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American Gigolo is based on the 1980 Richard Gere movie, but this time round, it’s the modern day, and Julian Kaye (not Kay) is portrayed by Jon Bernthal, who was great in his Baby Driver scenes, as well as being the best thing about Ben Affleck’s The Accountant… even though that really does not need the proposed sequel.
Oh, and when Mr Bernthal was filming Baby Driver, the writer/director Edgar Wright stated on the commentary track how he was very apologetic about having to ask the actor to come back to Los Angeles NINE TIMES just to film parts of the TWO scenes he was in. He added that Bernthal didn’t mind, commenting, “Hey man, if this shit was easy, EVERY asshole would be doing it!” 😀
However, before we get to the present day, it’s 2006, and he’s in prison in a bad way, since this then-current client – an attractive woman called Janet Holmes – is dead and he’s accused of the crime. 15 years later, he’s still in jail, and there’s brief interaction with other cellmates including Drew, who needs his help to get him away from the cellmate who’s ‘using’ him. However, circumstances lead to him being released and he now needs to rebuild his life.
Once known as Johnny, we learn how he became Julian, leading to the point where he goes round satisfying well-off, affluent women with low self-esteem because their husbands don’t love them, as well as maintaining his luxury lifestyle and his favourite car, which has been maintained during his time in the clink by best friend Lorenzo.
After all this time, he’s lost his confidence and is trying to get back in the groove. Plus, while an unrecognisable Rosie O’Donnell – as Detective Sunday (played in the film by Hector Elizondo) – questions him on whether he did the deed, he even finds he’s questioning himself on whether or not he did it!
There’s flashbacks to the night in question, he returns to his mother’s house to visit – during which we learn of their very fractured relationship which I won’t spoil here. Plus, there’s a former client in Michelle (Gretchen Mol), whose son, Colin, has ran off with his teacher… well, perhaps he’s into MILFs! Lucky him!
A few asides about American Gigolo, this is quite slow-moving, but I am enjoying it, including Rosie O’Donnell being very dour and sarcastic in this. Plus, 29 mins into episode 2, there’s a split-screen-style shot where both fore- and background are in equal focus, a la Brian De Palma, which is pretty cool, since it starts off with one in focus and one not, but then the one in focus moves to the background, and then they’re BOTH in focus… so not quite a Brian De Palma shot, and something else altogether. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.
There’s also a wonderful turn from the brilliant Lizzie Brocheré as Isabelle, but I don’t want to say too much about her, as it’s best just to watch and discover.
There’s also Blondie’s Call Me over the opening credits which is fantastic, and as Jon Bernthal is coming up to 46, I wish I had his abs for that age.
Prior to streaming, three episodes were available and I’ve watched them all, and am looking forward to more.
American Gigolo is not available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but is on Paramount+ from Saturday September 10th. I understand episodes are released one per week.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 45-50 minutes per episode (8 episodes, added weekly)
Release date: September 10th 2022
Studio: Paramount+
Format: 2.39:1
Director: David Hollander
Producer: John H Radulovic
Developed by: David Hollander
Characters: Paul Schrader
Cast:
Julian Kaye: Jon Bernthal
Michelle: Gretchen Mol
Isabelle: Lizzie Brocheré
Johnny: Gabriel LaBelle
Richard Stratton: Leland Orser
Detective Sunday: Rosie O’Donnell
Lorenzo: Wayne Brady
Panish: Alex Fernandez
Olga: Sandrine Holt
Gail St. John: Leigh Taylor-Young
Maryanne: Melora Walters
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.