For John Turturro, playing an aging pickpocket could finally mean an Oscar nod

John Turturro, 69, could be in position for an Oscar nomination thanks to his role in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. The film, written by Noah Segan and premiering in Canada at TIFF, follows Harry, an aging pickpocket trying to navigate a world moving past him. Segan says he built the story around Turturro, calling him “this city” and emphasizing his deep connection to New York. Turturro describes the character as someone who gains understanding over time, shaped by survival and care for others, as Harry faces his wife’s declining health and life in a more technological era. Turturro then collaborated again with longtime friends Giancarlo Esposito and Steve Buscemi, with Esposito playing Detective Warren. The production blended antique lenses with modern digital cameras.