I know I have written about this show in the past, but I cannot find that post. THE SOPRANOS is a comedic take on THE GODFATHER, and clearly inspired by GOOD FELLAS, with mob boss Tony Soprano (Gandolfini) torn between his family problems and gangster lifestyle. It gets so bad, he ends up seeing a shrink (Bracco), who is frightened of yet fascinated with this flinty-eyed serpent of a sociopath. The show is all on the surface. It is no LAW AND ORDER, God knows. Occasional outbursts of violence obviously satisfy the male viewers and keep them coming back for more. For those who come to this for the outright comedy, nothing is as funny as Tony's skewed relationship with his messed-up, slovenly, brassy-mouthed sister (Tuturro). The encounters between the two are comedy gold. And Turturro is bound to remind everyone of you of someone you know. Guaranteed. Watch it for the curiosity factor, if nothing else. Gandolfini is the main attraction. Hell, he could probably interact with mops and brooms and still be fascinating unto himself, the way Fred Astaire used to do.
Review of The Sopranos
