Quick Take: The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

Director: Alan Taylor. Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, Leslie Odom Jr, Michael Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll. Release: Theatrical and HBO Max.

Full disclosure: I never saw more than the first episode of The Sopranos. Hated every single character on the show and never went back for episode 2.

In theory that should not be a problem, since this is a prequel, the backstory to that popular HBO show. This is the story of the demise of Dickie Moltisanti, the favorite uncle of Anthony Sopranos, who would later take the lead in the aforementioned show. He's featured in this movie as well, of course, but this is Dickie's story more than anything else.

Let there be no doubt: The Many Saints of Newark looks the part. It oozed classic gangster movie when it comes to mood and imagery. It features an impressive and frequently mesmerizing turn by Alessandro Nivola as Dickie. And it's got a few memorable scenes here and there. Unfortunately the fractured narrative never comes together to match the gorgeous aesthetics.

The film often comes across like a collection of random scenes, edited down from something bigger. It never achieves that "movie feeling", and there's a distinct lack of urgency. Many Saints often relies on other films to fill in the gaps in the plot. What's the deal with the whole wife and mistress situation? Watch Goodfellas, and you'll know what's going on, Many Saints doesn't feel the need to elaborate. Obviously no gangster film does itself any favors by reminding you of Martin Scorsese's seminal 1990 masterpiece, the film all other films in this genre will be forever compared to from that point on.

Admittedly it probably helps to know the TV-show. At least then you'll know who the hell delivers that intermittent voice-over (another thing the film can't be bothered to explain properly). But even taking that into account, I don't get the sense that The Many Saints of Newark fills in some much needed backstory for fans of the show. Also, this isn't like Rogue One, whose ending literally cuts directly to the beginning of Star Wars. There's a long way from the end of this film to the beginning of the TV show. Probably at least a decade before the Tony in this film bares any resemblance to the one from the show.

All in all The Many Saints of Newark feels like a film in desperate need of a purpose. Something to justice its own existence. Honestly, you'd probably be better off just watching or rewatching the show. This film? Forget about it!