So the story goes something like this; well respected actor wants to make a movie. He pitches the idea of a quirky working man’s opera to studios and one eventually decides to take a flier on it. Then when the studio views the film, they realize their idea of a working man’s opera is Chicago, when the actor turned director in question had more of a pseudo-musical that emasculates Tony Soprano type of vibe in mind. So the studio, realizing they have no idea how to market the film, promptly shelves it and hopes it will fade into obscurity. The actor/director frustrated that his artistic vision is collecting dust on some warehouse shelf, battles the studio to try to get them to release it. After two years the studio relents and sells the film back to the actor/director, so he can release the film with his own money. So without further ado, I present to you John Turturro’s anti-musical Romance and Cigarettes.

Nick (James Gandolfini) is a New York iron worker married to Kitty (Susan Sarandon) but he is having an affair with Tula (Kate Winslet). When his adulterous behavior is discovered Nick must decide if the pain and monotony of marriage is what his heart truly yearns for. (more…)