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Turturro releases 'Romance and Cigarettes' with his own money

I've been trying to follow the path of John Turtutto's 'Romance and Cigarettes' (produced by Joel and Ethan Coen) in it's long path to finally being released in theaters. Finished in 2004 (with a price tag of $11 million) it originally debuted at the Toronto and Venice Film Festival's. (In Venice it was nominated for the Golden Lion) After that it was slated to have a limited, nation-wide theater release. But then, during the Sony/MGM merger, it seems to have been placed on the backburner for the studio. The release date was continually puched back and back and then never saw the theatrical release that was anticipated. But now the film, starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Christopher Walken, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Aida Turturro, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Eddie Izzard, and Amy Sedaris, is being released in New York theaters, by Sony, wait no, by Tuturro Studios? Turturro is releasing it by himself, he is paying, out of pocket, to get it played in theaters across New York. The film has had reviews praising it as an original musical that you couldn't help but be drawn to, and others have called nearly unwatchable. Either way, it's coming to theaters in New York, and (so says Rotten Tomatoes) it will see a DVD release sometime in 2008. The film sounds interesting, here's the synopsis, lifted from the Rotten Tomatoes article:

Romance and Cigarettes is a down-and-dirty musical love story set in the world of the working class. Nick (Gandolfini) is an ironworker who builds and repairs bridges. He's married to Kitty (Sarandon), a dressmaker, a strong and gentle woman with whom he has three daughters. He is carrying on a torrid affair with a redheaded woman named Tula (Winslet). Nick is basically a good, hardworking man driven forward by will and blinded by his urges. Like Oedipus at Colonus, he is sent into exile and searches to find his way back through the damage he has done.

The film was actually released in twelve countries overseas last year and earned under 2.5 million (which isn't bad overseas) most of it made in Italy. Sources are all claiming that Turturro is self releasing the film, but there seems to be some dispute over who actually owns the rights, Sony is saying that they aren't planning to release it across the nation or putting it out on DVD "any time soon." Sources close to Turturro say it will definitly be out in 2008.

Trailer:

Who knows what will happen...here's some links to articles on the release:
Hollywood Reporter
Rotten Tomatoes
Yahoo! News

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August 16th 2007 @ 22:01

Posted By: Dustin - Category: No Category

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Comments

5 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

1. August 16th 2007 @ 22:26. David Says:

This has cult-movie written all over it.

The scene where the cops rock up and ask, "What's your problem?" And he says, "I'm a married man." ?

Priceless.

Can't wait for it to be released. I love Turturro's films.

2. August 16th 2007 @ 22:33. Dustin Says:

At the very least this should see a nation wide release because of the buzz and the lineup. It's bound to, at worst, be interesting, and unique... And who doesn't want to see if Gandolfini can make the leap to the big screen?

3. August 16th 2007 @ 22:50. David Says:

This is a 'Sleeper' ...

When it does get released and word-of-mouth spreads?

Plus Christopher Walken? Come on!

Film & TV on DVD

4. August 16th 2007 @ 23:50. JohnDoe Says:

Great post as always Dustin,

Turturro is a unique actor who always alludes to his own brand of deceptive morality in most roles.

This one sounds fantastic though being in Oz it may never arrive here...