In 1999, HBO took a chance on a Mafia TV drama, which promptly became the most celebrated TV show in history. Alex Gibney’s documentary looks back at the creation of the series, and the ways in which it reflects the life of its creator, David Chase.
Even if you’ve never seen more than a few episodes of The Sopranos, you’ll probably still get something from Alex Gibney’s affectionate, inquisitive exploration of the justly celebrated show. This isn’t just a ‘making-of’; it’s also the story of its creator, David Chase, working through many of his neuroses — not always consciously — via the life of a violent mobster. And Chase is a very engaging subject.
There’s much to be said for the nosy appeal of spying on somebody else’s therapy session.
Cutely, Gibney interviews Chase in a set-up that exactly mimics the room in which Tony Soprano unpacked his issues with his psychiatrist. Gibney doesn’t labour the symbolism, but it’s apt because Chase holds little back when talking through his connection to Tony. His hangdog expression may initially suggest he’d rather not be here, but he answers almost every question with a revealing anecdote, repeatedly delving into his relationship with his difficult mother, which was the inspiration for the show. He, and many other interviewees, discuss the defensive, stubborn qualities he apparently inherited, which he sees in retrospect made him a less than perfect boss. At one point he muses on his disappointment that, several seasons in, his team stopped bringing him challenging ideas: “Maybe if I hadn’t answered every suggestion with, ‘No’…” There’s much to be said for the nosy appeal of spying on somebody else’s therapy session.
Of course, it is also a making-of, and an extremely good one. It’s peppered with fun trivial bits, like audition tapes and casual B-roll, as well as entertaining interviews with many of the cast (Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco are particularly good value). Gibney covers the well-worn ground of the show’s launch — HBO was barely in the original programming business; nobody thought it would work; yadayadayada — but only as much as necessary to provide a foundation for the more interesting, less investigated stories his interviews yield. So yes, for those glancingly familiar with Tony Soprano, an absorbing journey through a brilliant, complex mind. For devoted fans of the show, heaven.
If you think the story of The Sopranos has been told to death, Gibney’s film is a convincing counter-argument. The definitive chronicle of The Best Show Ever.