recommended

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

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. Fading Gigolo fails to capture the comedy that it tries to send and the sex appeal of it's main lead is nowhere near to be found since John Turturro seducing both Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara is more than weird in all areas. The 2 main leads have chemistry together that isn't enough to save a middle off the road and poorly directed movie. (0/10)

Fading Gigolo actually has much more about Hasidic Jews than I expected, and a touching core plot about a widow's emotional awakening thanks to the not always being in the stuffy world of Hasidics. But when it's the Woodman and Turturro or most anyone else on screen like his adopted black kids (lol) - and of course there's the whole running gag of beautiful women like Sharon Stone and Sofia Vegara paying to have sex, including a three way, with Vito from Do the Right thing as a middle aged man - it's exceedingly amiable.Occasionally it's very funny (and I was chuckling and or tittering through much) and in a couple of scenes Allen shows he's a good actor (which, you know, you always expect him to be wisecracking woody and he is but a couple of times he shows that he can reveal restraint, thinking on his feet, other things), but watch him in certain scenes, like when he comes to a realization with a woman character. His mind is working as is his emotions, and it clicks in a way we haven't seen with him in... Deconstructing Harry maybe? It's a good little New York City movie that is better than it has any right to be based on its silly but intrinsically amusing premise, and for a fair chunk of the run time it does take seriously the constructive world of Hasidics in Brooklyn and what happens when Liev Schreiber gets jealous and has to face his own complex emotions.

'Fading Gigolo' finds Actor-Writer-Director John Turturro in fine form, as he delivers an entertaining film, that is funny & admittedly vulgar. A charming little film, that's also well-acted! 'Fading Gigolo' 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.'Fading Gigolo' is a tale of lust, romance & friendship. Turturro's Screenplay offers enough scope for humor & sex, while the dialogue are laugh-out-loud funny at times. Even the characters are nicely written. Turturro's Direction is impressive, too. He has handled the film admirably. Cinematography is top-notch. Editing is ably done. Performance-Wise: Turturro succeeds even as a performer. He's in his element. But its Woody Allen, who steals the show. He's extra-ordinary, yet again! Sharon Stone & Sofía Vergara are in terrific form. Vanessa Paradis is very sincere. Liev Schreiber is another topper. He's superb. Bob Balaban is delightful in a cameo.On the whole, 'Fading Gigolo' is more than satisfactory. Watch It!

Actor-Director John Turturro's "Fading Gigolo" was fading my attention span sporadically throughout the movie. Turturro stars as Fioravante, a middle-aged New Yorkan who decides to be a pre-geriatric Don Juan; yes, a male prostitute. The problem is that Turturro prostituted his viewers with an enticing premise, but does not deliver the creative juice in this one with neither his direction, script, and performance in the movie. Woody Allen did pimp up the acting volume with his comical supporting performance as Murray, Fioravante's conniving pimp manager. "Fading Gigolo" is just a so-so gigolo movie, and believe the words I am saying... Sorry David Lee Roth! *** Average