Romance and Cigarettes (2005) October 5, 2007

'Romance and Cigarettes,' actor-turned-director John Turturro's exuberant new film is many things: a warm, affectionate portrait of a working-class American family; an homage to the musical; a scatological celebration of outrageous behavior; an exploration of love; and a vehicle for some of the world's finest actors to let it rip in a deliriously over-the-top, no-holds-barred melodrama. Crazy musical numbers rub shoulders with a soundtrack that features Janis Joplin and Tom Jones to tell the age-old story of a love triangle and a family who can't believe their grizzled, overweight father would endanger everything for a flighty foreigner. It's not all fun and games, however. Turturro has his sights on bigger game and by the end, 'Romance & Cigarettes' evolves into a reverie on love, loyalty and memory. Director John Turturro introduces his new film, 'Romance and Cigarettes.'