The Many Saints of Newark

mr_edge_to_you · 19-09-2021 2:16pm

I see that some of the regional cinemas are only showing it on Wed and Thu. Anyone know what craic is?

johnny_ultimate · 19-09-2021 2:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910990#Comment_117910990

'Previews' before the film goes on general release a week later AFAIK. Applies to all cinemas, not just regional ones.

cdgalwegian · 19-09-2021 3:29pm

Deleted; wrong forum.

mr_edge_to_you · 19-09-2021 5:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117911048#Comment_117911048

Ah right. I thought it was general release from this week. Thanks!

Did you smash it · 21-09-2021 8:20pm

The reviews suggest this is nothing special

rob316 · 22-09-2021 4:39pm

Reviews are out now. 80% currently on RT

Consensus is could of been great but there is just too much going on, needs a series to do justice to the world Chase has created.

I'm excited for tomorrow, about what I expected.

The White Wolf · 22-09-2021 5:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117924837#Comment_117924837

That's my feeling also as much as I hate to say it for Mr Chase, this really would of worked better as a TV series as opposed film.

As a big fan of the Sopranos I'm happy enough but does feel like a missed opportunity.

santana75 · 22-09-2021 10:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117924837#Comment_117924837

Went to see it earlier and yeah, I'd agree with that. It's solid enough, the acting top notch as you'd expect, some great dialogue but.......I'd describe it as meandering. I don't know what it really was about. Would definitely have benefited from being a series.

The White Wolf · 22-09-2021 10:45pm

Just to show an example of the meandering, I was looking forward to the race aspect but it was so utterly pointless. It didn't really go anywhere.

radharc · 22-09-2021 11:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865144#Comment_117865144

Watched it tonight and enjoyed it. But the fears about Gandolfini Jr were on the ball - it just wasn’t believable that we were watching a young Tony Soprano.

cdgalwegian · 23-09-2021 9:10am

‘The Many Saints of Newark’ Review:

"Both Gripping Mob Drama and Gratuitous ‘Sopranos’ Fan Service"

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/09/the-many-saints-of-newark-review-sopranos-prequel-movie-1234666245/#recipient_hashed=7567c359c3ddcb9daa7ccb82dc52cb9472f71a658c625c8c4b00f3779495c23b

Sounds like it should have been a series in its own right, but that it is nonetheless a worthy addition The only question for me now is it worth going to the cinema to experience it?.

The White Wolf · 23-09-2021 5:16pm

Not sure if spoiler discussion is encouraged yet so I'll use tags, it concerns the ending:

johnny_ultimate · 23-09-2021 8:54pm

The messy opening left me worried (especially a wholly bizarre framing device), but it settled into a perfectly serviceable if inessential prequel (prequels being inherently inessential). Taylor’s direction is perhaps more televisual than cinematic, but Chase brings enough Sopranos flavour to the mix to keep things ticking over. It certainly feels like it has at least some breathing space for tangents and diversions, even if it’s a season worth of plot crammed into two hours.

The best performances are the ones that aren’t just aping the originals, and I include young Gandolfini in that. His performance is more naive and vulnerable than expected, and all the better for it. Indeed I think the script elegantly avoids the obvious when it comes to Tony’s arc, keeping him at a relative distance from the violence and crime to good effect. Farminga is a great Livia, and Corey Stoll a fresh take on Junior. Silvio meanwhile… hoo-boy. That needed to be toned down at least a few notches, even by the bizarre standards of van Zandt’s original 😅

DrumSteve · 23-09-2021 10:15pm

I thought it was really good, though id echo some of the comments here it probably would have worked better as a series.

The performances were excellent though, the Silvio character really went all in on the impression tbf.

rob316 · 23-09-2021 11:40pm

Ok wow, that was a packed 2 hours, I can hardly remember the start.

So I am a Sopranos super fan, you could of had impressions of characters for 2 hours with David Chase attached to it and I'd of given it 10/10. But I'll try to be a bit objective and judge the movie on its own merit as really this isn't the Sopranos.

First off fantastic performance from Alessandro Nivola as Dickie Moltisanti. On the character himself, he's a bit of a Tony, a complex personality, a soft side, tries to do a good deed but in reality he's a murderous sociopath, who just like Tony has the charm you cant help but root for. We didn't really know too much about Dickie from the Sopranos so Chase had a blank slate to work with and I thoiught he did great.

Young Anthony Soprano - I've gotta say I absolutely loved this performance. I hear people say hes not believable as a young Tony, but they are totally missing where we are in the stage of his life. This is 20 years before the series, he's not your typical mobster, he went to college for a bit and wanted to be a footballer before he went full time mafia. There is many moments where he displays Gandolfini's mannerisms, facial expressions and its undeniable that the actor is his son. No one else could of pulled this role off.

Supporting cast - this is where if your a fan of the series you are going to feel left down. They are just kind of there in the background, especially Paulie and Pussy adding little to the story. As a fan all you'll want is a scene an extended scence of the characters sitting around with just some great quotable dialogue but it never comes, there is just too much going on for development of other characters. The potrayal of Silvio, if you want an impression is spot on and over the top if anything and just turned into a comedy act, the cinema was in raptures of laughter everytime he appeared on screen. I much prefered the lighter, newer twist on Junior and Paulie. The exception is the potrayal of Livia Soprano, a real high point, we all know Vera Farmiga is great actress but she just totally captured the insane personality of her and you were like "yes that is absolutely Tony's mother".

Fan Service - Chase gave fans plenty of easter eggs where you will grin like a cheshire cat where memorable moments from the series are recreated or played out. And that twist at the end has me thinking of what if Tony had known what really happened to Dickie? My jaw was literally on the floor when that was revealed.

I would love to meet someone who isnt familiar with the Sopranos, watched this and what they thought of it as a standalone film. My opinion would be not much to be honest, there is just too much going on, too many characters that add nothing to the film, unmemorable diagloue and for a mob film that's a real black mark, considering how quotable classics like Goodfellas, Casino etc are.

I would love to see a series come out of this, Chase has created the world again but for a guy jumping to the big screen he just has too much tell for 2 hours. I don't see it happening but you never know and I presume you wouldn't be able to get all this cast back for it.

Overall, an enjoyable 7.5/10

santana75 · 24-09-2021 9:40am

I thought the performance of young Tony soprano was spot on. Vera farmiga though, as others have said, was stand out. If her part were bigger she may have been in line for a best supporting actress nod.

rob316 · 24-09-2021 10:53am

We even got to see Johnny Boy walking Tippy! I loved that minor detail.

On another note, I read an interview with Chase and he said he is very interested in doing a sequel to this prequel, filling in the gaps of the rest of Tony's story up to the series timeline. Just when I thought I was out again.....

Shred · 24-09-2021 2:13pm

I enjoyed it and think it's one that might get better on subsequent viewings without the first time experience of looking out for the various nods and winks to the series. I thought it looked gorgeous on the big screen too (a pretty full screen 6 in Vue*).

*Special thanks to the plonker who moved to sit right beside my wife when a large group arrived and asked him and his missus to move down...plus the pair of tools to my left; one of which kept taking out his phone out at various points and talking loudly throughout - man I already miss the quieter, lower capacity Covid screenings 😤. Oh and as for the token "can I see your Covid cert" on the way in where the guy just looked at it and said ok...🙄

orecir · 25-09-2021 12:08am

Really enjoyed it and the cast was perfect.

Would love to see more be it films or even a prequel TV series.

I see sheep · 26-09-2021 9:29am

4/5 for me, thought it was excellent. Livia was brilliant, should get a show of her own!

Only thing that threw me a bit was the ages of the crew, at the start is that Pussy's father or Pussy? And same for Silvio

BobbyMalone · 26-09-2021 9:52am

I thought it was grand - enjoyable for a Sopranos fan, but I would love to see what someone who had never seen the show thought. The beginning was a bit all over the place (introducing the characters, but it felt a little bit like hand-holding), what seemed like a part that would be a major crux of the show turned out to be completely pointless, and the reveal was a bit meh, even for a Sopranos fan (I can only imagine what a non-Soprano fan would've thought).

A lot of the characters only make sense as characters if you're a fan of the show. There was nothing to add to Paulie, Pussy, or Sil (except Sil becoming even more of a caricature than, tbf, he was in the show anyway).

Anyone care to comment on the extra scene during the credits? I'm assuming I'm missing some nod to the show?

flasher0030 · 26-09-2021 10:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940628#Comment_117940628

I've never seen a minute of The Sopranos. Had no intention of watching this, as presumed you'd need to have watched the Sopranos series to be able to get in to the film.

If its a case that the film can stand out on its own, I'll give it a watch.

BobbyMalone · 26-09-2021 10:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940648#Comment_117940648

That's the thing, though - I'm not sure it can stand on its own, but would be very interested to hear people who have never watched the Sopranos and what they think of it.

I see sheep · 26-09-2021 10:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940628#Comment_117940628

I think it's just showing that his play to go it alone worked and he's come out on top?

Was a bit strange, I was waiting for more post credit scenes after that appeared but that was it.

I thought the ending was excellent though with he theme tune starting.

rob316 · 26-09-2021 10:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940648#Comment_117940648

I don't think the film can stand on its own, it's not particularly memorable, especially the dialogue. It hits a note with a Sopranos fan as they know the supporting story and cast. The Dickie moltisanti story is pretty much a mystery to sopranos fans though, all we really knew from the series was how he was killed. So for a non sopranos fan they can watch it without having to watch the series but I just don't think it's interesting enough.

rob316 · 26-09-2021 10:17am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940687#Comment_117940687

On the ending, they left it to a bit of cheesy scene to be honest that added nothing. The perfect moment was a scene earlier where Tony is looking out the window of Holstens and the camera is panning away, then the theme should of hit, that would of been amazing.

I see sheep · 26-09-2021 10:21am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940702#Comment_117940702

Fair enough, I liked it, each to their own.

It's a though ask making a movie based on a great show in fairness, they did a better job than I thought they would.

Any chance of a Wire prequel? Omar's story?

I see sheep · 26-09-2021 10:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117940707#Comment_117940707

Can you not edit posts to correct spellings anymore 🙄

*tough

PIORUN · 26-09-2021 8:08pm

I wasn’t mad about it. Some of the fan service stuff made me cringe and I could see it coming a mile off ie “ your sisters c*%t “ and “ he would never make varsity “. Paulie painting his nails and Silvio in general !

ronano · 26-09-2021 10:53pm

It's been over a decade since I watched sopranos, I'd agree with the above that the film can't stand on it's own to non fans. It'd probably be a weak 3/5 for ppl going in with no background knowledge. For what it was I enjoyed it, a stroll through sopranos history and dickie was really interesting. The race angle seemed to go nowhere which by the end felt pointless

Strumms · 26-09-2021 11:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117927002#Comment_117927002

An actor with literally a fraction of I mean the minutest of acting experience....not great casting...Michael Gandolfini knew his father, the actor, he didn’t know Tony Soprano... so pointless... get in an actor ffs

Keir Gilchrist

Ezra Miller

Both I think mid 20’s younger looking and have a ‘young Tony’ look... and have received critical acclaim for everything they’ve done so far.

Thelonious Monk · 28-09-2021 6:26pm

Whoever Ezra Miller is looks like a mannequin, I'd f*ck him if I was drunk enough, pretty boy.

Snickers Man · 30-09-2021 2:24pm

First trip to a cinema since before lock down so first things first: The big seats and acres of leg room (I'm talking one of the smaller Savoy screens) are TERRIFIC!! But of course, the ticket prices have to go up to offset the smaller numbers. We went to a matinee showing and there were only two other punters in the room. Definitely the way to watch movies.

As a big Sopranos fan I left feeling.....meh. What was the point to it all? Yes it's fun to spot the younger versions of the regulars. Silivo's silly walk, teenage Tony's blond girlfriend (that HAS to be Carmella....it is!) but on only one viewing you forget who's who after the initial introduction. (Were ALL the fat guys the young Pussy Bompensiero?)

I can't imagine anyone who is not familiar with the Sopranos series making head or tail of this. I'm glad I saw it, as a Sopranos fan. But it's not even as good as El Camino, the Breaking Bad prequel. Take that whichever way you please!

I'd give it a generous 5.5/10

Lefty2Guns · 01-10-2021 10:33am

Seen it last night myself. After only rewatching the TV show over lock down. Would like to see it again to be honest, in order to give it a proper review. (at the minute at best I'd give it is 5/10). Its a film for the fans, where as IMO, if it had of been made as a stand alone film with the content available it could have been far better.

If you have never seen the show I think you would struggle to think the film was any good. I found the time around his younger years went on for too long.

Dr. Nick · 01-10-2021 7:18pm

Like others I thought the first 40 mins or so was a bit all over the place, but it settled and was a good watch - a plot eventually emerged. I'm really not sure how non-Sopranos fans would think of it but AS a fan I can't make that call.

It's on HBO Max so available on the small screen to those who can access right now

Did you smash it · 01-10-2021 7:27pm

half an hour in and

****speculation spoilers**

I think the villain will be Junior

01-10-2021 10:03pm

This should never have been a movie. They have the cast and the people to make it at the very least a ten part series if not multiple seasons. I hope this was the whole point of the exercise, because otherwise just giving us a glimpse of these characters and nothing else happening is just a frustrating money grab.

I can’t imagine its that though and fully expect HBO to deliver us a series because it would be fascinating to watch Tony develop. That kid was the best part of the movie, he has a big future.

It was a decent enough watch in my opinion, pointless if you havent seen the series though.

Joey Diaz’s acting was shocking, so unnatural. Like he was always waiting to blurt out his lines. Big surprise that. Junior was great!

Movie Maestro · 02-10-2021 6:12pm

I've never watched a Sopranos episode fully, have seen plenty of bits but my OH and I didn't enjoy this. It meandered along with nothing happening most of the time and it was just boring. Was hoping for a bit more action and the story was kinda weak. I'm sure Sopranos fans will love it but for anyone else I wouldn't recommend it.

Goldengirl · 03-10-2021 12:39am

As a Sopranos fan I loved it . Went with OH and a young, new recruit to the fanclub after he binge watched during lockdown ( what can I say , he got " an education"!)!

I found it meandered a bit before it really got into it , but loved Nivolla as Dickie Moltisante , the Italian mistress , and Vera Farmiga as Livie . Oh and Eric Stoll , as Junior whom I hate .

Michael Gandolfini was amazing in the role of Tony as was the younger kid , totally believable and his eyes and smile and the hatch of him , were so like his dad . Think they made the right choice there .

Disappointed that Carmella only got an intro but hopefully they will come back with another prequel with more of her and Tony .

The other characters were just padding and comedy really but that is all they were inthe series too.

Would watch another happily , or a series about young Tony . But as fans of such a great series we are hooked already of course.

Don't know what non fans would think of it, but who cares , its 8 / 10 from me and mine .

NIMAN · 03-10-2021 12:47am

Seems to be getting generally good reviews, both in the media and here.

But Tubs has said more than once he thought it was rubbish. Then again, I don't take him too seriously.

03-10-2021 12:54am

Loved the movie...not sure id have paid the money to see it in the cinema! On s5 of the series at the moment. Enjoying it tremendously. I love the young Gandolfini as an actor but he probably differs, personality wise, to much to the father in terms of playing a younger Tony. It was a token gesture really. That all said, none of us were charismatic leaders at such a young age and perhaps the bit of naivety the young Tony displays, further shows us this.

Should have been a series. Definately a second film coming.

gmisk · 03-10-2021 8:18pm

I saw this last weekend, I went in totally blind, I haven't seen any of the sopranos, it wasn't my choice to go and see it.

It was fine, it looked handsome and was (generally) well acted. I thought Nivola in particular was very good, some of the other acting was very cartoony for want of a better word, I thought James Gandolfinis son was very poor. I am guessing you would get more out of it if you knew the TV show.

5/10

03-10-2021 8:24pm

Gandolfini's son is a good actor and was good in The Deuce, but he's a bit too different to his father to play the same character. Perhaps a sequel will evolve him further.

Necro · 03-10-2021 8:38pm

I enjoyed it but would be a huge fan of the series so was excited to go back into that world. I do agree that the whole Dickie story fleshed out over a ten part series or a couple of seasons would be much better but ho hum. I don't think I want a sequel to the prequel unless they do it in a series though.

muckisluck · 03-10-2021 9:04pm

i am a Sopranos fan but my oh half has never watched an episode. I hoped she might be encouraged to watch the series after this as Im dying to look again. But…… wtf with spoiler that the narrator drops at the beginning. That was the greatest shock of all when it happened in the original series. And of course she noticed it too.

Did you smash it · 03-10-2021 9:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117972209#Comment_117972209

Sopranos finished 15 years ago so you can’t complain about spoilers. If the sopranos is for her it’s for her, knowing Tony killed Christopher isn’t important.

muckisluck · 03-10-2021 10:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117972371#Comment_117972371

Well it was important to me. And Im not complaining. Im just expressing my disappointment that the single biggest shock I got during the series was revealed.

Homelander · 07-10-2021 2:33pm

Glad I caught this in the cinema before it disappeared. I thought it was really solid - maybe not quite excellent, but certainly very good. However I'd struggle to find a reason to recommend it to people who haven't seen The Sopranos.

Casting was brilliant - Dickie Moltisanti was exceptional, but the cast worked well overall and the only person I didn't buy into at all was the guy playing younger Sil - he was hamming it up way too much, it was more like a caricature than anything.

Everything else was good though - great performances, great set pieces, just a slick production overall that fits in nicely to the franchise and fills out some lore often alluded to in the main show and gives more depth to some of the characters.

Really enjoyed Corey Stoll as Junior in particular and Vera Farmiga as Tony's mother. Young Tony was perhaps a little soft and a better job could've been done "sowing the seeds" but the likeness is incredible and I totally bought into it.

Can't help but think also it would have worked better as a mini-series, even just 4 or 5 episodes, as opposed to 2 hour movie. Felt some of the plots could've had a lot more time to breathe.

I wasn't a fan of the Christopher voice-over either, struck me as an odd creative choice, an attempt to book end it for people who haven't seen the show, but it was just awkward. Overall though, I really enjoyed it and would consider it an easily 7/10, though again, I can't imagine it meaning a huge amount to non-fans.

banie01 · 07-10-2021 2:40pm

If you are a fan, it's a great piece of fan service.

If you aren't? And I watched it with 2 people who knew nothing of the Soprano's other than fecking Journey 😉

It was a poor movie, especially as a prequel IMO. It relied a lot on fan service and engagement and the story itself just didn't engage the people I watched with and some of the plot devices and framing were very meh.

I enjoyed young Anthony and something that may well colour my opinion is the way the central pillar of the movie was crafted, but Ijust felt nothing for Dickie and that entire shtick. Honestly thought it was derivative and more soap than gangster.

Not a great way to segue new fans into the show, but I'll convert them yet 😂

buried · 07-10-2021 7:37pm

I thought it was just alright and I would be a huge 'Sopranos' fan. The world looks very stylish and of its time, some of the set pieces were very well crafted to go with it but the story was extremely bare and tepid to go with it. It just doesn't seem to important enough to warrant a stand alone film of its own and maybe a 5- 6 part tv series would have been a better idea. Some of the things concerning the mindset of young Tony were interesting but nothing that hasn't been seen before in the TV series. Some of the writing I found very jarring, I got sick of Junior after the first time he roared about "your sisters......" then he said it another three times I was just totally dragged out of it with this childish easer egg fan service shtick. But the main thing is I just don't think the story of Dickie is that interesting or even warranted. I'd wager the idea to have Christopher do the talk over was after the film was edited and everybody realised it just wasn't that interesting either.

The Many Saints of Newark

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