John Turturro stars in New York film about an aging pickpocket

John Turturro portrays an aging street thief in a new feature film set across New York City. The veteran performer draws inspiration directly from real residents he meets on subways and neighborhood sidewalks. The drama marks another major local role for Turturro, who grew up in Hollis, Queens.

He has lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, since 1988. He gathers dialogue and traits from daily observation on public transit.

“You see the variety and diversity,” Turturro said. “It’s always around you. When I’m on the train, there are so many different kinds of people. Especially the 7 train. I get a lot of things from the 7 train.”

His role of Pino in “Do The Right Thing” came from men in his childhood neighborhood. His bowler character Jesus Quintana in “The Big Lebowski” came from a Lower East Side resident Turturro met after the man left jail.

“I interview a lot of people and I take things from them,” Turturro said. “They know I’m going to.”

In “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” Turturro plays Harry Lehman. Lehman navigates a modern city turning cashless and digital.

Sony Pictures Classics releases the movie in select theaters Friday. Turturro is 69 years old.

“The whole skill of it is that the person doesn’t know,” Turturro said. “I used to make a list of everything I had in common and everything I didn’t have in common with a character. A lot of things resonated with me. People don’t look at you anymore.”

Cast and Festival Premiere

Noah Segan wrote and directed the motion picture. Steve Buscemi appears as a pawnshop owner, and Giancarlo Esposito performs as a police detective.

The role has generated Academy Award discussion for Turturro. It could bring the longtime actor his first career nomination.

“I worked so hard and long before that it’s wonderful when things actually come together,” Turturro said. “It’s rarer than people think, you know what I mean?”

The film recently screened at the New York Film Festival. Longtime collaborators Joel Coen and Ethan Coen attended to support him.

“When I first started, I thought: I don’t know if I’m going to work,” Turturro said. “I feel like I have the ability, but I don’t look like Robert Redford.”

Turturro credited the 1994 film “Quiz Show,” directed by Redford, with allowing him and his wife of 40 years, Katherine Borowitz, to remain local residents.

“I got ‘Quiz Show’ and I was going to get paid,” Turturro said. “I said, ‘Well, maybe we have enough.’ So we stayed here.”

Career Roles and City Filming

Turturro has portrayed many local roles across his screen career:

• A corner store owner in “Jungle Fever”
• An NYPD hostage negotiator in “The Taking of Pelham 123”
• A court-appointed defense attorney in “The Night Of”
• A mob boss in “The Batman”
• A playwright in “Barton Fink”
• A gigolo in “Fading Gigolo”

Production took place in distant city locations. Turturro noted the crew filmed past Coney Island in southern Brooklyn.

“There are different people now in New York,” Turturro said. “But if you go to certain pockets, you can find them.”

Independent feature productions in major metropolitan areas often shoot on public streets, active transit systems and local businesses rather than soundstages. Municipal agencies issue film permits to secure sidewalk space and ensure pedestrian safety during filming.

“Everyone treats me the same, and that’s the way I like it,” Turturro said. “I can understand people who are like superstars. But that does really reduce your options in life. It removes you from life, like, taking the train home after a game.”