With over 60 films under his belt, the tenured and talented John Turturro has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Spike Lee, Micheal Bay, and the Coen brothers. He has been a part of some of the most influential and well-received movies of the last 30 years and continues to be in the vanguard class of contemporary film actors. Most recently he has been a part of the most recent The Batman installment, acting alongside Robert Patterson as Carmine Falcon.
Turturro was born in Brooklyn, New York; his father was an Italian immigrant and later a carpenter and U.S. Navy Man. His mother was an amateur Jazz singer who performed in the naval yard during World War II. Turturro’s first appearance on screen was as an extra in Martin Scorsese's 1980 film, Raging Bull. From there, he landed a few noteworthy supporting roles including the spy action film, To Live and Die in L.A. His real breakout success can be attributed to Spike Lee, who cast him as Pino in Do The Right Thing, after being impressed with his acting in the 1987 film, Five Corners. With so much great work, it's difficult to figure out where to start, but here are the best performances by John Turturro, Ranked.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
This 1998 comedy film directed by Ethan and Joel Coen stars Jeff Bridges as a certified slacker and bowling enthusiast who gets involved in a drawn-out conflict involving someone who shares his same name. The film gained quite the cult following, as its psychedelic dream sequences, popular soundtrack, and unique characters all made the film an unparalleled experience. John Turturro’s character, Jesus Quintana, didn't have an incredible amount of screen time, but this unusual side character, who was made to be one of Lebowski’s bowling enemies, gained much praise. In 2019, the character gained a spinoff, The Jesus Rolls.
Transformers (2007)
In 2007, Turturro was cast in Transformers, directed by Micheal Bay. He plays a character named Agent Seymour Simmons and goes on to play the character in an additional three other films in the live-action series. With this character, Turturro brings a breadth of realism and engagement into the film series. In a movie series that relies heavily on action, explosions, and science fiction, it is refreshing to see a captivating human performance among the cacophony of CGI. His role in this type of blockbuster franchise sets him up perfectly for his addition to The Batman years later.
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Miller’s Crossing would be the first Coen Brothers film to feature Turturro. For Turturro, this great neo-noir American gangster film served as his entrance into the Coen brothers casting pool. The film follows the conflict between two rival gangs and their struggle for power. Upon its initial release, it was a box office failure, making only about five million. It has since received much praise and landed itself on Time’s top 100 list and The Guardian’s 24th best crime movie of all time. Turturro’s acting in this film was impressive; most notably the famous scene in the woods, that is depicted on the cover where Turturro’s character hysterically begs for his life.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
As mentioned previously, Do The Right Thing to most can be considered Turturro’s breakout film. Directed by the brilliant and talented Spike Lee, Turturro is cast as Pino, the son of an Italian restaurant owner who works in the restaurant alongside the main character, Mookie. The performance seen from Turturro over the duration of this film is truly incredible. It may help that he is surrounded by other great actors like Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, and Giancarlo Esposito. Even without the support of others, his work stands on its own merits. It is believable, passionate, and full of energy. Ultimately, Turturro's performance, alongside the others, is what makes this film work so well and is responsible for the film's overwhelmingly favorable reception.
The Batman (2022)
The Batman, a 2022 film directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson, is Turturro’s most recent film. Turturro plays a character named Carmine Falcon, a powerful mob boss, and enemy of Batman. Turturro does a great job with this character. Roles in other big blockbuster films like Transformers have set him up for success in this film. Even with a minor role, Turturro is able to grab the attention of viewers.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Another film directed by the Coen brothers, this one stars Turturro alongside George Clooney and Tim Blake Nelson as escaped convicts on the run from the law. The film is based on Homer’s “The Odyssey”, and is filled with quite the amazing soundtrack. The directors weave the soundtrack in and out of the narrative, with some songs playing over the action of the scenes, and other scenes containing the origin of the music within the world. Along with bands and choirs, the trio is even seen performing some songs together. All three actors have great chemistry, not just while singing, but their dialogue is often quick, witty, and apropos.
Barton Fink (1991)
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Topping our list is the 1991 film, Barton Fink. This film is again directed by Ethan and Joel Coen, and by this point it should be clear that the three have quite an extensive working relationship. This film Stars John Turturro as well as John Goodman and Judy Davis. It follows a New York playwright who has recently moved to Hollywood and increasingly becomes aware of the city's annoyances. Unlike many other films on this list, this one relies almost solely on John Turturro's performance. John Goodman plays a very important role, but there's no doubt that Turturro is the star. He does not take this opportunity for granted, and his performance here is second to none. If you haven't seen this film and enjoy John Turturro's acting, it is a definitive watch.