The Many Saints Of Newark Review
David Chase is the capo of the curveballs. Fans from The Sopranos tuning in for exciting Mafioso bloodletting were frequently welcomed with dream sequences of the arts as well as existential riffs, and even scenes that involved ducks (though there was plenty of exciting Mafioso bloodletting to keep viewers coming back). And anyone stumping up cash for The Many Saints Of Newark, the showrunner-turned-film-writer's long-awaited return to the bloody streets of New Jersey, may well be in for a surprise too. Instead of the classic Phantom Menace-style Tony Soprano background story the promotional material for the film appears to be promising, this sequel is a lot more bizarre and more affluent. Also, it's better David Chase.
We don't find out how teen Tony first developed a love for gabagool. We don't even have him wear an unflattering dress gown to the very first time (though we do gain some information on his love of furniture for the patio). Michael Gandolfini — son of James Gandolfini — has a nifty performance as the upcoming criminal boss, emulating his father's legendary performance to perfection, while also adding a touch of innocence and vulnerability. However, this isn't a Tony show. That kind of things are put off until an unfinished third act. Instead, the film delve deep into the life of brand-new characters who provide a compelling group.
In bringing the action to real time, Chase provides a new perspective and an unfiltered glimpse of a turbulent period.
The film features Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola) who is the previously unseen father of The Sopranos' Christopher (Michael Imperioli ) is in this film that is sure to delight those who love The Sopranos as well as the HBO show as well as Sunset Boulevard). It also has Guiseppina Bruno (Michela De Rossi, a sensational) and the sour-faced "Hollywood ' (Ray Liotta), who she marries to form an unsatisfying marriage. There's also Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jr) A numbers runner who wants to do business with his 'family'. This particular character is a refreshing and appreciated addition to the universe: Black characters were only seen on the fringes of The Sopranos. The film weaves the action into actual history that is the Newark race and the 1967 riots Chase offers a fresh perspective and a candid view of a turbulent time. Even the fact that McBrayer is a bit sluggish out of the storyline as the film shifts its focus to Tony.
There's a lot happening within The Many Saints …, the film that is stuffed with characters, music from the past and dialogue, but not every one of them is. There's an interesting development with Liotta's character, which is like something straight from the pages of a telenovela. Some of the plot threads seem stale as the movie spins around its numerous plates. It's clear that this is an idea that Chase has been a fan for years. Rich details are plentiful and there are subtle nods to what's going to be revealed in the years to come. The moment that Tony's wife Livia (a flawlessly cold Vera Farmiga) faces off against a school counselor, or when baby Christopher is crying as Tony is approaching, Sopranos enthusiasts will shiver with joy. For everyone else the film is an excellent standalone film, about a group of bad guys and the "little fat child" who discovers that he is a fan of wrongdoings.
