Im back after a few months in the wilderness.....Trying to catch up!
Im back after a few months in the wilderness.....Trying to catch up!
Member since:14.11.2006
Reviews:18
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Sopranos Season 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Intro ~~~~
I will begin this review by issuing a warning to potential readers I am a huge fan of this series so forgive me if it seems I am over hyping this box set. I missed this series when it first came out I didn't catch it until I brought the DVD. At the time of purchase this cost over £35 so was no small investment, I can however state that it was one of the best £35's I have ever spent as it has given me many hours of enjoyment. It was my first introduction into the lives of the Sopranos the greatest American family since the Walton's! They may by now be as famous as the Walton's but that is were the comparison ends, the Walton's this is not, but it is perhaps the best television drama ever and season 1 was the perfect introduction to this Dysfunctional but entirely believable suburban American family.
Background ~~~~~~~~~~ This series was produced for HBO a pay per view network in the States to be originally screened on that channel and as such was left uncensored, it is to all intents and purposes a Movie played over several hours. But unlike a movie were full character development must take place over a limited time frame the episodic nature of the Soprano's means that this is never rushed and we gain a deeper insight into the characters week by week . The series was created by David Chase who also writes, produces and directs some of the episodes. The series centres on Tony Soprano acting boss in the New Jersey Mafia, played brilliantly by James Gandolfini as he tries to balance his life between his two families, the Jersey mob and his blood relatives. This leads to some great plots and subplots that are always intriguing due in no small part to the writing skills of David Chase among others and the acting abilities of a great cast.
I will keep the synopsis of each episode as short as possible as I don't want to give too much away to potential viewers who are unfamiliar with the show. If you haven't seen the series it may be better to skip this portion as it may contain some spoilers.
Episode
1 The Soprano's ~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: David Chase Written by: David Chase This is the opening pilot episode to the series and lays a lot of the ground work for future episodes in season 1. We get introduced to both Tony's 'families', he also suffers his first anxiety attack which leads him into Psychotherapy as the pressures of his double life grow.
Episode 2 46 Long ~~~~~~~ Directed by: David Chase Written by: David Chase This second episode sees acting Boss Giacomo "Jackie" Aprile on his deathbed suffering from Cancer this leads to a power struggle between Tony and his uncle Junior who feels he should be made acting boss. Tony persuades his mother Livia, played outstandingly by Nancy Marchand to move into a retirement community.
Episode 3 Denial, Anger, Acceptance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Nick Gomez Written by: Mark Saraceni Tony and Junior still not Seeing eye to eye as Tony's nephew Christopher gets involved in a truck hijacking, Junior takes a very dim view of this as it wasn't sanctioned. Livia as ever is still pulling strings in the background and having an ever stronger influence on Junior's thinking.
Episode 4 Meadowlands ~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: John Patterson Written by: Jason Cahill With Jackie Apirle in coma with no chance of recovery Tony meets with the other capo's and it is decided that he should take over as acting boss of the family. It is also decided to allow Junior to believe he is still acting boss as this will take the heat of Tony. As things settle down Tony's other family are starting to give him sleepless nights as things become unsettled at home.
Episode 5 College ~~~~~~~ Directed by: Allen Coulter Written by: Jim Manos, Jr. and David Chase Tony goes visiting potential colleges with his daughter Meadow but still finds time to take care of some other business whilst he's there. Meanwhile back home Carmela, Tony's wife finds out that Tony's therapist is female and is waiting to confront him on his return.
Episode 6 Pax Soprana ~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Alan Taylor Written by: Frank Renzulli With Jackie Apirle now dead Junior has taken over as acting boss of the family and is making life hell for the other capo's, whilst Junior thinks he is in charge it's actually Tony who is pulling the strings. He smoothes things out with the family and the Episode ends with Tony raising his class in salute to the new boss Junior in front of the other capo's, what they don't realise is that they are being recorded by the FBI.
Episode 7 Down Neck ~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Lorraine Senna Written by: Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess Anthony Junior better known as A.J Tony's teenage son is starting to cause real concern to his parents as he is getting involved in more trouble at school, this leads to Tony reminiscing on his own childhood when he first realised his own father was a mobster. Livia finds out that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist.
Episode 8 Legend of Tennessee Moltisante ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Tim Van Patten Written by: Frank Renzulli and David Chase Indictments are handed down to all members of Tony's crew by the FBI as they become subject of a Grand Jury investigation. Christopher Tony's nephew is upset because his name wasn't on the list! Meanwhile Junior calls into see Livia and she tells him that Tony is in therapy.
Episode 9 Boca ~~~~~ Directed by: Andy Wolk Written by: Jason Cahill and Robin Green & Mitchell Burgess To escape the heat of the indictments Junior heads to a resort with his girlfriend. Meadow tells her father that her soccer coach has been having sex with one of the team; Tony decides he must deal with him but the cops arrest him first. Tony ribs Junior on the golf course about his girlfriend and Junior becomes so livid that he is seriously thinking about
Pictures of The Sopranos - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)
Sopranos
having Tony shot.
Episode 10 A Hit is a Hit ~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Matthew Penn Written by: Joe Bosso and Frank Renzulli Tony is advised by his therapist that he and Carmela should try to mix more with their affluent neighbours they are invited to a BBQ but Tony finds it hard to fit in. Christopher meanwhile along with his girlfriend Adriana decide to get involved in the music industry but neither really have any idea of what they are doing. Episode 11 Nobody knows anything ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: Henry Bronchtein Written by: Frank Renzulli Tony is informed by an insider in the cops that one of his most trusted lieutenants is in fact an FBI informer, Tony finds this hard believe and will not sanction a hit until he is 100% sure. Unfortunately for Tony his insider in the cops got busted himself and committed suicide so he has no real evidence. Meanwhile under the influence of Livia Junior has put a contract out on Tony.
Episode 12 Isabella ~~~~~~~ Directed by: Allen Coulter Written by: Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess Tony has been getting more and more depressed about his current situation and Dr Melfi his therapist prescribes stronger doses of Prozac. Junior makes his move when he sends two young hit men to kill Tony. Tony manages to survive the attempt and whilst recovering in hospital the FBI try to persuade him into joining the Witness Protection Program. Livia and Junior start to panic when they realise that the hit has failed and Tony will be looking for those responsible.
Episode 13 I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directed by: John Patterson Written by: David Chase Tony is called in by the FBI to listen to a tape, they've bugged Livia's room at the retirement home and he is made to listen as his own mother and uncle discuss having him shot as well as discussing the fact he is seeing a psychiatrist. Before Tony can get to him Junior is arrested by the FBI, Livia meanwhile feigns a stroke to avoid the heat. The season ends with Tony raising a glass to his family in his favourite restaurant as the storm clouds gather.
Extras ~~~~~ 77 minute interview with series creator David Chase filmed on set, this is a fascinating interview were David explains a lot of the background detail to the show.
2 behind the scenes featurettes which include short interviews with some of the cast including Tony
Audio commentary by David Chase and Peter Bogdanovich on the pilot episode, which again I really enjoyed although I think you need to be a real fan to sit through a full hour of commentary.
Music ~~~~~ The music used in season 1 is of a very high standard from Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan and many other famous names including Cream and Bruce Springsteen it all adds to a cracking package
Conclusions ~~~~~~~~~~~
You don't need me to tell you how good this series is, if there's anything better in the way of drama shown on a small screen I for one haven't seen it. The acting throughout is suburb by all cast members and it definitely set a new standard for television drama, this first season deservedly won 4 Emmy awards. Some future seasons didn't quite live up to this first season but all have been a cut above anything else out there, if you haven't seen this series you are really missing out on some landmark television. I would also say that anyone put off by the Mafia themes should realise that this aspect of the show is only half the story the other half is a gripping family drama.
Cert 18 Running time 680 minutes
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Gillian Armstrong - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh
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