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Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.
EDIT:
Follow along and read the excellent writeups by Jerusalem for each episode of the show. A great way to look back at the show and catch some stuff you may have missed.


Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 | Season 6.1 | Season 6.2

Season 6.2: Soprano Home Movies | Stage 5 | Remember When | Chasing It | Walk Like a Man | Kennedy and Heidi | The Second Coming | The Blue Comet | Made in America | The Final Scene


Thanks Jerusalem!

----



Well slap a hoo-ah and call me old-as-poo poo, the Sopranos premiered 20 years ago. The old retrospective thread fell into the archive many years ago, so here is a new place to discuss and appreciate the best show of all time.

So before this degenerates into a dumb argument about the final shot, let's reminisce.



---------

Let's take a look back at 1999.

Top movie of 1999 - The Phantom Menace
Top song of 1999 - "Believe" by Cher (really?)
Top book of 1999 - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Some stats:

Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average - 11,497
Average Cost of new house - $131,750.00
Average Income per year - $40,810.00
Average Monthly Rent - $645.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas - $1.22
Average cost of new car - $21,050.00
US Postage Stamp - 33 cents
1 LB of Bacon - $2.59
Loaf of Bread - $1.49
Dozen Eggs - 89 cents


Also in 1999, we met Tony Soprano, arguably the most interesting TV character of all time. James Gandolfini gave this character a depth that is unmatched, and even watching his performance 2 decades later it is electric.

Here are some cool retrospective pieces to watch and read:

Edie Falco and David Chase on the 20th Anniversary of The Sopranos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ies2g5po8-M

A long 46-minute video interview with almost all the surviving main cast (no Ade, but otherwise I think it's most of them). I think Paulie had a stroke, sadly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSUFaSVPCRQ

Sepinwall and Zoller-Seitz interview David Chase about the anniversary (has some videos too):
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/exclusive-excerpt-sopranos-sessions-david-chase-interview-774981/

A look back at James Gandolfini from his fellow actors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ_XzlIvgEQ

And the recently-discovered alternate ending:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EwUG2nSLdw&t=17s



Don't be a jerk my friend!

Ishamael fucked around with this message at 03:48 on Jun 26, 2020

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Basebf555
Feb 29, 2008

The greatest sensual pleasure there is is to know the desires of another!

Fun Shoe
My favorite Sopranos memory is of the crew going to Italy and Paulie being so confused about why the food is so different haha

Jose Oquendo
Jun 20, 2004

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a boring movie
Best Sopranos moment?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7bN1wtmBL4

Basebf555 posted:

My favorite Sopranos memory is of the crew going to Italy and Paulie being so confused about why the food is so different haha

It was great because it revealed them for what they were: A glorified crew and Italian rednecks.

Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.

Basebf555 posted:

My favorite Sopranos memory is of the crew going to Italy and Paulie being so confused about why the food is so different haha

Pasta with grape-ies?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-eHk4RiIso

Basebf555
Feb 29, 2008

The greatest sensual pleasure there is is to know the desires of another!

Fun Shoe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAbldmqXrVg

I prefer this version, it's funnier in the full context where his sister's just kinda sitting there sullenly and Tony's flipping out.

Jose
Jul 24, 2007

Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster and writer
https://twitter.com/sopranosnocnxt/status/1084826551949025280?s=19

OldTennisCourt
Sep 11, 2011

by VideoGames
I remember every blowjob I ever got.

Basebf555
Feb 29, 2008

The greatest sensual pleasure there is is to know the desires of another!

Fun Shoe
Honestly I feel like Bobby was maybe the most tragic character in the show aside from I guess Adriana. He really was cut out for a different kind of life but it seemed like he could never really extricate himself once he hooked up with Janice.

Escobarbarian
Jun 18, 2004


Grimey Drawer

Ishamael posted:

Sepinwall and Zoller-Seitz interview David Chase about the anniversary (has some videos too):
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/exclusive-excerpt-sopranos-sessions-david-chase-interview-774981/

Worth pointing out that this is an excerpt from a new book, The Sopranos Sessions, which has a ton of conversations with Chase as well as new recaps of every episode and further discussion. I got it and have rewatched the first season while reading through and it’s well worth it for any fans of the show.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Basebf555 posted:

My favorite Sopranos memory is of the crew going to Italy and Paulie being so confused about why the food is so different haha

Paulie taking Tony aside moments after Tony just got invited to the house of the big Boss/Don, in order to tell him,"Hey T, I'm going back to the hotel to take a poo poo!"

stev
Jan 22, 2013

Please be excited.




Nah it's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVIwepliNeo

I think I need another rewatch of this soon.

Annabel Pee
Dec 29, 2008

Escobarbarian posted:

Worth pointing out that this is an excerpt from a new book, The Sopranos Sessions, which has a ton of conversations with Chase as well as new recaps of every episode and further discussion. I got it and have rewatched the first season while reading through and it’s well worth it for any fans of the show.

I checked out this book on Amazon and holy poo poo this review, I think this guy should just write his own book:

1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't get past page 60. posted:

I pre-ordered this book and put down what I was in the middle of reading when it arrived. Now I'm putting this book down and going back to what I was reading before it arrived. When I finish that I'll pick this back up and restart at page 327, "The David Chase Sessions."

The entertainment value of analysis within this book is subjective, similar to a history class. To me, this is why 2-5 stars exist. Glaring flaws indicative of a rushed product or sheer ignorance is objective, similar to a history class. This is why 1 star exists.

I don't only believe The Sopranos was the best TV show ever made, I believe it to be the best thing ever put on film. I consider myself a hardcore fan that has strong opinions about not only the action, but the depth of the product. I find myself discussing the art of "Isabella," the hallucinogenic brilliance of "Funhouse," The Kinks within "University," and perfected acting within "Whoever Did This" in crowds who are usually caught up with "Pine Barrens" and "Made in America." I don't have extended discussions about the end of the show. My response is typically one sentence - "David Chase doesn't give us puzzles to solve; he shows us everything that happens." I say this because I am constantly interested in the opinions of others just as fanatical about the show as myself. The fatter the book, the better.

The book goes by the formula of breaking down every episode. Fine by me. From the pilot synopsis, I immediately got the impression that this section of the book was written by someone watching the episode for the first time and pausing between scenes to write a college paper. There is so much missed. There's not even a mention of Chrissy's introductory scene, or its depiction unmotivated gen x to gen y bleed over behavior applicable to every character at or under 35 within the show (Brendan, Jackie Jr., Matthew Bevilaqua, AJ, Ade, and so on). This is a miss.

Tony tells Melfie he loves her. According to the book, she shows strength in standing firm against this. The book missed Melfie's third dimension - that she changed her appearance in the next two sessions and brought this love up herself when Tony didn't. This is a miss.

There's no mention of the true importance behind the "one time only scene preceding the opening credits" of ep 2. No mention of the camera shots to big Puss when rats turning states on the television is blatantly shooting a premonition across our bow. The shots to Chrissy when drugs are mentioned. Another miss.

When I hit page 60 and read that "Mikey was a human being who had a wife that loved him" using her performance in front of the news camera as evidence, I remembered his final words to her from the actual show: "Go take a Midol." Sorry fellas, you were correct the first time when you mentioned Mikey was "essentially a comic character." You should've stopped there. This is a glaring mistake and, you guessed it, another miss.

There are many more which I'm not going to break down for the sake of keeping this review somewhat brief. When I don't like what I'm reading, or find glaring mistakes in what I'm reading, I have no shame in putting a book down. I'm finished with the meat & potatoes of this book and hopefully I'll return and find some quality within the David Chase Sessions. Unfortunately I chalk up what I've read to a 20th anniversary cash grab and I'm angry that I contributed to it.

I say stick to your favorite blog on this subject. Continue watching a show that refuses to age itself. Talk to your friends about it. Think of these words before you buy the book, or take them with a grain of salt. You are free.

Jose Oquendo
Jun 20, 2004

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a boring movie

Steve2911 posted:

Nah it's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVIwepliNeo

I think I need another rewatch of this soon.

You are 100% correct on this.

Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.
Steve Shirripa (Bobby Bacala) talking about the anniversary on CNBC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU81aKm0sEk

EDIT: Breaking News: Bacala likes Billions and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Basebf555
Feb 29, 2008

The greatest sensual pleasure there is is to know the desires of another!

Fun Shoe
Shirripa looks really good, more or less the same as he looked in the show. It's always bittersweet to think about how great The Sopranos was because of Gandolfini's death, nice to see some of the cast members still doing well.

evobatman
Jul 30, 2006

it means nothing, but says everything!
Pillbug
How long was it from the pilot was shot until a full season was ordered? Wasn't it like 4-5 years?

Big Dick Cheney
Mar 30, 2007

OldTennisCourt posted:

I remember every blowjob I ever got.

How long did it take the guy to cum?

Ungratek
Aug 2, 2005


He was gay, Gary Cooper?

UNRULY_HOUSEGUEST
Jul 19, 2006

mea culpa

evobatman posted:

How long was it from the pilot was shot until a full season was ordered? Wasn't it like 4-5 years?

The pilot was ordered in mid-1997 and the first season went to air in January '99, so it wasn't all that long, especially by Sopranos output standards.

Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.

evobatman posted:

How long was it from the pilot was shot until a full season was ordered? Wasn't it like 4-5 years?

Enough time for Meadow to get a new nose

Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.
Collection of jokes from the Sopranos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIgosHvo3r4

The Walrus
Jul 9, 2002

by Fluffdaddy
nobody talking about the prequel movie with Gandolfini's kid as Tony?

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

He played the useless dropout son in season 2 of the Deuce who takes a liking to the hookers at his dad's massage parlor - he didn't really stand out to me but it was a pretty limited role so hopefully it isn't just gimmick casting.

Escobarbarian
Jun 18, 2004


Grimey Drawer
I’m pretty confused about the prequel, it made more sense when it was a spinoff film about Chris’ dad with minimal Sopranos references, but then it was set in the 60s, when Tony was about 4 years old, so having a teenage young Tony doesn’t seem to fit at all.

Mameluke
Aug 2, 2013

by Fluffdaddy
Maybe his role'll just be at the end or in some sort of framing story?

stev
Jan 22, 2013

Please be excited.



I'm just not entirely sure what the point of a prequel would be. So much of the enjoyment of the series came from the characters and the performances. I'm not sure what could be gained from a story about teen Paulie or Chris' dad. Like, it could be good - but I feel like they could've just made any New Joisey gangster story set in the 60s.

Kinda reminds me of when they made a prequel to Only Fools and Horses and zero people cared.

stev fucked around with this message at 08:53 on Jan 25, 2019

Eau de MacGowan
May 12, 2009

BRASIL HEXA
2026 tá logo aí
i think the real question we all want to ask is how much more insufferably woke would meadow be if the sopranos started in 2019

Escobarbarian
Jun 18, 2004


Grimey Drawer
https://twitter.com/bown/status/1088768119361945600?s=21

can’t make this poo poo up.

ruddiger
Jun 3, 2004

Me and my roommate just finished season 5 and now I'm hoping the prequel has young versions of Tony Blundetto, Ralphie, and Jackie Sr. gently caress, if they can find someone who can play a young Robert Loggia, we could get to see Jackie and Tony take down Feech LaMana's poker game, that could be pretty dope.

pentyne
Nov 7, 2012
What's the story about how generous Gandolfini was to the cast? Something about only him getting a huge cut of the DVD revenues, none of the other cast got that, and he wrote massive checks to each member of the main cast to make up for it?

Your Gay Uncle
Feb 16, 2012

by Fluffdaddy
Saw all the retrospectives coming out awhile ago and decided to dust off the old Blu Ray collection. There are so many great lines in the series ( the sacred and the propane still makes me laugh at least once a week)but one I must have missed was in the pilot. When Scorsese was walking into the night club someone yells out “ Kundun! I liked it!”

That and Paulie’s Car horn being The Godfather theme. I know it gets billed as drama but you could honestly call it a comedy.

God drat what a good show this was.

wormil
Sep 12, 2002

Hulk will smoke you!

Eau de MacGowan posted:

i think the real question we all want to ask is how much more insufferably woke would meadow be if the sopranos started in 2019

Please don't ask that question.

I lost steam halfway through my 3rd re-watch but this thread is amping me up to go back and finish. Gandolfini always had the look of a lion searching for a meal, tremendous acting. Odd that this was his first big role.

ruddiger
Jun 3, 2004

Your Gay Uncle posted:

When Scorsese was walking into the night club someone yells out “ Kundun! I liked it!”

Christopher's the one who yells that to Scorsese, it's pretty great.

Watching Season 5 and Season 6 back to back, I never noticed the visual callback between AJ's long hair and Tony's long hair when he was around that age (there's a real quick flashback in S5 of Tony and Tony B. when they were kids and both were long haired rockers like AJ).

ruddiger
Jun 3, 2004

Me and my roommate were cracking up when we realized both Buster and Gob Bluth showed up in the Sopranos at some point.





And while watching the last episodes of S5, the scene with Carmella and Angie having dinner made me realize the actress who played Angie (Richie's gf who he cheats on with Karen Allen) was Despie in the Wanderers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lw0G8iiSQk

ruddiger fucked around with this message at 02:26 on Feb 9, 2019

Ishamael
Feb 18, 2004

You don't have to love me, but you will respect me.

ruddiger posted:

Me and my roommate were cracking up when we realized both Buster and Gob Bluth showed up in the Sopranos at some point.





And while watching the last episodes of S5, the scene with Carmella and Angie having dinner made me realize the actress who played Angie (Richie's gf who he cheats on with Karen Allen) was Despie in the Wanderers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lw0G8iiSQk

Oh I remembered GOB but not Buster.

Also, Lin Manuel Miranda was in the one where Paulie and Tony go on the road trip:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRk5YNAh00

ruddiger
Jun 3, 2004

Who ate all the gabagoo?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqE7ZxH7BJE

Mahoning
Feb 3, 2007
Just finished season 2 of probably my 5th rewatch. Goddamn, Funhouse is just an amazing hour of television. The music, the fever dreams, Pussy’s execution, and tons of fart sound effects!

pentyne
Nov 7, 2012
Long Term Parking

Ade: Matoush has cleaned up his act. he's really religious now, prays several times a day, and sends all his money to his brother

FBI: In Pakistan.

Ade: He runs a prep school for boys or something. What?

Like that entire exchange the whole terrorism subtext is just hanging there while she's pleading about how nice he is and how it was an accident when this guy cleans up a murder like a pro.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Adriana's mental and physical collapse under the stress and tension of being an FBI informant is really amazing, and her final couple of scenes on the show are among the most gutwrenching there is. I gotta admit I straight up brought into her fantasy about driving away which made the sudden cut back to reality all the more horrifying.

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frankee
Dec 29, 2017

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