USA Film Fest announces John Turturro tribute screening

Turturro's movie Romance & Cigarettes described as "Moulin Rouge! for mooks."

by John P. Meyer

To mark the latest of its Screen Artists Tribute Programs, the USA Film Festival has announced a tribute to John Turturro, concurrent with a preview screening of his new film, Romance & Cigarettes.

As an actor, Turturro has long been a favorite of both Spike Lee and the Coen Brothers, appearing in such unforgettable films as Jungle Fever, He Got Game, Miller's Crossing and O Brother Where Art Thou?. As a filmmaker, Mr. Turturro made his screenwriting/directing debut with Mac (1992), followed by Illuminata (1999), which starred his wife Katherine Borowitz and made its premiere at Cannes.

With his third directorial outing, Romance & Cigarettes (opening in regular release on Nov. 30 in select cities), Mr. Turturro delivers a new take on musicals that's been described by one critic as "Moulin Rouge! for mooks," and which John himself refers to as "a working class opera."

Get a load of this cast: James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Mary-Louise Parker, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Walken, Mandy Moore, Steve Buscemi, Aida Turturro, Elaine Stritch, Eddie Izzard and Amy Sedaris - all singing, all dancing, in a "singularly unique (as opposed to some other kind of unique?) and outrageous melodrama." Hell, I'd go out of my way to see this just on the basis of Walken. Or Kate. Or Mary-Louise...

The movie - followed by an on-stage appearance by honoree, filmmaker and actor Turturro - will screen at the Angelika Dallas on November 17. Tickets for the event are free to USA Film Festival members and - while supplies last - to the public. Punch up the USA Film Fest switchboard at 214-821-6300 for more information.

source: USA Film Festival