The Many Saints Of Newark improves with each viewing. I checked some reviews. The bad ones have a misconception. They say the film suffers for not being an extended series like The Sopranos, for not doing what that series does. 1
That’s mistakenly criticizing a thing for what it’s not.
The film marries well its connection with the series to being of stand alone quality.
I’d argue it’s seamless and that it’s mistaken to complain the minor characters don’t have the fullness of the series characters. 2
The criticism that the portrayal of the Newark rioting and the story of Harold McBrayer are a distraction misses the film’s stand alone quality and it’s integrated story lines. There’s no reason it can’t take up race relations in the context of 60s/70s Newark organized crime. 3
For me, the big weakness in The Many Saints is Michael Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.
His screen impact is negligible, more bland than anything else.
He’s unaffecting.
For example, his anger at Dickie’s rejection of him is more like a fit of pique than anything deeply felt. 4
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