Fading Gigolo (2014)

After his rare book store closes due to poor business, an older man (Woody Allen) talks his his younger long time friend (John Turturro, who also directed) into going into the male prostitution business. The older man will act as his agent/manager and receive 40% of his earnings and tips. What at first seems a ludicrous plan blossoms into a profitable venture. This idiosyncratic comedy is rather sweet and amusing in fits and spurts but Turturro can't seem to find the right balance or tone that can make it work. The most refreshing aspect of the film is the look we get of the tightly knit, almost secretive, Hasidic community. The lovely Vanessa Paradis in a rather touching performance as a Hasidic widow who blooms under Turturro's kindness and Liev Schrieber as her jealous Orthodox admirer. Allen is Woody Allen (would we want him any different?) but the film also features two sly performances by Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara as Turturro's clients who enjoy his services both separately and together. I didn't enjoy the film as much as Turturro's 2006 directing effort, the undervalued ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES but there's enough that's unique about it that makes it of interest. But ultimately, it's a lesser piece of cinema. With Michael Badalucco, and Tonya Pinkins.