I watched every episode of the original Sopranos, so this prequel was interesting from that angle…seeing some of the original characters in their decades-earlier personas. At the center is Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), an influential member of one crime family and a strong influence on the young Tony Soprano (played by Michael Gandolfini, the son of James, the original Tony). This film doesn’t work well alone. If you didn’t know about the future trajectory of this group, you’ll be waiting for the story to get started. It lays out a tumultuous time in 60’s New Jersey, when race riots and competing gangs were at the forefront. Sure, there are fascinating performances (Vera Farmiga’s mother wonderfully echoes Nancy Marchand’s original) and some blasts of violence, but the writing never coalesces into anything more than a prequel. Fascinating for fans of the original, but not much complete or coherent otherwise.
(2.5 / 5)