American Gigolo Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1980

American Gigolo is a strikingly accurate portrayal of the early 80's Beverly Hills lifestyle, yet despite its glitz and flashy cinematography it's also a significantly flawed film. Neither a success nor a complete failure, American Gigolo stars Richard Gere as a high-class male prostitute that is framed for a murder. Unable to dig up a suitable alibi, he sees his glamorous lifestyle begin to crumble beneath him.

Julian Kaye (Richard Gere) is enjoying the good life working as a high-class Beverly Hills escort. By day he sips on fine wine, drives his fancy convertible and lives the lifestyle of a millionaire. By night, he serves as an escort for rich older and/or married women.

But life wasn't always so glamorous for the male gigolo. During the start of his career he worked for a homosexual pimp named Leon (Bill Duke) that specialized in "niche" requests, such as gay escorts or S&M performances. Julian of course is glad to have put all that filth behind him – he now only does "straight" work for rich, elite clients.

One day Leon catches up with Julian and presents a special request: accept a client in Palm Springs. Since the job is allegedly straight in nature, Julian agrees to it for old times sake.

Meanwhile he also meets up with the wife of a local politician, Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton), who has been pursuing him for a nightly romp. Julian initially resists her advances, but for some reason he develops a certain fondness for her and succumbs to her offers. For the first time in his life, it's true love – no money passes hands.

Alas, their romance is interrupted when Detective Sunday (Hector Elizondo) starts hounding him over the recent murder of one of Julian's ex-clients. Suddenly all the rich and powerful Beverly Hills socialites he served have turned their back on him, and he finds himself without a proper alibi or any support. With his world crashing around him, Julian must try and prove his innocence by discovering who might have framed him.

American Gigolo has noticeable strengths and weaknesses, so let's begin with the strengths. The movie does a wonderful job of capturing the shallow debauchery and insincere glitz of the 80's Californian lifestyle. Fans of the decade will certainly appreciate this accurate snapshot of the time.

In addition director Paul Schrader does a commendable job slowly peeling away the layers of the Beverly Hills glamour, until we eventually see it for what it really is: a vapid and empty lifestyle. When American Gigolo opens we would all love to be like Julian – he has it all! But once we go beyond the surface, we see that despite all his money, women and expensive toys, he's miserable and alone. Money did not buy him – or those he services – happiness.

Although the exchanges are not nearly frequent enough, Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo played off each other very well. Watching the cocky gigolo and the tenacious middle-class detective verbally spar with each other was thoroughly satisfying.

On the other hand, Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton possessed absolutely no chemistry together. Their romance was neither absorbing nor convincing, and as such it's lucky that American Gigolo did not truly center on their relationship.

In addition while American Gigolo brought some sharp cinematography and intriguing ideas and scenes to the table, the pacing was inconsistent at best. This film would have been served well with some further editing. Luckily even at its slowest points, the glitz will tap into most viewers' 80's nostalgia, thereby making those scenes barely passable.

American Gigolo could have been so much more, but as it stands it serves up a serviceable storyline and a decent snapshot into the 80's lifestyle.

Movie rating: 6 stars

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