6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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.
Starring: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber, Sharon StoneComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
It's the oldest profession.
When is a "Woody Allen movie" a "Woody Allen movie," and when is a "Woody Allen movie" not a "Woody Allen movie?" Must the legendary
Allen sit behind the
director's chair for it to count? Must he star in the film, must the picture only feel like an Allen movie, or must the picture in question both
feel like
an Allen movie and see him involved in some capacity, just not in the director's chair? If the answer is the latter, then Fading Gigolo is a
Woody
Allen movie through-and-through. The film oozes that Allen feel, from its setting to its mildly playful tone, from its characterization to its
light interpersonal drama, from its quaint approach to storytelling to its whimsical flair. Allen stars alongside Writer/Director/Actor John Turturro, and
the Allen influence is evident in practically every shot seen
and line heard. A film with a firmly humorous overlay and a slightly darker character study emotional center, the picture explores basic human need
-- both physical need and more intimate, emotional need -- through the eyes of a man who experiences both extremes at the same point in his life.
Working.
Fading Gigolo's 1080p, 1.85:1-framed, film-sourced transfer satisfies if one can tolerate the heavy warm push. The film is drenched in a red tint that's not severe outside but that inside -- and particularly in darker locations -- lessens the vibrance of any other shade by a considerable margin. Exterior city shots do find some value in bright splashes of color that still favor that warmer push but that aren't overwhelmingly dominated by it. Fine detail is even and pleasing throughout. Woods and wall surfaces, heavily textured exterior accents, clothes, and faces are all nicely presented with rich clarity throughout the film. Neither black levels nor flesh tones (considering the heavy red tint) are troublesome. Likewise, the transfer shows no ills in the form of blocking, edge halos, banding, or other eyesores. This is a quality image, even considering all the red.
Fading Gigolo features a pleasing Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Obviously, given the nature of the film, there's not much in the way of heavy, sonically assaulting sound effects. However, music is presented with good, consistent clarity and spacing, including an inviting touch of surround support. City din is nicely implemented. Cars shuffle from side to side and other lesser, but no less mood-critical, effects help to define several locations. Dialogue, the dominant, driving sonic factor throughout the film, plays clearly and smoothly from the center. Overall, a good, balanced, easygoing track from Millennium Entertainment.
Fading Gigolo contains a commentary track and several deleted scenes.
Fading Gigolo looks, sounds, and feels like a Woody Allen movie, even if it's not quite as polished as his best efforts. It tries, and it's rather good in places, but it's a little overwrought here and a little too unfocused there. There's a quality story and, more importantly, human condition study here, but the former never brings out the latter as richly and thoroughly as it might should have. The performances -- particularly from Turturro and Paradis -- go a long way in shaping the movie where the script cannot, but it's not quite enough to elevate this to must-see, memorable, meaningful status. Still, it's a fun film on the surface that mature audiences without an aversion to the ideas of threesomes and prostitution within the story should enjoy. Millennium Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Fading Gigolo delivers quality video and audio. Supplements include an audio commentary track and a handful of deleted scenes. Definitely worth a rental and perhaps a purchase at an aggressive price point.
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