American Gigolo
directed by Paul Schrader
starring Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Bill Duke, Héctor Elizondo
Arrow Video
Released at the start of a new decade, Paul Schrader’s American Gigolo shocked mainstream moviegoers. Slick and amoral, this glitzy and gritty exposé on male escorts was one of the first neo-noir films of the 1980s.
Relying on style over substance, the film was highlighted by Richard Gere’s breakout performance as Julian Kaye, an L.A.-based gigolo whose baubles, including a nice car, good clothes, and a sleek pad, seem meaningless to him.
Shallow and lacking an emotional center, Julian is an apathetic antihero. Despite having a job with plenty of perks, Julian is a shell of a person. Dwelling in an underworld of creeps and shady characters, he has no emotional core.
While Julian has gotten himself in and out of some tight spots in the past, he is in over his head when he gets tangled up with Michelle Stratton (Hutton), the wealthy wife of a powerful California state senator.
More trouble comes calling for Julian after Judy Rheiman (Patricia Carr), a former client, is murdered. Finding himself under investigation and framed for murder, Julian is in deep trouble. As Julian fights for his freedom against circumstantial evidence, intrigue and peril are everywhere around him.
Newly remastered in 4k and Blu-ray, American Gigolo is a glitzy and grimy examination of American excess in the early 1980s. Consumerism, sexual recklessness, and loneliness pervade the film, forming textured spaces for Schrader to explore these themes as he builds complex human relationships and contemplates what it means to live amidst a world where nothing is black or white.
The film made Richard Gere a star. The wooden portrayal he gives here would become his signature. Nonetheless, Julian is a gray-shaded character filled with intricacies and complexities that contrast with the instant-gratification culture he is surround by.
Lauren Hutton’s relationship with Gere is the lynchpin of the film. As Michelle, she smolders, giving audiences an emotionally intricate character. She aptly brings the socialite’s struggle between staying in a loveless marriage or allowing her feelings for Julian to grow. Vulnerable yet rough around the edges, she is the perfect foil for the stoic Julian, who finds himself relying on her to help clear his name.
American Gigolo also features a great performance from Héctor Elizondo as Detective Lieutenant Marks. His dynamic portrayal of the conflicted cop combines a streetwise authority with empathy. Elizondo’s ability to convey strength and vulnerability makes his cop intriguing, as he navigates several moral dilemmas while investigating Judy Rheiman’s murder.
As for the sound of the film, it remains fantastic. Framed by throbbing electronic beats from Giorgio Moroder and the sharp “Call Me” from Blondie, music is central to everything. It shimmers alongside the film’s flashy cars and fancy clothes.
When the film was released in 1980, Paul Schrader was riding a hot streak. Having penned the scripts for Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, this flick found him changing it up by going behind the camera. His work received mixed results. Although the film cleared $30 million in box office revenue, it was the subject of mixed reviews from critics. Many of these reviews criticized the sleaziness of the characters and the film’s depiction of the underbelly of Los Angeles.
Despite being a cult classic for decades, the film is now getting a cultural reexamination thanks to this release from Arrow Video. The DVD features an engaging critical overview from film scholar Adrian Martin and commentaries from Schrader, Héctor Elizondo, and editor Richard Halsey.
This DVD release is recommended for fans of noir-styled films and those nostalgic for movies of the 1980s. It is also worth checking out for the cinematography and pulsating musical score. ◼
