Romance & Cigarettes (2007)

Best movie of this year hands down!

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Romance And Cigarettes is the strangest musical you've never heard of. Strange as in awkward, because most of the songs are just too overdone and absurd to work, but I'll concede that that very quality makes them unforgettable, if for not quite the same reasons the filmmakers intended. Going for a sort of pseudo Jersey Boys look, they set their cluster of stories in working class New York City, focusing on a number of hot blooded Italian American scamps and the mischief they get up to, all set to a raucous medley of musical numbers, some pleasant and others pretty darn tone deaf. James Gandolfini plays Nick Murder, a rowdy blue collar construction worker who finds himself between a rock and a hard place when his long suffering wife Kitty (an even rowdier Susan Sarandon) finds out about his secret mistress Tula (kinky Kate Winslet). This seems to be the last straw for Kitty as far as their marriage goes, and it all erupts into a series of volcanic confrontations and spats as only New Yorkers can spectacularly stage. In Kitty's corner are her three handful daughter's (Aida Turturro, Mary Louise Parker and adorable Mandy Moore) and her helpful Cousin Bo (Christopher Walken). Nick turns to a co worker Angelo (Steve Buscemi), is scolded by his stern mother (Elaine Stritch) and receives advice from an ex military tough guy (Bobby Cannavle). The film sides with both parties for one long and often chaotic look at marriage, infidelity and extremely short tempers, peppered with songs that, like I said before, are hit and miss. Walken has the best bit (doesn't he always?) when he gets to a rip roaring riff on Tom Jones's 'Delilah' that jazzes up the film quite a bit. Not destined to go down in history as one of the best musicals ever made, but worth it for the spoofy fun had by the impressive cast.

An interesting misfire. Blue-collar Catholic husband from Queens, fighting with his infected lungs, cheats on his stalwart (but apparently sexless) wife with a red-haired British chippie and suffers the consequences. Perplexing drama from writer-director John Turturro, who seems caught in a Nicolas Roeg/Dennis Potter phase and frequently has his actors bursting into song-and-dance. The surreal musical-fringe isn't the general problem however, it is the unblushing sexual dialogue which makes these characters appear cartoonish. For all the careful work he does get accomplished, Turturro as a screenwriter is like a horny prankster with a poison pen. The overall effect is both immature and off-putting, although the filmmaker certainly gained the trust of his all-star cast, most of whom do solid work. *1/2 from ****

"Romance and Cigarettes" is an outrageous musical about the working class. It takes some getting used to, but it's well worth it, thanks to all of the talent in front of the camera and behind the scenes. It's risky, it's off the wall, it's bold, and at times, it's a riot. And you can't beat the soundtrack or the dancing policemen.James Gandolfini plays Nick Murder (who else), a cheating husband married to Susan Sarandon and involved with the nearly unrecognizable Kate Winslet, a red-headed slut. They have three daughters: Constance (Mary-Louise Parker), Rosebud (Aida Turturro, Gandolfini's sister in the Sopranos; Turturro is one year younger than Gandolfini and Mary-Louise Parker is three years younger), and Baby (Mandy Moore), who have their own romance problems. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Bobby Carnavale, Eddie Izzard, and Christopher Walken. The characters all break into song with no notice, and the music includes "Piece of My Heart," "This is a Man's World," "Delilah," "Trouble," and many others.The film chronicles the choice Nick Murder must make as he grapples with his life.Very quirky and not for everyone, but some really marvelous performances, great music, and both fun and poignant moments.

It's the tenth time I see this film. And no matter what I was during these home screenings, drunk, sober, happy or sad, I still have the same stupid smile on my face when the credits start rolling. It's not that the ending makes me laugh, there's nothing funny about it. But neither does it make me sprout tears all over the place. I can't really describe this subtle feeling, the same feeling I have after watching Burton's "Big Fish".Yes, I can endlessly praise the music choices and the fine cast/acting etc. But that's all "body parts". This is, I won't be afraid to use the word, a complete and finished work of art. Yeah, the story's cheesy but it's one of the only films of our time that gives this every-day-life type of thing the authenticity that Turturro provides. It's one of the only films of our time that lives up to Piccaso's words "Art is the tool that brushes away the dust from our day-to-day life".I'm not in possession of words to express my gratitude so I'm not going to try to color it. Mr. Turturro, you're the man. Thank you so much.