The Big Picture · Review · Interview

Top Five ‘Sopranos’ Episodes and ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ With David Chase

October 1, 2021/ 114 min/ Sean Fennessey · Justin Sales

Sean Fennessey and Justin Sales review The Many Saints of Newark and rank their favorite Sopranos episodes, then David Chase joins to talk about making the film, his history with Not Fade Away, and why he still insists it's a movie and not a TV show.

5 films across 2 segments.

AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.

The Many Saints of NewarkSean Fennessey and Justin Sales

The Many Saints of Newark 2021

David Chase's prequel, co-written with Lawrence Konner and directed by Alan Taylor after Chase's own health issues forced him off the project. Pitched as a young-Tony story, it pivots into the tale of Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), Tony's uncle and idol. Justin and Sean both liked it, with reservations: it's more period gangster movie than Sopranos episode, and some of the recastings (Silvio especially) tip into impression. Michael Gandolfini's playfulness and Ray Liotta's performance were the highlights.

In conversation

David Chase on

Not Fade Away 2012

Chase's first film, also set in late-60s New Jersey. He says he doesn't see much connection to Many Saints beyond the era, and wishes he'd fought the studio harder on cuts. Paramount tested it, marketed it poorly, and sat on it for two months after its New York Film Festival premiere.

David Chase on

The Asphalt Jungle 1950

The last great thing Chase watched: a John Huston film new to him, caught on the Criterion Channel.

David Chase on

Chinatown 1974

Chase brings it up as the other John Huston connection: Huston played Noah Cross in it.

David Chase on

In This Our Life 1942

Another Huston film Chase caught in the same Criterion retrospective, with Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland.

Also mentioned raised along the way

In passing Goodfellas Mean Streets The Edge Casablanca Venom: Let There Be Carnage xXx: State of the Union

Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads

TV The Sopranos (Justin and Sean's top-five-episodes ranking, plus the guest interview subject)

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