285. The Many Saints Of Newark; movie review

 

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK

Cert 15

120 mins

BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, strong bloody violence, sex, domestic abuse, racism

I know absolutely nothing about the much-acclaimed TV series The Sopranos but I loved The Many Saints Of Newark.

Indeed, the lukewarm reaction of critics and Sopranos' fans gives me the clear impression that ignorance was an advantage.

Alan Taylor's film looks back on to the making of future mob boss Tony Soprano, played in his teenage years by Michael Gandolfini, the son of James - the star of the TV series.

Actually, Tony is something of a peripheral figure to the manoeuvring for power among the Italian mob and their battles with African Americans for ascendency in New York in the late 1960s.

The key figure is his mentor and uncle, Dickie Moltisanti (portrayed with panache by Alessandro Nivola) and his story is narrated by his unborn child Chris who, I presume, is key to the later-set TV series.

Anyway, Dickie is a player in an Italian crime gang which includes Tony's dad (Jon Bernthal) who spends much of the time in jail.

His absence gives Dickie the potential of power but in his way is his own father (played with loud echoes of Goodfellas by Ray Liotta) and the distraction of the Newark race riots.

The latter gives the previously downtrodden black community the confidence to organise their own rackets, backed up by high levels of violence.

The attitudes and language of The Many Saints of Newark hark back to classic mob films, particularly Goodfellas.

On one hand there is a sense of playing by the "rules" and on the other, violent acts of betrayal are as common as unfaithfulness.

Central to the latter is Michela De Rossi whose character initially appears to be a naive Italian, dazzled by the life in the big city.

However, it soon becomes obvious that she knows exactly how to get her way.

Tradition is upheld by the excellent Vera Farmiga as Tony Soprano's mother - the backbone of the family whose grip isn't as firm as she would like it to be.

The elements are all there and Taylor ties them together in a film which looks great and entertained me more than most this year. 

However, as said, I didn't have the baggage of having The Sopranos on TV.

Reasons to watch: Gripping gangster movie

Reasons to avoid: I am told Sopranos fans are disappointed

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? The 1967 Newark riots was one of 159 race riots that swept cities in the United States during the "Long Hot Summer of 1967". Over the four days of rioting, looting, and property destruction, 26 people died and hundreds were injured.

The final word. Alan Taylor: "I think that the reason the movie works as a standalone thing - where you could come to this movie and not have ever heard the word Sopranos as a family name, and it could work for you - is partly because Dickie is a character who exists in this movie. Beginning, middle, and end: that's his story." Screen Rant

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