John Turturro shines in New York drama
Hollywood never quite knew what to do with John Turturro, but that suited him fine across a 40-plus-year career that includes collaborations with Spike Lee and the Coen brothers, recent work on Severance, and a celebrated performance in a new drama.
At age 69, the acclaimed actor stars as Harry Lehman in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, a film written and directed by Noah Segan that has earned some of the best reviews of his career, according to RogerEbert.com, and prompted Oscar-related discussion in coverage by the Los Angeles Times.
Plot and Production Details
In the film, Harry Lehman must recover a flash drive stolen from a tech mogul played by Will Price, while he quietly discards empty wallets in mailboxes so licences and cards can be returned to their owners. The film explores loneliness and connection, themes reflected in the line, “Just because you’re lonely doesn’t mean you’re alone.” In the RogerEbert.com interview, Turturro identifies this as one of the film’s lines and calls it his favorite.
The supporting cast features Steve Buscemi, Giancarlo Esposito, Will Price, Tatiana Maslany, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Following festival appearances at Sundance 2026, Berlinale 2026, a premiere on 16 September 2026 at TIFF 2026, and NYFF64 on 3 October 2026, the film is scheduled to open in theatres on 23 October 2026.
Critical Reception and Reflections
Monica Castillo of The A.V. Club, which gave the film a B+ review, wrote: “For too long, John Turturro’s dependable talent has been taken for granted, which makes it all the better that he gets to shine in a great little drama like Noah Segan’s The Only Living Pickpocket In New York.”
Reflecting on his life and craft, Turturro shared personal insights in a RogerEbert.com interview, stating, “I’ve also been my brother’s caretaker for a long time.” He added, “I think, as you get older, you appreciate delicacy even more.”
Stage and Screen Endeavours
Alongside his cinematic work, Turturro is appearing in a revival of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge alongside Paul Giamatti. Discussing his work with Giamatti, Turturro told UPI: “We met once for lunch. We’ve worked twice since then together, recently on stage.”
Reflecting on returning to his roots, Turturro also mentioned to UPI: “When you’re away from New York and you come back, it sometimes can be overwhelming.”
✓ Verified
Confirmed facts include John Turturro starring in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, written and directed by Noah Segan, alongside a career spanning over four decades, festival runs in 2026, and stage work in Rhinoceros with Paul Giamatti.
⚠ Still needs confirmation
None.
- Los Angeles Times: John Turturro interview metadata (2026-10-21)
- RogerEbert.com: The only living pickpocket in New York interview (2026-10)
- CBS News: Extended interview with John Turturro (2026-10-18)
- The A.V. Club: The Only Living Pickpocket in New York review (2026-10-12)
- UPI: John Turturro interview (2026-10-20)
Editor’s note: Details reflect reporting through October 21, 2026.
