The Many Saints of Newark Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A troubled gangster mentors his nephew, who will grow up to be a mob boss, but mostly the movie is about racial tensions and the uncle’s complicated love life.

🍿 The Many Saints of Newark: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Stage: Newark in the 1960s

The film opens in Newark, New Jersey, in the late 1960s, amidst racial tensions and the burgeoning influence of the DiMeo crime family. Young Anthony ‘Tony’ Soprano is growing up in this environment, witnessing the intersection of crime and societal unrest. His life is primarily influenced by his charismatic but troubled uncle, Dickie Moltisanti.

Dickie Moltisanti’s Entanglements

Dickie navigates the complexities of mob life while also dealing with personal issues. This includes his volatile relationship with his father, ‘Hollywood Dick’ Moltisanti, and his attraction to his father’s new wife, Giuseppina. He also becomes embroiled in a conflict with Harold McBrayer, a Black gangster seeking to establish his own criminal enterprise. Dickie’s actions have a profound impact on the young Tony.

Tony’s Early Criminal Indoctrination

As Tony observes Dickie’s life, he begins to exhibit early signs of his future as a mob boss. Small acts of defiance and a growing understanding of power dynamics foreshadow his eventual path. His experiences during this period, both positive and negative, contribute to the development of his complex personality.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola): A charismatic but conflicted DiMeo crime family soldier who acts as a mentor to young Tony Soprano.
• Teenage Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini): A troubled youth with a high IQ who is influenced by his uncle Dickie and gravitates towards a life of crime.
• Livia Soprano (Vera Farmiga): Tony’s emotionally distant and manipulative mother who contributes to his troubled upbringing.
• Johnny Soprano (Jon Bernthal): Tony’s father and a DiMeo crime family soldier, whose imprisonment impacts Tony’s life.
• Junior Soprano (Corey Stoll): Johnny’s resentful brother and fellow mobster, whose jealousy leads him to take drastic actions.
• Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jr.): A former associate of Dickie’s who rises to become a rival gangster during the Newark riots.
• Giuseppina Moltisanti (Michela De Rossi): Dickie’s stepmother and mistress, whose affair with Harold leads to tragic consequences.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Christopher Moltisanti: “That’s the guy, my uncle Tony. The guy I went to hell for.” – Christopher, as the narrator, provides the final lines of the film reflecting on his complicated relationship with Tony.
• Dickie Moltisanti: “You hear me? I love you, Dickie.” – The words Dickie imagines his father saying as he commits the murder.
• Livia Soprano: “I shoulda smothered you in your crib.” – Livia, as the typical resentful mother, says this line when antagonizing young Tony about his emotions.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $50,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $8,237,403
• Worldwide Gross: $13,037,403

💥 The Many Saints of Newark Reviews

Personal Review

As a massive ‘Sopranos’ fan, I had high expectations going in, and while it didn’t completely blow me away, I still enjoyed it. Seeing younger versions of our beloved characters was a blast, especially Michael Gandolfini as Tony – it felt like seeing his father again. I felt the plot was a little disjointed, trying to do too much at once, and spending too much time on the Harold McBrayer subplot, but the performances were top-notch, especially Alessandro Nivola’s as Dickie. Vera Farmiga embodies Livia perfectly, and I was truly creeped out! It definitely made me want to rewatch the whole series again.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of ‘The Sopranos'”
  • “Crime drama enthusiasts”
  • “Viewers interested in character-driven stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Drug use”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While not essential viewing for ‘Sopranos’ novices, ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ is a solid crime drama with excellent performances, especially from Alessandro Nivola and Vera Farmiga. It offers a compelling glimpse into the formative years of characters we know and love (or love to hate).
• The Hollywood Reporter: “A somewhat unfocused but ultimately satisfying addition to ‘The Sopranos’ universe. Michael Gandolfini captures his father’s essence, while the film explores themes of family, loyalty, and the cyclical nature of violence.
• RogerEbert.com: “A visually stylish but narratively uneven prequel that struggles to balance its gangster story with explorations of racial dynamics in 1960s Newark. While there are flashes of brilliance, the film ultimately feels less insightful than its source material.

Audience Reactions

Michael Gandolfini’s portrayal of young Tony Soprano was a highlight for many viewers, capturing the essence of his father’s iconic performance.: Fans praised the film’s casting and performances, particularly those embodying younger versions of familiar characters from the TV series.

Some viewers felt the movie focused too much on new characters and storylines, detracting from the core Sopranos narrative.: Many viewers found the plot somewhat unfocused, juggling too many storylines and characters without fully developing them.

Overall Consensus: A decent, if not entirely successful, prequel that offers glimpses into Tony Soprano’s upbringing but struggles to fully capture the magic of the original series. Its strengths lie in its casting and performances, but its narrative feels somewhat disjointed and overstuffed.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Michael Gandolfini, who plays young Tony Soprano, had never seen ‘The Sopranos’ before being cast. He binge-watched the entire series to prepare for the role.”
• “Several actors from ‘The Sopranos’ reprise their roles in cameo appearances, adding to the film’s connection to the original series.”
• “The film’s title, ‘The Many Saints of Newark,’ refers to the Moltisanti family name, which translates to ‘many saints’ in Italian.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Many Saints of Newark?

The Many Saints of Newark is available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for cable on-demand options. Availability may vary by region. For streaming, check HBO Max subscription as it was initially released there.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Many Saints of Newark, you might like these similar films:

• A Bronx Tale (1993): Similar coming-of-age story set in the backdrop of the mafia in a racially charged neighborhood.
• Goodfellas (1990): Classic mob film exploring the life of a gangster and the allure of the criminal lifestyle.
• American Gangster (2007): Explores the rise of a black gangster in the 1970s, mirroring Harold McBrayer’s storyline.

🛒 The Many Saints of Newark Related Products

• The Sopranos: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]: Relive every moment of the acclaimed HBO series that started it all, now in stunning high definition. This set contains all six seasons of the show on Blu-ray.
• The Sopranos Family Cookbook: Bring a taste of the Soprano family to your own kitchen with this cookbook featuring over 100 recipes inspired by the show.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Sopranos – Tony Soprano: Add the iconic Tony Soprano to your Funko Pop! collection. This detailed vinyl figure captures the essence of the infamous mob boss.
• Mafia: Definitive Edition: Live the life of a gangster in this remastered classic, featuring a compelling storyline, immersive open world, and thrilling gunplay.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Many Saints of Newark features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Stardust” – performed by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
• “Time of the Season” – performed by The Zombies
• “A Whiter Shade of Pale” – performed by Procol Harum

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Every Sopranos Reference In The Many Saints of Newark – Soprano Theories

Ever wonder how ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ connects to ‘The Sopranos’? This video breaks down every single reference, so you won’t miss a thing! Honestly, it made me appreciate the movie even more, you gotta check it out.

Silvio Dante’s Age in The Sopranos and The Many Saints of Newark

Did you ever notice something fishy about Silvio Dante’s age between ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Many Saints’? This video dives deep into the character, pointing out some interesting inconsistencies. It’s kinda mind-blowing, you should give it a watch!

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