John Turturro on Channeling Grief for Pedro Almodovar’s ‘The Room Next Door’ and Turning Down ‘The Penguin’ Because of the ‘Violence Towards Women’

As a movie lover who has seen my fair share of films and witnessed the profound impact they can have on both the actors and the audience, I find myself deeply moved by the story of John Turturro. His unwavering devotion to his brother Ralph, through thick and thin, is a testament to the power of love and family bonds. It’s a tale that echoes in his latest role in Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door.”

“Do you stick it out, or do you run away?” John Turturro asks.

In the face of his brother Ralph’s challenges with mental health issues and cancer, Turturro stood by his side. Whenever Ralph had another round of radiation treatments, Turturro made sure he was dressed appropriately, providing sunglasses and a hat. He explains, “He valued looking good.

In a movie-loving fashion, I’d often grab the mic and chat with my sibling during our therapy sessions, impersonating various characters to hold Ralph’s attention. “I’d channel Arnold Schwarzenegger,” I reminisce, “since he was my brother’s idol.” After about a dozen sessions, I found myself running low on ideas, but I persisted, drawing from my reserves to aid him.

Ralph passed away in 2022 at the age of 70, and the process of caring for him during his last moments left a lasting impact on Turturro. This experience proved instrumental when he assumed the role of Damian in Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door.” In this film, Turturro portrays Damian, an academic who is supporting his lover, Ingrid (played by Julianne Moore), as she aids her terminally ill friend Martha (Tilda Swinton). Martha has chosen to end her life.

As Turturro points out during our conversation in a Brooklyn café, grief is an inherent aspect of life. With age, it tends to happen more often. Instead of moving past loss entirely, one learns to weave it into their existence.

Working on ‘The Room Next Door’ presented an opportunity for Turturro to collaborate with Almodóvar, whom he initially met in Cannes during the premiere of his 1992 directorial debut, ‘Mac.’ At that time, Almodóvar served as a jury member. Since then, they remained connected, and whenever Almodóvar discussed a film project, Turturro would jokingly ask for a role – even offering to learn Spanish and play a mute character if necessary.

In “The Room Next Door,” a film by Almodóvar, language issues were non-existent as it was his debut feature in English. Turturro found the role to be manageable, yet thought there was potential for more. Despite having good intentions, Damian comes across as arrogant, offering comfort to Martha while simultaneously preaching about how humanity’s failure to control its carbon emissions has made global warming irreversible and ecological disasters inevitable. He’s quite overbearing in his delivery.

As a cinema enthusiast, I can relate to this sentiment. It’s challenging to step away when you’re promoting a project or giving lectures. After wrapping up a promotional event, my partner would often remind me, “You’re no longer on a press tour. Take it easy now.

In contrast to the vibrant personas he portrays in movies like “The Big Lebowski” and “Miller’s Crossing,” Turturro is quite reserved off-screen. Despite this, he shows no signs of slowing down. Next year, you can catch him again in the second season of “Severance,” a thrilling series predominantly set within an ordinary workplace environment. Turturro found his character, Irving – a dedicated corporate employee who strictly follows company rules – fascinating, yet he admitted to feeling constricted by the demands of a multi-episode series.

He admits he disliked working in that office because the lighting made him feel uncomfortable,” he states. “Having returned for another stint, he now feels completely satisfied.

As a huge fan, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Ben Stiller, one of the show’s masterminds. He’s both challenging and brilliant, a perfect combination. Our partnership evolved as we learned to trust each other and found our groove. I often tease him about reprising our roles in a remake of “The Odd Couple” or something similar.

Turturro is planning to bring multiple projects to life on the screen. Among these are “Sabbath’s Theater,” an onscreen adaptation of Philip Roth’s passionate novel that he has previously acted in onstage, and a film version of “Is There No Place on Earth for Me?”, Susan Sheehan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of a woman suffering from schizophrenia.

Turturro won’t be returning as Carmine Falcone for the spinoff series “The Penguin.” Instead, Mark Strong will portray the character in “The Batman” that Turturro had previously played. According to Turturro, he has completed his desired portrayal of the role. In the show, there was a significant amount of violence against women, which is not something he is comfortable with.

In “The Batman,” Falcone exuded a ruthless demeanor, yet in the 2022 film, his harshness is suggested subtly rather than shown directly. Actor Turturro explains, “Much of it takes place off-camera.” He adds, “It’s more chilling when you can imagine the horrors unfolding.

He found it necessary to decline a return to Gotham due to having more tasks at hand than available time, as he acknowledged, “There simply isn’t enough time to accomplish all that one desires.

What attracted Turturro to “The Room Next Door” was a strong desire to work on projects that deeply resonate with him. Despite his character being close to retirement age, he maintains the fiery enthusiasm of his youth.

Turturro expresses that he desires to continue living. He yearns for intimacy and engagement. Despite recognizing the downfall of the world, he believes there remain aspects that justify life, if you understand what I mean?

2024-10-23 19:18

John Turturro on Channeling Grief for Pedro Almodovar’s ‘The Room Next Door’ and Turning Down ‘The Penguin’ Because of the ‘Violence Towards Women’

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