James Gandolfini and an unusual chorus line (United Artists)
The film opens with the Engelbert Humperdinck song A Man Without Love as we're introduced to Nick Murder (The Sopranos' James Gandolfini). He's having an affair with a hottie named Tula (Kate Winslet brimming with robust sexiness). But Nick gets busted when his wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) finds one of his lovesick poems to Tula. When Nick walks out onto his porch and suddenly begins to sing along to a reprise of Humperdinck's song and is joined by other blue collar guys doing balletic moves in the street, we immediately and gleefully realize we've entered another dimension.
Pulling off these highly stylized musical numbers is no easy task, yet Turturro displays such breezy confidence that we willing suspend our disbelief. Of course Turturro is aided by a brilliant cast. Having Sarandon's Kitty belt out Piece of My Heart in the church choir to reveal the hurt and anger over her husband's affair is just one of the show stoppers. Another is Walken's rendition of Tom Jones' Delilah as a means of explaining his past. Both performers have the right blend of genuine emotion and tongue-in-cheek humor to make their songs work. Then when the two of them grab umbrellas and begin to dance in the streets it simultaneously pays homage to the old MGM musicals like Singing in the Rain and the brash new wave mentality of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
But what allows Romance and Cigarettes to take such bold flights of fancy is its theme of rocky romantic relationships... oh yeah, and sex. And what expresses romantic longing and love gone bad better than pop music. Songs like Prisoner of Love, Hot Pants, and Scapricciatiello ( Do You Love Me Like You Kiss Me ) perfectly capture and sum up emotional moments for the characters. We're willing to give these people in love creative leeway to express themselves karaoke style and not be bothered by the lack of realism. We buy into it because it's emotionally right. We also buy into it because of the clever way Turturo shoots his film. In one number, Gandolfini finishes his song and the camera does a 360 track around him, taking in his working class suburban environment. But as the camera tracks suddenly a circle of working class dancers rise into the frame as if by magic. Turturo's repeatedly uses tricks like this to bring surreal elements into a very naturalistic frame.
Susan Sarandon singing in the rain (United Artists)
Based on Turturro's other films, Mac and Illuminata , I wouldn't have expected him to take to the musical format so effortlessly. He gets a wonderful contrast between the choreography and the environment. At one point firemen suggestively dance as they attempt to put out the sexual heat generated by Tula, and it's a hilarious sequence. Later Turturro choreographs a group of pregnant women for another memorable number. The film feels fresh because Turturro recognizes no boundaries and just cuts loose to do whatever feels right for the moment.
Nick at one point says "marriage is combat and it's not clean combat." Yet underneath the yelling and fighting we do sense that Nick loves Kitty. That's what keeps us engaged in their story. These are two people who do ultimately love each other, even if they don't express that love very effectively.
Romance and Cigarettes (rated R for sexual content including some strong dialogue, and language) also boasts some stellar cameos by the likes of Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mary Louise Parker, Eddie Izzard, Elaine Stritch and Barbara Sukowa. The film takes a few missteps in the closing reel, losing some of its zest and energy. But it ends on a note of sweetness. Take a long, slow drag on this one, it's deliciously addictive.
Companion viewing: Pennies From Heaven (1978), Pennies From Heaven (1981, just for Christopher Walken's strip tease), The Singing Detective (1986), 20 Centimeters , The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, On the Town (the first MGM musical shot on location in New York City) -----
