OT: Sopranos Prequel

[Ts5034]

Im actually pretty fired up about this movie. I like how David Chase had a part in this as well and It’s not some random person making the movie with no connection to the show or characters. They don’t really make mob movies anymore, and mob movies are hard to live up to the likes of The Godfather’s or Goodfellas, but I think this movie has a chance to be OK.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Whhaaaa Tony's still alive! Can't wait for this!

 

[scuba lou]

To each his own. Why would you root for a curb-stomper?

Look, when it comes to daughters, all bets are off.

 

[scuba lou]

I was really worried this could end up like El Camino. They knocked it out of the park casting Alessandro Nivola as Chrissy's father/ Tony's mentor.
I'm hopeful and optimistic that he will pull off an iconic performance. The supporting cast is strong as well IMO. My only concern is casting Gandolfini's son as young Tony. His voice in the beginning of the trailer took me out of the moment worse than Deniro's corpse kicking the shopkeeper in The Irishmen. Let's hope this isn't Sofia Coppola all over again.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Who else? Johnny Sack? Christopha? Are you saying that Soprano fans weren't rooting for Tony?

No. I’m just saying you don’t have to root for anyone. You can just follow the story

 

[BattersonBoyz]

Whhaaaa Tony's still alive! Can't wait for this!

Well it's a prequel so he's in High School during the movie. Regardless, his son Michael makes for an incredibly believable younger Tony, at least based on the trailer.

 

[Waquoit]

No. I’m just saying you don’t have to root for anyone. You can just follow the story

If the viewer isn't rooting for the protagonist they did something wrong.

 

[District-Husky]

Yeah, right.

Okay you're right - I never got into the show and can't name any characters except for Tony. I watched a few episodes but - blah. Felt the same about Breaking Bad - blah. And I have 2 little kids so we're really into Camp Cretaceous right now.

 

[JCSuperstar]

If the viewer isn't rooting for the protagonist they did something wrong.

Did you 'root' for Holden Caulfield or MacBeth or Don Draper? There are tons of works that should not have you rooting for the protagonist. Stick to fairy tales I guess.

 

[Waquoit]

Did you 'root' for Holden Caulfield or MacBeth or Don Draper? There are tons of works that should not have you rooting for the protagonist. Stick to fairy tales I guess.

If you are trying to say that viewers weren't rooting for Tony, you're nuts. I was rooting for Tony.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

Not sure about "rooting". I didn't root for Tony, when he cheated on his wife, killed his nephew for example. I watched the show, enjoyed the characters.

You're spot on. I watched for the gangster action, scumbaggery, and the occasional college girls working at the Bada Bing club. I didn't "root" for anyone, but did enjoy the complexities and nuances of the characters. I don't think the characters were ever designed for you to "root" for them. They're law breakers with the FBI on their tails.

 

[Vuce]

Did you 'root' for Holden Caulfield or MacBeth or Don Draper? There are tons of works that should not have you rooting for the protagonist. Stick to fairy tales I guess.

As far as TV shows go the Don Draper/Mad Men example is great. He was the protagonist in that show and you were definitely NOT rooting for him. More like wanting to see what would happen to him through all of it.

 

[Pudge]

think about the casting by the Sopranos. It was amazing. So much talent just popped on screen and developed. I don't think David Chase screws up on this component.

 

[JCSuperstar]

If you are trying to say that viewers weren't rooting for Tony, you're nuts. I was rooting for Tony.

I'm objecting to the fact that the viewers must root for the protagonist or the creators did something wrong. I think the creators went out of their way to remind us what a monster Tony was and question why we identify with him as viewers.

 

[JCSuperstar]

Here's my hot take no one asked for. Janice is just Tony without the power. Selfish, manipulative, vindictive and destroying everything around her. All the same qualities as Tony except she is universally hated by the fans, unlike Tony.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Here's my hot take no one asked for. Janice is just Tony without the power. Selfish, manipulative, vindictive and destroying everything around her. All the same qualities as Tony except she is universally hated by the fans, unlike Tony.

Agree to an extent. Tony had charisma out the ass which made him likable.

Janice was just insufferable 24/7.

 

[Guapo]

Agree to an extent. Tony had charisma out the ass which made him likable.

Janice was just insufferable 24/7.

They were both their mother to a certain extent.

Tony had an outlet for his manipulation, violence and power trips because he was able to step into his father’s role with the mob.

Janice didn’t have the same opportunity to relieve that pressure

 

[JCSuperstar]

Agree to an extent. Tony had charisma out the ass which made him likable.

Janice was just insufferable 24/7.

They were both their mother to a certain extent.

Tony had an outlet for his manipulation, violence and power trips because he was able to step into his father’s role with the mob.

Janice didn’t have the same opportunity to relieve that pressure

I agree with both of you, his charisma is the key difference between the characters and he derives that from his power and position that couldn't be given to Janice. Maybe Janice is Tony without the patriarchy if that isn't too woke.

Anyway, what a great show.

 

[Guapo]

I agree with both of you, his charisma is the key difference between the characters and he derives that from his power and position that couldn't be given to Janice. Maybe Janice is Tony without the patriarchy if that isn't too woke.

Anyway, what a great show.

Ha, I didn’t even consider the gendered aspect of my argument.

It was more an indictment of Livia and how she’s the real root villain of the entire show.

 

[Madmannsucks]

I am going to reqatch the Friday the 13th series and "root for" Jason.

 

[Husky25]

Or the Jedi...

Don't believe me?...They are always looking to score a quick win with the first blow.

"A man confronts you, he is the enemy..."

Confrontation does not always begin with a punch.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Its a concept, make your protagonist a bad guy and it adds layers to the entertainment.
I think this is certainly more interesting than a good guy with no flaws, or geek that gets the girl. TV & movies were largely this way for awhile and rightfully moved away from it.
Its a study of the human condition, its sometimes more interesting if you do not identify with characters or their plight.

Mare of Eastown was just about a perfect example of the next evolution. Kate Winslett's Mare was a flawed character but in human ways, she makes mistakes, is awkward and normal looking. She does at least one very bad thing but not out of malice or evil, just succumbs to putting her own interests above others, something we all do at times.

 

[mauconnfan]

Glad to hear you've stopped watching evening cable "news" ;-)

Wow may be the best BY reply of 2021, well done!!!!!

 

[Waquoit]

I am going to reqatch the Friday the 13th series and "root for" Jason.

Isn't that why people watch those movies?

 

[tzznandrew]

If you are trying to say that viewers weren't rooting for Tony, you're nuts. I was rooting for Tony.

So...you didn't answer the question. Is Macbeth off limits for you? Richard III? Dr. Faustus? The Odyssey? Crime and Punishment? Anna Karenina? Dorian Gray?

Is it all 18th and 19th century sentimental novels and film/miniseries adaptations for you?

Or is your argument not just that you found yourself rooting for Tony, but you were supposed to? Because the argument that a book, movie, or show necessarily wants you to root for the protagonist or else it is a failure is patently false.

 

[crazyUCfan23]

Most of the iconic TV and film drama characters of all-time are "bad" guys. Tony Soprano is the greatest TV character of all-time. Walter White, Omar, Stringer Bell, Avon Barksdale, Logan Roy, the Corleones, Hannibal Lecter, Travis Bickle...

don't forget Jax Teller

 

[karstenkibbe]

Its a concept, make your protagonist a bad guy and it adds layers to the entertainment.
I think this is certainly more interesting than a good guy with no flaws, or geek that gets the girl. TV & movies were largely this way for awhile and rightfully moved away from it.
Its a study of the human condition, its sometimes more interesting if you do not identify with characters or their plight.

Mare of Eastown was just about a perfect example of the next evolution. Kate Winslett's Mare was a flawed character but in human ways, she makes mistakes, is awkward and normal looking. She does at least one very bad thing but not out of malice or evil, just succumbs to putting her own interests above others, something we all do at times.

Kate Winslett was spectacular. She even nailed the DelCo accent perfectly. I had zero expectations when I began watching. Ended up doing the binge thing.

 

[Husky25]

Most of the iconic TV and film drama characters of all-time are "bad" guys. Tony Soprano is the greatest TV character of all-time. Walter White, Omar, Stringer Bell, Avon Barksdale, Logan Roy, the Corleones, Hannibal Lecter, Travis Bickle...

Back to The Wire, McNulty (and maybe Bunk) deserves a spot on the list. He may have been on the "correct" side of the law, but he was not a good guy.

 

[8893]

Back to The Wire, McNulty (and maybe Bunk) deserves a spot on the list. He may have been on the "correct" side of the law, but he was not a good guy.

IMO the point of The Wire is that everyone is flawed and doing what they need to do to get by. Some are more corrupt and less redeemable than others, but every cop, criminal, politician, teacher, etc. was dealing with a world in which they had very limited resources to solve major problems, so they had to be "creative" to survive.

 

[tzznandrew]

IMO the point of The Wire is that everyone is flawed and doing what they need to do to get by. Some are more corrupt and less redeemable than others, but every cop, criminal, politician, teacher, etc. was dealing with a world in which they had very limited resources to solve major problems, so they had to be "creative" to survive.

So many of the people in The Wire are all similar, but circumstances made them different. That's really the beauty.