For those who found The Singing Detective and Pennies from Heaven exciting and innovative this will come as a welcome return to a much neglected form of cinema. Turturro has assembled a wonderful cast for his first foray into the world of the musical. It is an original and touching film with many highlights and only the odd negative ( Walken and Parker). It also has the author's touch to it - a blue collar family living through emotional upheavals presented with no sentimentality but a lot of love. Both Gandolfini and Sarandon give excellent performances as the estranged but still connected couple and Buscemi, Winslet, Turturro and particularly Strich add their own talent to the mix. The musical numbers are well done and do not jar with the narrative. Overall, an enjoyable film showing much promise for Turturro's next excursion into the world of directing.
Review of Romance & Cigarettes
