Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2014

Murray’s (Woody Allen, just acting) small NYC bookstore goes belly-up at about the same time that his dermatologist (Sharon Stone) indicates to him that she and a friend (Sofia Vergara) might possibly be interested in a ménage à trois if they could just find the right guy. He convinces his equally strapped-for-cash best friend Fiorvanate (writer/director John Turturro) that he’d be perfect for the job. It’s the beginning of a beautiful pimp/gigolo relationship. Business booms, enhanced by Fiorvanate’s self-effacing, sincere nature, until he encounters a sad orthodox Jewish widow (Vanessa Paradis) just seeking to ease her loneliness, and a platonic but deep relationship develops. This offbeat, understated and oddly endearing rom-com is tonally more than a little inconsistent, sometimes seeming like two different movies (Woody apparently had a hand in writing his own lines). One addresses issues of loneliness and longing, and the other’s a pretty good Woody Allen movie that he didn’t make. They’re both worth seeing. Could have gone terribly wrong on so many levels if not for the intelligence and sensitivity with which it approaches its subject. Liev Schreiber’s also good as a Hasidic cop. Great jazz soundtrack. Japanese title: Gigolo in New York. (90 min)