SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Lebowskidoo Watched American Gigolo last night for the first time, and knowing it came first I could spot all sorts of ways it could have influenced things like Thief and Manhunter, and countless others. A big hit movie like this, there's no doubt its influence trickled down. I just love this era, from 79-83, Schrader/Moroder or Mann/Tangerine Dream movies seem to perfectly encapsulate that period for me. It's odd when you watch a movie so long after it was made, you are never sure if you love it for what it is or if nostalgia feeds into it. The Giorgio Moroder and Blondie music is perfectly at home in this movie.Gere is great here in the movie that solidified his fame. This could be one of his best parts, the wounded lost boy, which he also plays in An Officer and a Gentleman. He's an underrated actor but the man rarely has made any career missteps (we won't mention First Knight).A little sleazy but not too much. Worth a look for a perfect time capsule of 1980 if nothing else.

SnoopyStyle Julian (Richard Gere) is a high price L.A. escort. Anne is his pimp and he meets Michelle Stratton (Lauren Hutton). Leon (Bill Duke) gives him a job from Mr. Rheiman who hires him for his wife Judy. Later, he finds out that Judy is dead. Detective Sunday (Hector Elizondo) investigates but his alibi won't co-operate. Michelle falls for him. Somebody is trying to frame him.I think the movie was on its way to be a great paranoid psychological thriller. When he found the jewelry, there's a few different ways to go with the evidence. He chooses the stupidest road to travel on. It doesn't fulfill the promise of the movie and instead relies on a romantic melodrama. I never really feel invested in their relationship and it doesn't matter to me whether she supported him or not. I just don't care about the melodrama that Paul Schrader is so in love with.

callanvass I happen to be a fan of Richard Gere. The man is a fantastic actor, so of course I was going to check out this film, despite its dubious reputation. Was it a mistake? You betcha! The sleazy undertones cannot be ignored here or the gay overtones. Not much offends me, but this film is thoroughly unlikable and slightly detestable, even. Director Paul Schrader did a good job of making everything grim that is for sure. Now; I fully grasp as to what they were going for here. Richard Gere's performance suits the character, but it is extremely tough to get behind him. I realize that was somewhat the point, but it doesn't change the fact that I couldn't stand him. The story could have been morbidly riveting, but instead it is just morbid. I am amazed that this film has a rating of 6.0. To each their own guys, but IMHO this film doesn't deserve it. Anyway; I don't remember much else about it, other than it was extremely unpleasant and hard to get through. Final Thoughts: Gere fans will probably wanna check this out, but I wouldn't really recommend it. There are many other films that he has done in the 80's that are much better. (An Officer and a Gentleman being one of them) If you do decide to watch it, maybe you'll get more out of it than I done. If so; all the more power to you4/10

pc95 Growing-up in the 80's I give that decade's movies the extra benefit of the doubt. Such is the case for Paul Schrader's "American Gigolo", which is a pretty standard flick from then,although it helped launch a younger Richard Gere's career during the time - "An Officer and a Gentleman" is probably Gere's finest. The movie reminds a bit of Risky Business though not nearly as endearing or well done. Gigolo's murder mystery takes a back seat to the steamy romance between Gere's and Lauren Hutton's characters, the real draw and centerpiece of the movie. An early scene beginning scene with them both speaking French steals the show. It's easily the best scene in the movie. Mildly recommended thanks to the romance. Say a 6.8/10