The Sopranos came first and then The Many Saints Of Newark, though this film is a prequel to the infamous show. Both have incredible casts with Michael Gandolfini playing the role of Anthony Soprano, the role his late father James Gandolfini once played.
The film has a similar feeling to Goodfellas and rightfully so since Ray Liotta was part of both casts. However, this film was much more violent than the award-winning film. The Many Saints of Newark had more blood and shooting than any Quentin Tarantino film I could think of.
Though this was the most violent film involving Italians I have ever seen, this movie was emotionally manipulative as well. It made the audience think the characters were going to become better people and they just didn’t.
The characters were violent and mentally ill. It depicted generational trauma in the most interesting way and it was one of the things that made me like the film.
This film took the violence within The Sopranos to a whole new level and with an infamous cast, as they were able to create a great prologue film to the acclaimed show.
In general, I think The Many Saints of Newark is worth a watch, but not a re-watch. I am giving this film 3.8/5 stars.
