Aida Turturro, Christopher Walken, Eddie Izzard

From the Cohen brothers and John Turturro comes this twist on the not-so-ordinary tale of adultery and salvation. Nick (James Gandolfini) engages in a torrid extramarital affair with a younger woman, ...( read more  read more... )Tula (Kate Winslet), while his wife, Kitty (Susan Sarandon), grows ever more enraged by his behavior. As her world crumbles around her, Kitty grapples with her husband's infidelity, but will Nick ever realize the magnitude of what he's done?

Flixster Users

59% liked it

2,414 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

55 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: John Turturro

Release Date: December 31, 2005

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DVD Release Date: February 5, 2008

Stats: 954 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (954)


  • February 29, 2008
    Pretty much the abused prostitute of a musical. Pretty filthy and ridiculous, and the 'crazy musical numbers' were just something to get through. The only good part was when Christopher Walken stabs a girl and fights cops with a knife while singing and dancing.
  • February 22, 2008
    To loosely quote Susan Sarandon, James Gandolfini came out of himself in this movie. It's true. This may be the first time I've thought that Gandolfini had anything to give to the screen. Generally an average player at best, he rises to a new level of performance. I would nev...( read more)er go out of my way to see him in anything, but this performance is special.

    To loosely quote John Turturro, Christopher Walken is always interesting. This, for the most part, is a true statement for me. But something truly "interesting" has happened to Walken over the years. While most actors seem to try to position themselves for leading roles, if they have the look and the talent, Walken has moved in the opposite direction. Since, let's say, the success of The Deer Hunter, it's been pretty much a long slide into solid character acting roles for him. He once had great potential, from my perspective, to be a leading man, and while he definitely manages to play one "interesting" character after another, he has fallen quite deep into some kind of one-dimensional abyss. Perhaps it is the "Oscar curse" of early success in Deer Hunter, perhaps it has something to do with the whole Natalie Wood tragedy. Whatever the reason(s), he really just always is only an "interesting" caricature of what he once was or could have been. Is there resurrection in his future? Who knows.

    The only real joy here is Kate Winslet. Had I not seen her guest shot on Extras, I would have been more surprised by what she gives us here, but it is still pure joy to hear the words that tumble so effortlessly out of her mouth. As Gandolfini says, "You're a crude woman" -- probably the best line in the film. Although her character really exists in the realm of tragedy, the words she speaks and the moves she makes provide some of the funniest moments in an otherwise very average "musical love story."

    Please don't misunderstand me, flixster friends: I love John Turturro. He is gifted, and I am fan enough to think he can do way better work.

  • February 16, 2008
    You have to respect director John Turturo who's most likely the only guy that can get James (Tony) Gandolfini to sing. Yes the film is uneven and I would have enjoy to have seen more of Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Mary-Louise Parker (By God is she hot.) and ... Mandy Moore (That...( read more)'s right I think she can actually act.). However this is much better then the average musical (Which doesn't say much) and it's actually really funny. So I would suggest seeing it.
  • December 3, 2007
    This movie is best watched without knowin anythin about what anyone has said about it.
  • August 1, 2007
    Either you like it or you don't. It's really hard to put this one in to a category and that's why I like it. It starts out funny but gets pretty dramatic at the end.
  • August 3, 2009
    Never liked musicals much, but this one has it. Good music, nice pictures and a bunch of good actors. A bit too long maybe, but you simply get in a good mood watching it.
  • July 29, 2009
    A bit strange, as expected. but is an interesting story told in an unconventional way. This is why I like John Turturro.
  • July 3, 2009
    I didn't care enough for the characters to care about the plot and the singing and dancing wasn't interesting enough to compensate. But there were some memorable scenes, Susan Sarandons version of "piece of my heart" was quite powerful, and the acting was great.
  • June 20, 2009
    Such a teasing poster ;)
  • May 26, 2009
    I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was cute and weird and funny and jarring and chock full of weird song & dance numbers.

Critic Reviews


December 14, 2007
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Romance and Cigarettes is a dark-red valentine to the way that pop music gets under our skin. full review

November 9, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

John Turturro's Romance & Cigarettes is the real thing, a film that breaks out of Hollywood jail with audacious originality, startling sexuality, heartfelt emotions, and an anarchic liberty. full review

September 7, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

It has cult item stamped all over it, and fans of (severely) experimental cinema might see it as a revelation. Most others will find that watching this movie is like having your senses beaten with a r... full review

September 5, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

Turturro aims for postmodern irony and misses. full review

View more Romance and Cigarettes reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Romance and Cigarettes Trivia


  • Which Actress Was: -Rose DeWitt Bukater In Titanic -Clementine Kruczynski In Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind -Sylvia Llewelyn Davies In Finding Neverland -Tula In Romance And Cigarettes -Bitsey Bloom In The Life Of David Gale  Answer »
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