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American Gigolo (1980)

Director: Paul Schrader

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From Time Out Film Guide

Fascinating but botched attempt to update and translate Bresson's Pickpocket to contemporary California. Gere is the highly paid gigolo who finds himself suspected of murdering one of the women he has serviced; Hutton the rich, married woman who falls for him. Part thriller, part portrait of American malaise, it finally comes to focus on Gere's inability to get in touch with his own feelings, and therein lies the Bressonian theme of redemption. Unfortunately, the film is so determinedly stylish (Gere's costumes, Giorgio Moroder's soundtrack, John Bailey's noir-inflected camerawork), and the performances generally so vacuous (only Elizondo's detective really breathes), that it all becomes something of an academic, if entertaining, exercise that fails to stir the emotions.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Paul Schrader

Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer

Cast: Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt, Bill Duke, Brian Davies full cast

Genre(s): Film Noir

Duration: 117 mins

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