The Many Saints Of Newark is a movie that non-Sopranos fans can enjoy.
I will start off by saying that I have never watched a single episode of The Sopranos. Luckily that did not have a negative effect in following and understanding this prequel. After watching The Many Saints of Newark, it looks like that I will be jumping onto HBO Max to begin binging the iconic series.
Synopsis
Young Anthony Soprano is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history. He is becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle that he idolizes named Dickie Moltisanti. As a result, he is struggling to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities. And whose influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.
The Many Saints Of Newark reminded me how much I love mafia and mobster movies. We have not had many quality movies of that genre in such a long time. The amount of brutal violence may make some of you squirm, as it can be tough to watch. However, it was impressive how well they brought the late 60’s setting to life. I was sucked into this 2-hour crime drama that made me leaving wanting more. This could have been a drawn-out mini-series to bring in new fans of The Sopranos.
To my surprise, the focus on a young Tony Soprano was not as heavy as I predicted. But watching Michael Gandolfini, the son of the late father James Gandolfini, who played the iconic Tony Soprano, was absolutely surreal. Also, Ray Liotta, who plays two separate roles in this movie, was a what the heck moment for me. Still, I will never complain about more screen time if Liotta. Jon Bernthal, our beloved Punisher, is indeed in this movie. Still, I wish he had a more pivotal role as the father of Tony Soprano. The main focus of the story was on Richard Moltisanti, played by Alessandro Nivola. He was an interesting, complex character that slowly unraveled throughout. Nevertheless, it is an entertaining mafia crime drama that Sopranos fans will approve of.
Verdict
I give The Many Saints Of Newark a 7.5 out of 10 and if you are a Sopranos fan, then you will love all the small details throughout. You can watch this movie in theaters or on HBO Max starting October 1st. The Sopranos is also streaming on HBO Max.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis. He is a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.