MovieChat Forums > The Many Saints of Newark (2021) Discussion > Superficially Sopranos

Superficially Sopranos

posted 3 years ago by McQualude (4231)
20 replies | jump to latest

All the actors did well at imitating the originals but the story was unfocused and too much time was spent on characters and plots with no pay off like the hot wife from Italy and 64 riot. Johnny Soprano didn't influence the story one way or the other and Livia wasn't the sociopathic narcissist that we love to hate. Dickie Monstisanti was two different characters, a mild-mannered milquetoast gangster and random violent tempered murderer, it didn't make sense. Also missing was Tony's crush on Janice. Ray Liotta was fantastic, as you would expect. Vera Farmiga was also fantastic as Livia but the writing let her down. All in was just okay.

[–] Creamofwheat22 (434) 3 years ago

The actor who played Silvio felt like a parody or a shitty SNL impression of someone doing Sil. It was embarrassing.

[–] NitroHangover (1142) 3 years ago

Agreed. That guy's performance as Sill was probably my least favorite part of the film.

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

I didn't like him either.

[–] MartyDeniro (4171) 3 years ago

iow, the same way Van Sandt played the character -- like a cartoon.

[–] RoloTony (1284) 3 years ago

I think you pretty much described the original Silvio, too, lol.

[–] NitroHangover (1142) 3 years ago

David Chase has already said that they plan to make more movies. I don't understand why they didn't just make it a series, but this isn't the end. If anything, this was the Pilot. I really liked it, myself.

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

It did feel like a pilot for a series.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

No depth to the story or characters. Superficial is a perfect way to describe this mess of a movie.

[–] jekporkins (1970) 3 years ago

The casting was, IMO, perfect. Corey Stoll as Junior Soprano was spot on. Always nice to see Liotta again.

It was a hot mess without proper structure, though. I am still processing what I watched. It was like half Sopranos/half Newark black people fighting for respect. It was trying to be too much for too many people. The problem is nobody came into this thinking it was going to be about the latter...

It would have been much more interesting just focusing on Dickie, Junior, and Johnny (who barely plays a part). We could have seen Tony learning from osmosis just watching these three, with his mother perpetually smacking him over the back of the head and keeping him down.

It was kinda a worse version of A Bronx Tale? I might be reaching here...

[–] Boricanator (1440) 3 years ago

Tony’s crush on Janice? I never picked that from the series.

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

It comes up in therapy that he had a crush on her when he was in puberty.

[–] pelosfx (140) 3 years ago

That may be so, but it’s not something the average viewer will remember. We’ll be talking about one scene in six seasons, definitely not something that leaves a mark. It makes sense to me they don’t touch on that in this film (which already touches on too many things, by the way)

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

It touches on too many things irrelevant to The Sopranos, Tony's crush on his sister isn't irrelevant, it's part of who he became.

[–] bistritapcv (1828) 3 years ago

Is Livia the one who was (originally) played by nncy Marchand?

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

Yes, she passed in 2000.

[–] BourbonKing (5777) 3 years ago

To me the whole period doesn't reflect the way Tony's memories of the past are visually recreated in Sopranos. Johnny Boy and Corado were already running things and had Satriale's under their control but in this movie it's all under Dickie's leadership. It's a weird revision of Chase wanting to inject more of Christopher and his family's history into this story. I've always felt that Chase did a poor job of forcing Chrissy's arc above all others in the TV series because it felt like he wanted a Shakespearian-level of family betrayal to play out, but he could have easily done that with Tony B or even his own son A.J.

The movie's development of Dickie felt marginal and rushed, and when he was finally whacked by the petty Uncle Jun it didn't really feel like a tragic ending but rather a strange twist on how it ended up influencing Tony's decision to not be a civilian.

[–] McQualude (4231) 3 years ago

Rushed, or just half-hearted, definitely. I didn't like Dickie so when he got whacked it was anti-climactic. He was a milquetoast gangster with rage issues.

[–] Flybynight45 (165) 2 years ago

I disagree it reflects it very well and with all kinds of easter eggs (Junior saying "he doesn't have the makings of a varsity athlete".)

Anyways to set the record straight, Johnnyboy's highest ranking was "captain", he never controlled North Jersey. He also lived in a modest apartment with 3 kids until the mid seventies. Then a modest house. He wasn't that successful.

[–] BourbonKing (5777) 2 years ago

That's all conjecture which is what Chase's poorly realized prequel represented. I don't mind if it was all a LIE that Tony created in his head as an adult, but the movie absolutely failed to convey that.

[–] Flybynight45 (165) 2 years ago

What do you mean this is all conjecture? This is what was shown in both the movie and the Sopranos Tv Show.