By Mason Morgan
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Born in 1957, Hollywood actor John Turturro hails from Brooklyn, New York City. With a jazz singer mother, actor brother, and actress cousin, Turturro has been surrounded by the arts from a young age. His rise to prominence as an actor came with frequent collaborations with directors Spike Lee and the Coen brothers. Roles in films such as Do the Right Thing and The Big Lebowski have cemented Turturro as an incredibly talented, if underutilized, Hollywood talent.
Turturro has reached a new level of relevance with his supporting role in the widely acclaimed series Severance, created by Ben Stiller. Turturro has had a long and varied acting career, and audiences can only hope to see more of him in the coming years. This is a selection and ranking of the 10 best John Turturro movies.
10 'Clockers' (1995)
Directed by Spike Lee
Strike (Mekhi Phifer) is a young, street-level drug dealer employed by the local drug lord, Rodney Little (Delroy Lindo). The illicit job is a dangerous one, especially when the murder of another local dealer places Strike in the crosshairs of homicide detectives Klein (Harvey Keitel) and Mazilli (John Turturro).
Perhaps one of director Spike Lee's most underappreciated efforts, Clockers is a bold and accomplished movie that soars because of an array of excellent performances. These great performances breathe life into complex characters and a narrative rich with intrigue. Turturro may not provide the heart and soul of the movie itself, but he's a meaningful cog in an overall powerful piece of work.
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Clockers
R
Mystery
Crime
Drama10/10
- Release Date
- September 15, 1995
- Runtime
- 128 minutes
Cast
-
Harvey Keitel
Det. Rocco Klein
-
John Turturro
Det. Larry Mazilli
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Writers
- Richard Price
- Producers
- Jon Kilik
- Character(s)
- Det. Rocco Klein, Det. Larry Mazilli, Rodney Little, Ronald 'Strike' Dunham, Victor Dunham, André the Giant, Tyrone 'Shorty' Jeeter, Iris Jeeter, Errol Barnes, Scientific, Go, Horace, Stan, Skills, Gloria, Detective Jo-Jo, Sharon, Victor's Wife, Jesus at Hambones, Big Chief, Thumper, Mr. Herman Brown, Darryl Adams, Chucky, Solo, Bartucci
9 'Transformers' (2007)
Directed by Michael Bay
Teenager Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) gets more than he bargained for when his first car turns out to be a shapeshifting alien robot known as Bumblebee. As it turns out, Bumblebee is just one of many Autobots on Earth, as they arrived searching for a powerful artifact from their home world. Decepticon Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving) leads a force of evil also in search of the artifact, as the human race is pulled into a dangerous battle.
Whether you love or hate his work, Michael Bay has established himself as one of the most influential and singular filmmakers in cinema, and Transformers is one of his most entertaining movies. As one might expect from a Bay movie, there's no shortage of thrills and juvenile humor. Turturro, while far from a constant figure in the movie's narrative, turns in a humorous performance as an out-of-his-element government agent who, yes, gets urinated on by Bumblebee.
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Transformers
PG-13
Adventure Science Fiction Action- Release Date
- June 3, 2007
- Runtime
- 144 Minutes
- Director
- Michael Bay
- Writers
- Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, John Rogers
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
RENT
BUY
An ancient struggle between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons brings their war to Earth. Teenager Sam Witwicky, played by Shia LaBeouf, buys his first car, which turns out to be the Autobot Bumblebee. As Sam and his friends join forces with the Autobots, they must prevent the Decepticons from obtaining the powerful AllSpark and destroying humanity.
- Cast
- Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Mark Ryan, Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Budget
- 150000000.0
- Studio(s)
- DreamWorks Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, DeSanto/Murphy Productions, Paramount
- IMDb ID
- tt0418279
- TMDB User Rating
- 6.797
8 'The Batman' (2022)
Directed by Matt Reeves
Following the traumatic murder of his parents, young billionaire Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) launches a vigilante crusade against the criminals that flood the streets of his home, Gotham City. When a series of politically motivated murders rock the city, Batman must piece together a series of clues in search of the psychotic killer. Fragile alliances and unstable relationships with adversaries complicate the investigation.
Turturro's turn as Batman comic-book villain Carmine Falcone suited the world of Matt Reeve's The Batman elegantly. This iteration of Gotham City is particularly dismal, and Turturro fills the shoes of an especially vile and morally corrupt figure with conviction. Interestingly, Turturro turned down reprising his role for the follow-up series, The Penguin, but the actor nonetheless proved himself to be a valuable part of this overall excellent revitalization.
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The Batman
PG-13
Crime
Action Drama7 10
- Release Date
- March 4, 2022
- Runtime
- 176 minutes
Cast
-
Robert Pattinson
Bruce Wayne / The Batman
-
Zoë Kravitz
Selina Kyle
In a dark city plagued by crime and corruption, a masked crusader investigates a puzzling string of crimes linked by cryptic messages. His journey into the depths of the city's sinister underworld reveals connections among its most powerful citizens and forces him to confront his own complex relationship with justice.
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Writers
- Matt Reeves, Peter Craig, Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Sequel(s)
- The Batman Part II
- Franchise(s)
- DC Universe, DC Comics
- Main Genre
- Action
- Character(s)
- Bruce Wayne / The Batman, Selina Kyle, Lt. James Gordon, Oz / The Penguin, The Riddler, Carmine Falcone, Alfred, District Attorney Gil Colson, Unseen Arkham Prisoner, Bella Reál, Officer Martinez, Kenzie, Chief Mackenzie Bock, Commissioner Pete Savage, Mayor Don Mitchell Jr., Mrs. Mitchell, Mitchell's Son, Carla, Annika, Young Riddler, Thomas Wayne, Young Bruce Wayne, Martha Wayne, Dory, Travis, Ritchie, Glen, Cheri, Lead Detective, Another Officer
- Budget
- $200 million
- Studio(s)
- DC
7 'Fading Gigolo' (2013)
Directed by John Turturro
Looking to assist his financially burdened friend Murray (Woody Allen) after the closing of his bookstore, Fioravante (John Turturro) begins selling himself as a male prostitute. However, the situation grows complicated when Fioravante finds himself falling in love with the widow of a rabbi, Avigal (Vanessa Paradis). The pursuit of financial gain becomes an exploration of newfound feelings and emotions.
Written, directed and starring Turturro in the lead role, Fading Gigolo is a creative effort that demonstrates the actor's abilities beyond just acting. Intelligently written, witty, and emotionally resonant at times, this is an overall modest movie that never overstays its welcome and leaves a pleasant impression. It's clear with Fading Gigolo that Turturro is knowledgeable when it comes to the sensibilities of classic comedies.
6 'Mr. Deeds' (2002)
Directed by Steven Brill
The mild-mannered pizzeria owner, Longfellow Deeds (Adam Sandler), inherits his late uncle's $40 billion fortune. Naturally, when Deeds moves to the city, his newfound fortune is followed by a caravan of vulture-like figures. As the opportunistic reporter, Babe Bennett (Winona Ryder), at first connives her way into Deeds' life, she soon finds herself falling for his genuine character.
Mr. Deeds is light, silly and full of the fluffy sentimentality that one would expect from a Sandler-led comedy. While it doesn't always generate the most clever of gags (another consistent element of Sandler comedies), Turturro steals every scene with his performance as Deeds' butler, Emilio. His jokes are the funniest, and his delivery is consistently on point. It's not an easy feat to overshadow Sandler in his own comedy, but Turturro makes the most of his limited screen time and is the brightest spot in the whole movie.
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Mr. Deeds
PG-13
Comedy
Romance- Release Date
- June 28, 2002
- Runtime
- 96 minutes
Cast
-
Adam Sandler
-
Winona Ryder
-
John Turturro
-
Allen Covert
- Director
- Steven Brill
- Writers
- Clarence Budington Kelland, Robert Riskin, Tim Herlihy
- Main Genre
- Comedy
5 'Miller's Crossing' (1990)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) acts as the advisor to mob boss Leo (Albert Finney). A gang war is brewing between Leo and rival boss Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito) concerning the dealings of young bookie Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro). As a street-level battle for control of wages, Reagan finds his loyalties challenged as the violence escalates.
While Miller's Crossing may not be the Coen brothers' most adventurous or subversive piece of entertainment, there is plenty to admire here. The screenplay is sharp, the drama is poignant and well-realized, and the characters just jump off the screen. Turturro is especially excellent here; his character's exit from the movie is among the most memorable and well-acted scenes in the Coen brothers' entire filmography.
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Miller's Crossing
R
Crime
Drama Thriller- Release Date
- September 21, 1990
- Runtime
- 115 Minutes
Cast
-
Gabriel Byrne
-
Albert Finney
-
John Turturro
-
Marcia Gay Harden
Miller's Crossing: In 1929, a political boss and his trusted advisor experience a rift in their relationship when romantic interests overlap, leading to a complex exploration of loyalty and betrayal. Amidst the backdrop of Prohibition-era crime, their actions resonate through the criminal underworld, revealing deeper power struggles and personal conflicts.
- Director
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Main Genre
- Crime
4 'Quiz Show' (1994)
Directed by Robert Redford
Young lawyer Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow) investigates the shady dealings of entertainment executives who are running a potentially rigged game show. The investigation is fixed on two past contestants: Herbert Stampel (John Turturro) and Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes). The findings of the congressional lawyer will shock the nation in this true story of greed and corruption.
Quiz Show is the kind of fascinating true-story movie that makes for a thoroughly engaging watch every time. There's not a single creaky element to Quiz Show; every piece comes together with an elegance and efficiency that's easy to get fully immersed in. With the suit, shady business practices, and thick-framed glasses, Turturro fits right into a movie like this as a valuable part of a well-oiled machine.
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Quiz Show
PG-13
DramaBiography
History- Release Date
- October 7, 1994
- Runtime
- 133 Minutes
Cast
-
Ralph Fiennes
Charles Van Doren
-
John Turturro
Herbie Stempel
-
Rob Morrow
Dick Goodwin
-
Paul Scofield
Mark Van Doren
This drama dives into the scandal surrounding the popular 1950s television quiz show "Twenty-One." As congressional lawyer Richard Goodwin investigates, he uncovers a conspiracy involving rigged games and morally ambiguous producers, shaking the public's faith in the honesty of TV entertainment.
- Director
- Robert Redford
- Writers
- Paul Attanasio, Richard N. Goodwin
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Character(s)
- Charles Van Doren, Herbie Stempel, Dick Goodwin, Mark Van Doren, Dan Enright, Albert Freedman, Jack Barry, Toby Stempel
3 'The Big Lebowski' (1998)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
In 1990s Los Angeles, "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for a millionaire who shares the same name as him, leading to all sorts of trouble. After trying to extort him for money that he doesn't have, a pair of thugs soil The Dude's rug. Looking for restitution from the millionaire Lebowski (David Huddleston), The Dude recruits the help of his Vietnam veteran friend Walter (John Goodman) and bowling teammate Donnie (Steve Buscemi).
There is no other movie in existence quite like The Big Lebowski. It's the product of an uncompromised creative vision that isn't always easy to "get" but is guaranteed to intrigue and amuse at the very least. With limited screen time, Turturro brings to life one of the most memorable cinematic oddballs in Jesus Quintana, the pro-bowler and sex offender. Turturro commits fully to the bit—his grasp on the tone of The Big Lebowski was iron-clad.
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The Big Lebowski
R
Comedy
Crime
Sport
- Release Date
- March 6, 1998
- Runtime
- 117 Minutes
Cast
-
Julianne Moore
-
Jeff Bridges
-
Steve Buscemi
-
John Turturro
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.
- Director
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Writers
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Budget
- $15 Million
- Studio(s)
- Working Title Films
- Distributor(s)
- Gramercy Pictures
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2 'Barton Fink' (1991)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Set in 1941, renowned New York-based playwright Barton Fink (John Turturro) travels to Hollywood to produce the script for a wrestling B-movie. While holed up in a creaky hotel room, Fink finds himself stricken with writer's block. Despite his best efforts, Fink is consistently terrorized by bizarre events as his deadline creeps closer and closer.
Barton Fink is rousing, absurdist entertainment with all the familiarity of a distant dream (or nightmare). It's packed with the black comedy and enigmatic narrative that the Coen brothers have founded their careers upon, and at the head of it all is Turturro's most full-bodied performance of his career. The paranoia, the anxiety, the fears—Turturro lays it all out in a role that demands equal parts physicality and restraint.
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Barton Fink
R
DramaComedy
Documentary
- Release Date
- August 1, 1991
- Runtime
- 116 minutes
Cast
-
John Turturro
-
John Goodman
-
Judy Davis
-
Michael Lerner
- Director
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Writers
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Main Genre
- Drama
1 'Do the Right Thing' (1989)
Directed by Spike Lee
It's a sweltering summer in the Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn, New York. Operating in the heart of the primarily black neighborhood is the Italian-owned Sal's Pizzeria, a common resting spot for the locals but soon to be the center of a boiling tension. Frustration turns to unrest as a conflict brews that finds the neighborhood being turned onto its head.
Many would consider Do the Right Thing Spike Lee's masterpiece, and that stance would be hard to argue with. From the political timeliness and subversiveness to the wide array of top-notch performances, this is an undeniably powerful piece of work that has stood the test of time well enough to be considered definitive. Lee has so much to say with Do the Right Thing, and Turturro is unafraid to play into a stereotype for the sake of an artistic triumph.
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Do the Right Thing
R
DramaDocumentary
6.5/10
- Release Date
- June 14, 1989
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
Cast
-
Danny Aiello
-
Ossie Davis
Do the Right Thing is Spike Lee's Oscar-nominated film starring himself, Giancarlo Esposito, Bull Nunn, John Turturro, and Ossie Davis. The comedy drama revolves around Spike Lee's young character Mookie, who is stuck in Brooklyn on the hottest day of summer, where bigotry and hate build before exploding into violence.
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Writers
- Spike Lee
- Budget
- $6.5 million
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
NEXT: 10 Essential Films Recommended By Spike Lee
- Movie
- John Turturro
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