Fading Gigolo (2014) * * 1/2

Directed by:  John Turturro

Starring:  John Turturro, Woody Allen, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber, Bob Balaban, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara

When I first heard about Fading Gigolo, I was intrigued by the casting of John Turturro as a gigolo and Woody Allen as his pimp.     Watching the film, I concluded that Turturro's Fioravante is the character having the least fun.     He is somber, reflective, and ponderous, which is an uneven contrast to Allen, Schreiber, and everyone else who seems to be having a better time.    It's a shame Turturro couldn't join in on the fun in his own movie.

As the film opens, Fioravante, a New York florist is helping his friend Murray (Allen) pack up his closing bookstore.      Murray suggests to Fiorvante that he could make some money as a gigolo with Murray as his pimp.     Fioravante reluctantly agrees and Murray sets him up with his dermatologist, a rich, lonely married woman (Stone).     Fioravante, through word-of-mouth, begins to build a client list and he and Murray roll in the dough.     Woody Allen is likely the last person you would think of to play a pimp, but it is inspired casting.    

Fioravante is led to another friend of Murray's named Avigal (Paradis), a Hasidic Jew who is still in mourning over her husband's death, but agrees to meet Fioravante under the guise of massage therapy.    Her comings and goings are caught by the watchful eye of Dovi (Schreiber), a patrolman in the community who loves Avigal.     Murray gently suggests Fioravante as a way to relieve her grieving and loneliness, while Avigal seems to understand the suggestion by what is not being said.

Turturro's Fioravante is a sensitive, quiet guy, but far too boring.    He and Avigal of course fall in love, but don't generate much heat.    We sense that these are two sad, lonely people who need each other, but are we much moved?     Their scenes together are so quiet and lulling that Murray, Dovi, and the rest all seem like they are in a different movie.     Especially in the closing scenes, when Murray is "tried" by local Hasidim for not being a practicing Jew, I guess.    The tone of these scenes borders on farce, but they supply some badly needed energy.

How else can I classify Fading Gigolo but as a missed opportunity?    The parts are all there for something unusual and original to happen, yet it doesn't.     What we get is two different tones fighting for the same screen.