First look at ‘Sopranos’ prequel…

[MichaelGiovanni]

Damn I see the movie really isn't getting a lot of love...lmao. I understand the complaints. I still stand by my love for it because I'm just so blinded by fandom and excited for new material. Plus going to the actual premier was a cool experience. I had low expectations too - so I'm happy I walked away thinking that at the very least, this whole thing didn't FEEL like a thrown-together money grab, at least.

I'd also agree with the woke sentiments only if it weren't for Newark and the late 60s (riots, unrest, civil rights, etc.) actually being a part of Chase's original plans, always being something of interest to Chase, and also actually being a part of Tony's childhood on the show.

I can see how it'd be easy to think - just with what's going on right now with all of the forced inclusion and corporate/media co-opting - that the "black" part of this story line was just crowbarred into this movie to check some boxes that need to be checked today - but like another poster said above, the riots have been something Chase has wanted to do something with forever - and again, it was a part of Tony's childhood on the show. Just feels like good timing to touch on that right now, but I think it's coincidental. I don't think they were consciously thinking about "equity and inclusion"

I want to believe there's going to be a sequel that addresses/cleans up the situation with the blacks , picking up where this movie left off. I also want to believe that on the series, Tony never talked about a big black vs. italian war over the numbers rackets back in the day only because he was too young to know what was going on, and was ultimately this little war was just a blip on the radar of his father's extensive Mob career. Another day in the life. Maybe I'm thinking about it too much and giving Chase and everybody else way too much credit though LOL.

Anyway, so we all know that Barry Haydu was bullshit. Now though... was that the story Tony was told growing up? OR was that what he told Chris at that particular time to get Chris to do what he did? Even when Season 4 was airing ...shit...over 15 or 16 years ago...I thought Tony was shining Chris on about Barry Haydu . But, now I'm thinking maybe that's the story Tony was told growing up, too? He was so worked up in Melfi's office about the blacks that jumped him and tried to steal his shoes (the ones who prevented him from going on the hijacking with Tony B) but never has any animosity for the ones that killed his Uncle and tried to kill his Dad?

good post. the only thing i'll disagree with and this is just my opinion is "Just feels like good timing to touch on that right now, but I think it's coincidental. I don't think they were consciously thinking about "equity and inclusion"

It's everywhere today. The wonder years remake of a black family, the super bowl halftime performers. snoop dog, dr. dre, etc. This hip hop queens show coming out on tv. The so called black national anthem at every nfl game. It is no coincidence. You think they would green light an all white sitcom in today's climate?

I hear ya, but I don't think Chase et. al. had all of that in mind when making this movie - versus the larger media corporations who are responsible for everything else you mentioned above.

The best part about it, especially with things like the black Wonder Years reboot, is nobody who I know who is black actually likes or wants this stuff. I know that's anecdotal - talking about a small 'sample' group from a handful of black friends I have - but they, just like me, feel like it's a cheap cop out. Just a "oh, we gave you guys the Wonder Years... here you go... now shut up" type of thing. It's lazy and transparent. Similar to throwing a female into the James Bond role; why not just spend the time and energy on making a different, new unique story with a strong female lead? Make a new female icon that could potentially turn into a franchise that rivals James Bond. No, instead they'll just wedge a female, or a black person, or whatever, into these already existing storylines/universes. That's the best part about this corporate driven forced inclusion - it's lazy, half hearted, and completely misses the mark. It's going to backfire on them - I don't know anybody who is impressed by any of this stuff. When black people talk about wanting a seat at the table... or representation, I don't think they're talking about Kevin from The Wonder Years needing an afro, or having a Slavery-porn movie made every year and fasttracked through the Oscars, or having the topic of race wedged into every aspect of entertainment. The people behind this shit are completely missing it - it's not doing what they think, and it's driving literally all demographics away, albeit all for different reasons.

I’m with you on all of that. I guess it’s hard to draw the line on what is intentional and what isn’t when it’s all you see.

[funkster]

Mixed feelings. I need to see it again, but my initial reaction is I didn't love it. Didn't really have a Sopranos "feel" to it, also there was very little internal mafia politics that made the show so great. I think that was the biggest problem. It also had some continuity problems, I never saw Silvio, Paulie, and Big Puss as being in Johnny boy's crew. I realize Paulie was always older, but Silvio always seemed to be pretty close to Tony's age?

[Wiseguy]

Mixed feelings. I need to see it again, but my initial reaction is I didn't love it. Didn't really have a Sopranos "feel" to it, also there was very little internal mafia politics that made the show so great. I think that was the biggest problem. It also had some continuity problems, I never saw Silvio, Paulie, and Big Puss as being in Johnny boy's crew. I realize Paulie was always older, but Silvio always seemed to be pretty close to Tony's age?

Well, as Pogo pointed out long ago, Chase had to play around with the ages just to make it work. You'll remember in the first season of the series, Tony was only like 8 during that time. But in the movie he's portrayed as much older.

[PolackTony]

Haven’t watched the movie yet. But wasn’t Willie Overalls — IIRC, a black numbers guy — Tony’s first hit? Maybe there’s room to tie the subplot about a war with black racketeers into what we already do know about Tony’s backstory.

I haven’t seen it either, but my understanding is that one of the recent seasons of Fargo was about a war between the KC Outfit and black numbers runners (which I imagine may have been partly inspired by the takeover in Chicago of the black policy racket by the Outfit). Similar with the dubious Frank Lucas fanfiction project (also haven’t seen). Regardless of whether Chase or anyone else involved in the movie was intentionally trying to make a political statement re: “equity” or “representation” (doubtful for me, personally, but what do I know), that storyline certainly would resonate with the wider zeitgeist in popular culture right now.

Given that Chase has always been keen to show us how hypocritical and hollow the mobsters in his universe are (and all their talk about tradition and identity and “this thing of ours”), the DiMeo family getting it put on them by some black dudes could be part of that.

[Nick Prango]

Michael Gandolfini does a fine job in this movie, but doesn't get nearly the amount of screen time I would have liked. Alessandro Nivola is a great actor, but Dickie's character development wasn't done well by Chase. I did enjoy the plot line of him trying to absolve himself while continuing to do more horrible things than the last, but what does it lead us to, in the end. Not much of a conclusion.

[JoeCamel]

Just caught chase playing old man dimeo….best reference for me

[funkster]

Regardless of whether Chase or anyone else involved in the movie was intentionally trying to make a political statement re: “equity” or “representation” (doubtful for me, personally, but what do I know), that storyline certainly would resonate with the wider zeitgeist in popular culture right now.

Nope. You're dead on. People are reading way too much into it.

[Dave65827]

I don’t really have a problem with the “woke” stuff in the movie it’s just that it was done so poorly. Like why did Frank Lucas appear in the movie ? To egg on Harold on shit he was already doing ?


Not to spoil for anyone here but Dickies death was way worse off than what happened in my mind like it pissed me off

Michael Gandolfinis performance was great but he’s barely in the movie

[Cheech]

I don’t really have a problem with the “woke” stuff in the movie it’s just that it was done so poorly. Like why did Frank Lucas appear in the movie ? To egg on Harold on shit he was already doing ?


Not to spoil for anyone here but Dickies death was way worse off than what happened in my mind like it pissed me off

Michael Gandolfinis performance was great but he’s barely in the movie

Agreed. And Harold fuckin Giuseppina. It just happened? When did they meet?
Movie was weird. Surprised chase made it. I wanted to like it more than i did. Need to watch again. The whole thing plays like a dream sequence.
Goodfellas you felt like you were there as it was happening. In this it didnt feel real at all.

[Shellackhead]

Watched it last night, I’ll give it a 7/10… something was missing imo. How did Johnny Boy die again? I thought he was gonna get clipped in the movie. Didn’t someone here say that they revealed or gave hints over what happened at the end of the Sopranos in the movie? I didn’t catch it.

[cosanostra101]

Very disappointed with this movie. Terrible casting, storyline. Confusing as to who was who on some of the characters. What a disappointment.This move didn't have the making of a varsity athlete!

[Pogo The Clown]

How did Johnny Boy die again? I thought he was gonna get clipped in the movie.

He died of emphysema of the 1980s. I think it was in 1986 but I'm not sure.


Pogo

[Cheech]

I still cant believe chase edited and was like yup, this is great.

[Cheech]

Even the hey jerk off scene they highlight in the trailer. It was a throwaway in the movie. Didnt even need it. Maybe just to see carmela?
Joey Diaz character. Dont even know why he was there.
Chase cut edie falco but left in that stupid frank lucas scene that made zero sense.

[Dave65827]

Why the fuck would Frank Lucas need to be in the movie? To tell Harold to keep doing what he’s already doing ? Don’t get me started on uncle jr