Directed by John Turturro, the film is a musical featuring Gandolfini as Nick Murder, a construction worker who cheats on his wife with a British woman named Tula, portrayed by Winslet.
The story takes a sudden tragic turn when Nick is diagnosed with lung cancer, and comedy serves as a coping mechanism to offset the seriousness of the situation. Turturro aims to provide an authentic and candid portrayal of the archetypal blue-collar American worker, showcasing both their successes and countless failures.
Gandolfini emphasizes the importance of the comedic element in the movie, recounting his interactions with individuals suffering from lung cancer. He expresses surprise at the rapid progression of the disease and its profound impact on people's lives. Gandolfini's passion lies with representing the blue-collar working class and the lower-middle class, a theme that permeates his theatrical and film roles.
Born in Westwood, New Jersey, to American-Italian parents, Michael and Joann Gandolfini, who worked as an engineer and bricklayer and in a school canteen, respectively, Gandolfini grew up with two sisters. While pursuing his degree at Rutgers University, he worked as a bouncer before becoming a manager in New York clubs. His early acting experiences were in theater, and he made his Broadway debut in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Since then, Gandolfini has appeared in several films, including "8mm," "Crimson Tide," and "Get Shorty." However, his portrayal of Tony Soprano in the TV series "The Sopranos" remains his most iconic role. Reflecting on the show's unexpected success, he acknowledges the brilliance of the writing and admits to sharing a few flaws with the character of Tony. Playing such a complex character can be emotionally challenging at times.
In his personal life, Gandolfini went through a tumultuous divorce from Marcy Wudarski, his wife since 1999. His struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism were brought to light during the custody battle over their son, Michael, who is now six years old. However, Gandolfini prefers not to discuss these personal issues or his time in rehab during interviews.
Although the sixth season of "The Sopranos" is yet to be scheduled for release in the UK, it is highly anticipated. Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano on the small screen brought him international recognition and numerous prestigious awards, including three Emmys and a Golden Globe. He expresses his love for playing Tony Soprano and how it allows him to advocate for the blue-collar worker in his own small way.
Being an actor enables him to explore human nature and delve into the lives of different individuals. "Romance & Cigarettes" is a unique and daring film that blends music into the drama as a means of expressing unspoken emotions. The idea for the movie originated with Turturro, who, while playing a struggling writer in the Coen Brothers' unconventional film "Barton Fink," conceived the concept.
The two women who tug at Nick's troubled heart in "Romance & Cigarettes" are vastly different. One is his wife, Kitty, who seeks solace in religion, while the other is a s^xually charged woman with an explicit way of speaking. Gandolfini's performance in the film is astonishing, seamlessly transitioning from his familiar Soprano persona to a tenor, showcasing his unexpected dance skills and a surprisingly impressive singing voice.
Christopher Walken's dynamic portrayal of Cousin Bo adds to the humor brought by Winslet's exceptional acting and provocative dialogue. The film's title reflects Nick's smoking habit and his subsequent lung cancer diagnosis. It provides an earnest and genuine depiction of the challenges faced by the average blue-collar American worker.
The final act of the film carries an additional poignant impact with Nick's diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization, intensifying the emotional resonance of the story. Gandolfini speaks passionately about his commitment to advocating for the lower-middle class and blue-collar workers, influenced by his own upbringing and his dissatisfaction with how society treats them. He identifies with the working man as a New Jersey native and believes that his acting roles have given him a platform to represent their interests.
Gandolfini's career spans a wide range of characters, and he has not limited himself to portraying tough guys alone. He has taken on diverse roles, such as a gay assassin in "The Mexican" and a smug store manager in "The Man Who Wasn't There." He is also set to appear in several upcoming movies, including "Lonely Hearts," "All the King's Men," and a film centered around Ernest Hemingway.
Acknowledging the flaws he shares with Tony, Gandolfini admits that distancing himself from the character can be challenging. Playing Tony necessitates channeling his anger, which was easier in his younger years, but he has come to realize that relying on cursing and shouting is futile.
Being an actor has provided Gandolfini with the opportunity to delve into the depths of human nature and explore the intricacies of different personalities. His journey into the world of acting began later than most, as he attended an acting class with a friend and was captivated by the career that allowed him to understand the complexities of human behavior.
Gandolfini's personal life often becomes the subject of speculation, particularly due to his highly publicized and acrimonious divorce from Marcy Wudarski in 2002. The custody battle over their six-year-old son, Michael, highlighted Gandolfini's struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. Despite the scrutiny, Gandolfini prefers not to discuss his personal challenges or his experience in rehabilitation during interviews.
"The Sopranos," in which he portrays the iconic character Tony Soprano, has brought Gandolfini tremendous success, earning him a reported $1 million per episode, prestigious awards, and international recognition. The eagerly anticipated sixth season of "The Sopranos" is yet to announce its release date in the UK.
In the movie "Romance & Cigarettes," a musical that merges music with drama to express unspoken emotions, Gandolfini takes on the role of Nick Murder, a disillusioned construction worker who embarks on an affair with a British woman named Tula, played by Kate Winslet. The two women who tug at Nick's troubled heart couldn't be more different. One is his long-suffering wife, finding solace in religion, while the other is a bold and s^xually charged woman with an audacious way of speaking.
Gandolfini's performance in "Romance & Cigarettes" is truly remarkable, showcasing unexpected dance skills and a surprisingly impressive singing voice. Winslet's portrayal adds to the film's humor with her provocative dialogue, while Christopher Walken's portrayal of Cousin Bo contributes to the comedic elements.
The title of the film serves as a reflection of Nick's habits, as he is both a smoker and diagnosed with lung cancer. "Romance & Cigarettes" presents an honest depiction of the challenges faced by the average blue-collar American worker. The movie's final act is particularly poignant, with Nick's diagnosis and subsequent hospitalization intensifying the emotional impact.
Gandolfini acknowledges the significance of the comedy element in the film, as it serves as a counterbalance to the sudden tragic turn the story takes. He shares his experience of engaging with individuals afflicted by lung cancer, expressing surprise at the rapid progression of the disease and its profound effects on people's lives. Director John Turturro aimed to create an authentic and sincere portrayal of the archetypal blue-collar American worker, capturing their life, successes, and numerous failures.
Gandolfini expresses his love for portraying Tony Soprano, a role that allows him to advocate for the blue-collar working class in his own small way. His passion for the lower-middle class and blue-collar workers stems from his own upbringing and his dissatisfaction with the treatment they receive in society. He finds great interest in exploring people and understanding how various circumstances impact their lives.
Gandolfini's career has been diverse, with involvement in both theater and film. His debut on Broadway took place in the 1992 revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire," and he has appeared in movies such as "Crimson Tide" and "Get Shorty." However, it is his portrayal of Tony Soprano that has become synonymous with his name, cementing his legacy in the industry. The role has granted him substantial financial success, prestigious awards, and global recognition.
As Gandolfini reflects on his connection with Tony, he acknowledges that they share a few flaws. This realization sometimes requires him to create distance between himself and the character. Playing Tony demands tapping into his anger, a task that was easier when he was younger. Nevertheless, as he matures, he has come to understand that relying on cursing and aggressive outbursts is futile and lacks true depth.
Despite the public's curiosity about his personal life, Gandolfini prefers to maintain privacy regarding his personal struggles. His divorce from Marcy Wudarski was undoubtedly challenging, and the custody battle over their son, Michael, shed light on his battle with addiction. However, Gandolfini chooses not to delve into these aspects during interviews.
