The Sopranos: The Complete First Season
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DVD details
Actor: Dominic Chianese, Edie Falco, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, Nancy MarchandBrand: EMI
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 4.0; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 4.0; Spanish (Original Language), Mono; Spanish (Dubbed), Mono
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 680 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-12-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 99273
Studio: HBO Home Video
DVD Reviews of The Sopranos: The Complete First Season
DVD Review: The greatest show in the history of TV. Period.
Summary: 5 Stars
The first season of "The Sopranos", by itself, is one of the landmarks in television history. Told from the point of view of Tony Soprano, at first a high-level capo and then eventually street boss of the DiMeo crime family in New Jersey, it is very different from everything else in the medium in a number of ways - shot and lit like a film; superbly written with a gift for deftly alternating between shocking violence, drama and humor; complex plotting that often stretches over multiple episodes or even seasons; fully formed characterizations of even the most minor characters; imppeccable use of music and pop culture to establish mood, authenticity, and draw you in; and each performance is an acting tour de force. The attention to detail that permeates every frame of these first thirteen hours is astounding - a single glance, or movement, or word of dialogue; these can reveal enormous truths about each character. The first season focuses on Tony's emotional state; we understand the pressure of his job but also the relatively mundane pressures that he feels with his kith and kin in everyday life, and his inability to cope physically manifests itself in panic attacks which lead him to therapy - a choice that almost gets him killed, but ultimately proves useful to alleviating his problem at least temporarily (while also brilliantly allowing David Chase to provide self-analysis throughout the series). Here are brief capsules of the first thirteen astonishing episodes:
Episode 1 - "The Sopranos" - The best self-comtained hour in TV history. Quickly and efficient sets up Tony Soprano and his world, without ever explicitly stating anything. We see his therapy sessions, his problems at home, his problems at work, and how his sharp mind works to solve everything, questionable or detestable ethics be damned. For example, his solution to one problem with his Uncle Junior is highly amusing and unorthodox but totally within character for a mobster. Compelling stuff and Gandolfini immediately establishes Tony as likeable in spite of himself.
Episode 2 - "46 Long" - Jackie Aprile, the acting boss of the family, is slowly dying of cancer and Tony and his Uncle are next in line, hence a power struggle is in order. On top of that, Tony's nephew Christopher and his idiot buddy Brendan are hijacking Junior's trucks, creating a rift. Oh, and Tony's mother Livia is giving him agita over the "retirement community" he has chosen for her. No wonder he's still going to see Dr. Melfi!
Episode 3 - "Denial, Anger, Acceptance" - Jackie's getting worse, and Christopher and Brendan still aren't listenting to Tony when he tells them to back off. Junior feels something has to be done, and it ain't pretty. the crew gets involved with a Jewish family dispute, with hilarious results. Also, Tony's daughter Meadow needs help dealing with her SAT prep, so she asks Christopher for some crystal meth to stay up and study. Virtuoso ending in this one.
Episode 4 - "Meadowlands" - Things get heavy with Junior and when Jackie passes away, war seems imminent. However, Tony comes up with a plan that both helps him out tremendously and keeps the peace with Junior. Also, Tony's been having dreams about Melfi; he gets deadbeat cop Vin Makazian to tail her, which leads to bad news for her date.
Episode 5 - "College" - One of the best of the season, this ep focuses on the conflict between Tony's two worlds and exemplifies what The Sopranos is all about. On a college scouting trip with Meadow, he spots an old "friend" of the family who had loose lips. We all know what happens to them, right? The balance between domestic Tony and murderous Tony has never been more delicate. Back at home, Tony's wife Carmela deals with her loneliness and feelings in not entirely appropriate ways, but never crosses the line. GREAT, suspenseful build to the violent ending.
Episode 6 - "Pax Soprano" - Junior is the boss and he's driving everyone crazy, but it's in name only, as we come to find out when Tony's friend Hesh is suddenly taxed and Tony gets New York underboss Johnny Sack involved to help mediate behind his uncle's back. At the official coronation of Junior Soprano, we find out that Tony has a new problem - spelled with an F.B.I.
Episode 7 - "Down Neck" - Anthony Junior, Tony's son, has been acting up in school. He steals the sacramental wine and shows up to gym class drunk. this worries Tony, who confesses to Melfi that he doesn't want this life for his son. A.J. also lets a potential hazardous buit of info slip when he visits Livia at Green Grove. And she intends to use it...
Episode 8 - "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti" - the feds are ready to hand down indictments, and everyone's panicking. Tony has to do a little "clean-up" around the house. Meanwhile, Christopher is pissed that he wasn't mentioned in the news at all and starts freaking out. All is well when he is named in the paper as a "reputed gangster". Imperioli shines in this ep, especially in the clever and very funny nod to his character Spider in Goodfellas.
Episode 9 - "Boca" - Another funny one, about oral sex. Yes, that's right, oral sex. Junior knows that Tony is in therapy and he's on edge. Who else is Tony talking to, and what's he telling? With the indictments about to come down, Junior flees to Boca with his gal pal, who is yappy about his sex life and it costs her dearly. Meadow's soccer coach has a secret and it could get him killed. Well, if Tony wishes it...
Episode 10 - "A Hit is a Hit" - The weakest ep of this season, it focuses on a profits dispute with rapper Massive Genius and Hesh, who used to run a record company. Christopher's girlfriend Adriana wants to get into the business, Massive G wants to get into her pants. In the B story, Tony tries to hang with the "common folk" but finds they all want to talk shop. And he's not to happy about it.
Episode 11 - "Nobody Knows Anything" - Somebody's wired for sound and Detective Makazian thinks he knows who - One of Tony's best friends, "Big Pussy" - but Tony can't believe it. His consiglieri Silvio doesn't buy it either. Tony gets his capo Paulie to check it out, while he does some research into Makazian's motives. Unfortunately, the cop takes an untimely (voluntary) leap off a bridge before he can find out the truth for sure. A classic that perfectly sets up the final 2 eps and also Season 2.
Episode 12 - "Isabella" - Pussy, fearing the worst, has disappeared, and Tony, fearing the worst, is a medicated wreck. He's in bed all day and feels almost suicidally depressed. The meds have some interesting side effects that Dr. Melfi feels are psychologically siginificant. Just when it looks like Tony is locked into his stupor, he gets an unexpectated source of invigoration - an attempt is made on his life. It fails, and now that Tony is finally awake again, there's going to be hell to pay.
Episode 13 - "I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano" - The wonderful season finale ties all the season-long story threads together in a dense, entertaining, and violent tapestry. Tony knows who ordered the hit, courtesy of the FBI, and it stuns him. He might not be able to totally deal with it but he tries anyway. The Feds move in on Junior, and Tony gets to work solifying his position and taking over. A rat is discovered, and exterminated. And as the season ends, we are with both families in Tony's friend Artie's new restaurant, as a storm rages outside. And perhaps inside, as well?
All in all, the first season is a masterwork and I guarantee you'll get hooked immediately. No show has ever been this meticulously conceived, on EVERY level. Do yourself a favor and invest in this DVD set if you haven't already - not only is DVD preferable, since you can control how quickly you want to take it all in, but the disc also features a great commentary on the pilot episode, a comprehensive 77-minute interview with creator David Chase, and two worthless but mildly interesting fluff featurettes. So, enjoy. Like the song goes, "Woke up this morning...got yourself a gun."
Description of The Sopranos: The Complete First Season
Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss finds his life, what with hits, extortion and Mafia business, as well as his mother, teenage kids and wife, so stressful that he seeks out psychotherapy.Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 01/24/06
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
Language: ENGLISH
Foreign Film: noSubtitles: no
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve
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