Romance and Cigarettes

Romance and Cigarettes is a 2005 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Turturro. It is defined by its unique storytelling style, charismatic performances, and an unforgettable score which altogether create a surreal, bawdy, and often touchingly intimate film.

The film features an ensemble cast including James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet and several seasoned actors who bring layers of nuance to their characters. It is a blend of drama, comedy, romance, and musical themes.

The narrative primarily revolves around Nick Murder (James Gandolfini), an average blue-collar worker from Queens, New York. He works at a bridge construction site, and at first glance, he leads an ordinary life, but soon the audience discovers the internal turmoil brewing under the surface. He is caught in a love square of sorts between his wife, Kitty (Susan Sarandon), his lustful mistress, Tula (Kate Winslet), and the unrequited longing he harbors for his past. He is quite the paradox, oscillating between being a hard-nosed construction worker to a helpless romantic soul, torn between his commitment to his wife and the thrilling attraction towards his audacious mistress.

On the other hand, there is Kitty, an independent, feisty woman who once loved Nick but is now disgusted by his recurrent infidelity. However, she is not a woman to be easily crushed, as she rises from the pain and humiliation to navigate her way through this ordeal. And then there's Tula, a flamboyant, outspoken, and passionate woman who is unlike any other character in the narrative and is something of an outsider.

Striding through this tangled narrative web, other characters involve Nick and Kitty's three daughters, a stalker cousin played by Eddie Izzard and an Elvis impersonator played by Aida Turturro. The subplot also provides a personal glance at Kitty's personal journey and transformation.

The brilliance of the movie lies in each actor’s robust portrayal of the intrinsically flawed yet lovable characters teamed with the film’s slightly offbeat narrative style. This extraordinary concoction makes it an intensely emotional and entertaining voyage. The striking realism portrayed in the characters combined with the surreal environment of the film produces a unique and dreamlike experience that leaves strong impressions.

The quirky musical aspect of Romance and Cigarettes provides another irresistible layer to this compelling narrative. Characters spontaneously burst into lip-sync renditions of famous pop songs from an era gone by, in moments of passionate intensity and emotional release. Far from being a conventional musical where characters use songs to drive the narrative, the approach here is radically unique. The songs are cleverly integrated into the narrative as inspired bursts of emotion. This also serves as a narrative technique to illuminate the characters' emotional states and elevate the complex facets and moods in the story.

The production design of the film is worth mentioning too. From the gritty construction sites and smoke-filled bars to the coziness of the Queens' houses, each setting is thoughtfully chosen, accentuating the melodrama and the rough-and-tumble lives of its characters. The cinematography complements this by capturing the raw emotion and eclipsed glamour in each frame.

Romance and Cigarettes is not your ideal romantic comedy or drama; it's not even a conventional film. There's rawness to it, an unpolished gem. Some scenes might make you cringe or laugh, and others might reduce you to tears, but it will unquestionably trigger a myriad of emotions as you cruise along this extraordinary emotional rollercoaster.

For those who enjoy romance in its many forms, showered with a dash of chaos, mixed with a good pinch of humor and delivered with a splash of soulful music, Romance and Cigarettes is a must-watch. As for the performances, Susan Sarandon and Kate Winslet are both magnetic in their roles, and James Gandolfini is enchanting, portraying a character very different from his famous Tony Soprano role.

In its essence, Romance and Cigarettes is an ode to the messy, uncontrollable, and passionate side of love, life, and relationships, forged in the crucible of dreams, desires, infidelity, forgiveness, and redemption.