The Sopranos - Series 5 - Complete (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	As good as ever
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Sopranos Season 5
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Run Time: 780 minutes
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Cert: 18

The fifth series of the Sopranos finally won the Emmy for Outstanding Dramatic Series, an accolade that it should have received for each of its previous 4 seasons.

So why did season 5 pick up the Emmy were other years the show failed to beat of the likes of the West wing? Probably because the West Wing represents the ideal America with an ideal President whereas the Sopranos represent an America the establishment would rather brush under the carpet. I'm not here to knock the West Wing, it's a fine dramatic series but it plays it safe in away the Sopranos never would. The fact that the Sopranos won the Emmy for season 5 shows that by this stage even the Academy could no longer ignore this ground breaking show.

The fifth series is indeed worthy of its Emmy, plotlines were tighter and better developed than in the previous season. The injection of new blood in the likes of Tony Blundetto (Steve Buscemi), "Feech" La Manna (Robert Loggia), and Little Carmine (Ray Abruzzo) all recently released from prison and all adding an extra edge that was at times lacking in series 4. Steve Busemi was excellent as Tony Blundetto, Busemi always adds a unique quirkiness to any character he portrays and he didn't disappoint in this role.

Whilst Tony (James Gandolfini) and Carmela (Edie Falco) were again superb they failed to pick up any Emmys this time, the honour going to Christopher (Michael Imperioli) and his fiancée Adriana (Drea De Matteo) who won Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a drama series. Their characters provide the most dramatic storylines of the 5th Series as they face their toughest decisions, their story makes for captivating viewing, at times harrowing.

I have attempted to give away as little as I can of the plotlines of series 5 as I feel that for a first time viewer this season should be viewed with no foreknowledge of what is about to unfold. I can guarantee however that like a good novel this season is a real page turner and you'll be hooked all the way through.

So what about the unconvinced? Those that feel the Sopranos isn't their thing
Those that say it's just some TV series about gangsters "It's not my cup of tea" I will list 5 reasons why you should watch this show and if you're still not prepared to give it a go…Well there's always Eastenders or Corrie.

No.1 James Glandolfini as Tony Soprano
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It would be hard to envisage the sopranos without James Glandolfini, he was born to play the role and his acting is without equal on the small screen. I would go as far as to say there are only a handful of Hollywood actors who are on a par with him. His character conveys the complete range of human emotions so effortlessly that I find him mesmerising to watch on screen, with the Sopranos due to finish in the spring it will be interesting to see how he fairs away from the show. I feel he will always be synonymous with the show and will find it hard to make the break into other roles.

No.2 Writing
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The writing has always been of a different class in this series, it has never let itself slip in to a comfortable formulaic episodic drama, a trap that so many TV shows with good potential have let themselves sink into in the past. The Dialogue is always sharp, intelligent and often very funny. David Chase who created the show is to the fore in the writing credits but kudos most be shared equally amongst the many other writers who had a huge impact into making a drama without equal on the small screen.

No.3 Eddie Falco as Carmela Soprano
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Behind each great man there's a great woman (or so the quote goes) and Eddie Falco is superb in her role as Carmela Soprano. No mafia moll Carmela is definitely her own woman and always the equal of Tony in any domestic situation. Falco's acting like Glandolfini's is multidimensional and she's brings all of her emotions into play in this most demanding of roles. Although unlike earlier seasons she didn't pick up the Emmy this time around I feel some of her strongest performances are in this season.

No.4 Rest of the Cast
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The rest of the cast uniformly put in exceptional performances almost on a weekly basis, actors that I would have considered bit part players give the performances of their lives in this show. A case in point would be Michael Imperioli, before the Sopranos the only thing I can remember him being in was 'Goodfellas' were he played a bit part as Spider the kid that Joe Pesci's character took such a disliking to! Checking imdb he has appeared in quite a lot since then but no real hits, his performances in the Sopranos have grown stronger as the show has progressed until he finally hit pay-dirt with the Emmy for this season. He is not alone in this regard this show has been a career high for many actors who would have otherwise been considered minor performers, the likes of Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts), Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior) all achieve career highs in this show.

No.5 Quality
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If I had one word to describe this show then quality would spring to mind. Every aspect of this series has been achieved with quality seldom seen anywhere in television. Writing, directing, acting and music never slip below the lofty standards this series set itself in its Pilot episode 8 years ago. That it will all come to an end come this spring therefore is no real surprise. It must have taken a gargantuan effort from all involved to keep the standard so high through the years over 60 hours by the end of the fifth season.

Conclusion
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That's it then if I haven't persuaded you to check out this series by now I can do no more! I have long ago run out of superlatives to describe it, I have found it to be entertainment on a different level over the years and will be sorry to see it all come to an end. I will however always have these box sets which will help keep the show fresh in my mind and if sometime in the future a TV show is introduced with the preface 'Better than the Sopranos' ill be able to dust of my boxset and prove them wrong.

Special Features
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Five audio commentaries with directors Peter Bogdanovich, Steve Buscemi, Mike Figgis, and Rodrigo Garcia, plus actress Drea de Matteo

I don't think anyone would buy these box sets for the extras alone as with previous seasons they're pretty thin on the ground, in fact there are less extras this time round than in the previous 4 seasons. The commentaries are interesting however with director Mike Figgis contribution probably the most enjoyable as he gives a fans perspective to his commentary.

Episode list
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53 (Two Tonys)
54 (Rat Pack)
55 (Where's Johnny?)
56 (All Happy Families...)
57 (Irregular Around the Margins)
58 (Sentimental Education)
59 (In Camelot)
60 (Marco Polo)
61 (Unidentified Black Male)
62 (Cold Cuts)
63 (The Test Dream)
64 (Long Term Parking)
65 (All Due Respect)

Full guide to episodes can be found here on the official site for the show:

http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/episode/season5/episode53.shtml

D VD Details:
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 4

Price
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Currently on sale for £24.67 at Amazon.co.uk