While adults may get some pleasure out of revisiting a series that was a big part of the landscape in the Aughts, teens coming out of a pandemic deserve better than a celebration of the worst of us.Gwyneth Paltrow in Titanic? Brad Pitt in Almost Famous? Some of the most iconic roles in film and TV could have looked very different had they gone to the original casting choices.īefore Billy Crudup brought Stillwater singer Russell Hammond to life in the 2000 music drama, director Cameron Crowe had his eye on Pitt, who was “just starting out” in his now-legendary career. In 2021, caring about irredeemable mafiosos is tiresome. In 1999, that was edgy and exciting, but now, even Disney is making empathetic heroes out of their cartoon villain s. The Sopranos was groundbreaking because it turned criminals into heroes and, with its success, ushered in a new era of antihero protagonists. Michael's acting skills aren't quite up to his dad's yet, but he demonstrates real promise and embodies Tony so fully that it's uncanny. Meanwhile, Tony Soprano ranks among the most complex TV characters of all time, and James Gandolfini left big shoes for his son Michael to fill. The film seems like it might be the foundation of a potential series reboot, particularly with the introduction of Dickie's Black buddy Harold ( Leslie Odom, Jr.), whose cultural awakening provides the film's most intriguing elements. Episodes built on one another until something earth-shattering happened, and that may be what's going on here. The Sopranos is arguably the best crime drama series in history, but not every episode was a sizzler. Just like Tony, the story plods, but that's not unlike the series. And the feeling that each line carries a connection to the future is likely to leave passive fans/those less familiar with the HBO series feeling lost and bored. To really enjoy The Many Saints of Newark, viewers need a solid understanding of key moments in the DiMeo crime family's future lives, and almost no friendly reminders or flash forwards are provided. It feels arrogant of creator David Chase to think that most moviegoers will show up with a full memory of what went down in Northern New Jersey more than a decade ago. Likely to satisfy only diehard Sopranos fans, this prequel requires more than an ability to recognize key characters as their younger selves (although that is admittedly fun). To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails. ![]() Just like the series, expect plenty of strong language ("f-k," "c-t," the "N" word, and much more), as well as drinking and near-constant consequence-free smoking. ![]() ![]() While one woman character defies mainstream gender expectations of the era, others are treated dismissively and even abusively. Several scenes of lusty sex include extended footage of a topless woman. Racial tensions between the Italian American and Black communities during the 1960s and '70s in Newark, New Jersey, serve as a backdrop for the movie's events characters engage in racially motivated conflict and express racist attitudes. Expect lots of blood-soaked violence, particularly deadly shootings and beatings, as well as domestic abuse and graphic scenes of torture. While the character of Christopher Moltisanti ( Michael Imperioli) is explained, viewers who aren't well-versed in the backstories of the rest of the characters from the long-running series may be very lost. It tracks the teenage Tony Soprano ( Michael Gandolfini) as he makes his way toward adulthood amid the violence and despair of the gang war in which his family is embroiled. ![]() Parents need to know that crime drama The Many Saints of Newark is a very mature prequel to the landmark TV series The Sopranos.
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