Writer-director John Turturro takes a flying leap into the shallow end of formula, and almost bellyflops. He calls this oddball, jukebox musical “a working class opera” and cites Charles Bukowski and “The Honeymooners” as touchstones. His impressive cast plays along, busting out tunes by James Brown, Janis Joplin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Bruce Springsteen and others Turturro no doubt cherished from his Queens past. James Gandolfini stars as Nick Murder, a blue-collar Queens dad cheating on wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) with over-the-top slut Tula (Kate Winslet). The voiceover upholds the vulgar vernacular with apercus such as “When a woman bends over, a man sees a jelly roll.” With Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker and Aida Turturro and three other Turturros. 106m. (Bill Stamets)
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