As a longtime fan of The Sopranos and someone who has spent countless hours dissecting its nuances, I found myself both captivated and slightly disappointed by Alex Gibney’s Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos.
Though he’s made films for theatrical release and the occasional series for a different network or streamer, prolific documentarian Alex Gibney and the HBO nonfiction brand have become borderline synonymous over the past decade. It was almost inevitable that Gibney would, at some point, take the serpent’s tail into his mouth and make a documentary about HBO.
Gibney’s initial attempt at HBOuroboros is titled “Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos,” a documentary that speaks for itself in terms of its title. This production delves into the life of David Chase and the journey of his groundbreaking mob drama, offering an insightful look at both. A two-part series, it is essential viewing for fans of “The Sopranos” – including television critics who may already be familiar with many of its most intriguing aspects as they have become established legend
In the 85-minute second half, which encompasses the majority of ‘The Sopranos’ after its first season, the movie ‘Wise Guys’ doesn’t consistently meet its own high standards, and Gibney often leaves out important context that he wouldn’t overlook in a film dealing with a more substantial theme
Despite some mid-sized flaws and shortcomings in questioning, nonetheless, “Wise Guy” showcases Gibney at his most energetically involved. The excitement of his fans results in a documentary that’s curious and agile in form, moving gracefully throughout
Gibney openly displays his hand, promptly guiding Chase into a room styled like psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi’s office from the show. The setting leaves Chase visibly startled, and he grows even more uneasy as Gibney steers him through an initial discussion that feels more like therapy than a retelling of an Emmy-winning TV series’ history
After talking about his New Jersey childhood and, naturally, his mother, Chase becomes wary.
“He acknowledges the excessive chatter from this morning, expressing it in a manner reminiscent of the creator of ‘The Sopranos,'” he confesses, implying that he spoke excessively about himself
Gibney affirmed, “One reason I found The Sopranos intriguing was because it felt deeply connected to you.”
The director’s method in this case is akin to admiring an auteur. He has gathered various individuals, such as HBO executives Chris Albrecht and Carolyn Strauss, scriptwriters Robin Green, Frank Renzulli, and Terence Winter, along with many cast members (with past interviews representing Nancy Marchand, Tony Sirico, and James Gandolfini). The significant aspects of the story are accurately credited. However, as Gibney portrays it, the entirety of The Sopranos essentially derives from and is shaped by Chase. While this mostly leads to good outcomes, during some tense instances in its broadcast, it occasionally had negative impacts
Initially, we have a part that spans approximately 75 minutes, which can be primarily considered as an introduction. This segment delves into Chase’s background, both as an individual and a filmmaker. Noteworthy is the excerpt from his Godard-inspired thesis film, “The Rise and Fall of Bug Manousos,” which is quite valuable. This section also traces Chase’s progression in Hollywood, reaching a point during the ’90s where he was a writer-producer for other people’s acclaimed TV series, yet lacking a defining credit like “created by.”
Gibney and Chase detail the development of the Sopranos pilot script, share the challenging casting experiences, and, with the help of renowned cinematographer Alik Sakharov, investigate the visual influences that shaped the pilot’s distinctive aesthetic. Gibney and editor Andy Grieve skillfully blend reality with fiction — whether it’s transitioning between the series’ opening credits and Chase on his personal New Jersey Turnpike drive, or between audition clips and final scenes where the majority would concur that the perfect actors were chosen for each scenario
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The second segment presents a harder task: it needs to summarize almost six seasons of “The Sopranos” (or seven if you agree with Chase’s viewpoint that HBO split the sixth into two parts to prevent pay raises for actors), within only about two hours, knowing full well that some elements will inevitably be omitted
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As a die-hard fan of “The Sopranos,” I found myself immersed in the world of “Wise Guy” without any need to ponder its place within the broader television landscape. Gibney seems to have intentionally shied away from discussing this, instead choosing to craft a narrative that feels like an extension of Tony Soprano’s story, as if no other TV antihero had ever existed before him. It’s almost as if he assumes we, the informed viewers, are already aware of how the television industry evolved post-“The Sopranos.” If you’re seeking a more comprehensive outside perspective, I suggest checking out Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall’s “The Sopranos Sessions,” available at your local bookstore
Many topics I was curious to explore in Gibney’s documentary were likely due to my personal preference for a longer runtime. I don’t feel that the documentary lacked because it didn’t discuss the opening credits or the song choice of “Woke Up This Morning.” Instead, I wished Chase would elaborate more on the dream sequences and their connection to his personal dream logic, as well as the ambiguous ending and these aspects were adequately addressed. It might have been interesting for Gibney to delve into how 9/11 impacted The Sopranos and its portrayal of America, but it wasn’t essential for the documentary
I greatly enjoyed many tales from among the presented stars, such as Bracco, Drea de Matteo, Steven Van Zandt, and Edie Falco, each delivering memorable scenes. Mostly, I didn’t feel the lack of numerous other supporting actors. However, the absence of Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Robert Iler is more puzzling. Despite being unaware of their personal circumstances or schedules, the omission of these two familiar faces who spent their formative years on set and could have had a unique bond with Chase, the rest of the cast, and the industry at large, leaves a notable void, perhaps the most significant one in this project
Instead of delving deeper into my list of questions like “Why didn’t Gibney include…” and “Why didn’t Gibney and Chase discuss…”, I could simply say that “Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos” isn’t a comprehensive final word, but it offers an indispensable perspective into an indispensable TV series through the lens of its key creative mind
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2024-09-06 02:03