The Big Lebowski is a celebrated classic that some fans wanted a sequel to. One — unrelated to a previous tease by Jeff Bridges — was greenlit and shot starring John Turturro, playing again the flamboyant bowler Jesus “The Jesus” Quintana, this time in the lead. Titled Going Places, it was completed in 2016 and Turturro took his time with the final cut.
Now, he’s ready to release it and reveals he has a racy movie he’s happy with. If fans will be, that’s another story. Speaking with The Independent, Turturro shared Going Places is a “very human comedy” with “stupid men” and “stronger, more together” female characters:
“It’s a bit of a racy movie. It shows how stupid men are. That’s what the movie is kinda about – the women are the stronger, more together characters. I had to tweak it a little bit but now I feel really good about it. It’s basically an exploration of Jesus getting out of jail. It’s a comedy but a very human comedy.”
Taking a cue from Lebowski, which is a liberal reworking of Howard Hawks’ noir The Big Sleep (1946), Going Places is adapted from French filmmaker Bertrand Blier’s 1974 buddy drama of the same name that starred Gérard Depardieu. Released from prison, The Jesus hooks up with a new crew featuring Bobby Cannavale and Audrey Tatou (Amélie, The Da Vinci Code).
Here is an official synopsis:
“John Turturro plays Jesus Quintana in Going Places, a film about a trio of misfits whose irreverent, sexually charged dynamic evolves into a surprising love story as their spontaneous and flippant attitude towards the past or future backfires time and again, even as they inadvertently perform good deeds. When they make enemies with a gun-toting hairdresser, their journey becomes one of constant escape from the law, from society and from the hairdresser, all while the bonds of their outsider family strengthen.”
Lebowski creative twosome Joel and Ethan Coen were not involved but gave the project their blessing, according to Turturro:
“They’re my friends, close friends, and were supportive when I said I wanna explore this character more. They said, you gotta do it cause we’re not doing it! If I have something to show, I show it to them if they’re around.”
He also promises that Going Places will be raunchier — “much more sexual” — than its predecessor, in keeping with Jesus Quintana’s backstory. There is no release strategy yet but it could make a festival appearance later in the year.
Turturro is known for his work with the Coens: including The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, Miller’s Crossing and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He’s also worked with other Oscar winners such as Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. He told The Independent he had a change of heart over his working relationship with Allen since #MeToo.
Does Going Places sound like something you’ll see? Leave an answer down below.