rich women looking for something else in their life. Lonely man with all the right sensitivities drawing on his strong bond with his mother to give these women what they want. If it hasn't been turned into a film already, it is probably because people on thinking of it thought it to be so obvious, it must have been done.

So what is really happening here is that Murray, (Woody Allen) is the “fading gigolo” realising his limitations at 70. He has the talk that probably only works in New York, but does not have the means by which to use it. The nods to Cyrano de Bergerac are clearly visible if not jumbled up a bit. If Murray is Cyrano, he is obviously using the more capable lover Fioravante (Turturro) rather than helping him. Even to the level that it is Fioravante whose nose is focused on. But it is Murray who retains the words. And it is the words and the flirtation that comes with it that are more sought after rather than the emptiness of the physical. Cyrano in a New York state of mind.

There was much debate about whether there was tenderness to this film or was it just a flopsy New York tale. If you can decipher Turturro's subtle eyebrow movements and take a lot for granted as the film asks you to do with premise light on the ground and characters back stories kept that way, there may be some tenderness there. But the film leaves you somewhat unsatisfied as to the real meaning and therefore purpose. Much like Fioravante himself.

After the Tears: Good service is hard to come by.

Votes:

Pres     3.0

Matt    3.0

Nige    3.0

Paul    2.5

Rains  3.0

Rich*   2.5

Votes:

Pres*   2.5

Matt   3.0

Nige   3.0

Paul    3.5

Rains  2.5

Votes:

Pres     4.0

Nige    4.5

Paul     3.5

Rains* 4.5

Rich    5.0

Votes:

Matt    3.5

Nige    2.0*

Paul     2.0

Rains   2.0

Rich    1.5