THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK : Tuesday 9th November 2021

I saw 'THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK' earlier this week at my local independent movie theatre, and this MA15+ Rated American crime drama story is Directed by Alan Taylor whose previous film making credits take in his debut 'Palookaville' in 1995, 'The Emperor's New Clothes' in 2001, 'Thor : The Dark World' in 2013 and 'Terminator : Genisys' in 2015. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'Homicide : Life on the Street', 'Sex and the City', 'The Sopranos' and 'Game of Thrones'. Co-Written by and based on characters created by David Chase this film serves as a prequel to Chase's HBO crime drama series 'The Sopranos', and takes place during the 1960's and '70's in Newark, New Jersey. The film has garnered largely positive critical acclaim, has so far recouped US$12M off the back of a US$50M production budget, saw its World Premier showcasing at the Tribeca Film Festival in late September and went to general release in the US on 1st October along with a month-long simultaneous release on HBO Max. 

In 1967 a young Tony Soprano (William Ludwig) is travelling with his uncle and mentor Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola) to greet Dickie's fathers 'Hollywood' Dick Moltisanti (Ray Liotta) off a cruise ship with his new young Italian bride in tow Giuseppina (Michela De Rossi). Moltisanti in a 'soldier' in the DiMeo crime family which comprises of Johnny Soprano (Jon Bernthal) and his brother Junior (Corey Stoll) amongst others. Over dinner later that evening with the newlyweds, Dickie and his wife Joanne (Gabriella Piazza), Dickie can hardly tear his eyes away from Giuseppina. 

A few days later a black taxi driver is unceremoniously dragged out of his cab and set upon by two uniformed white Police Officers which sparks the Newark riots of mid-July 1967. One of Dickie's black henchmen, Harold McBrayer (Leslie Odom Jnr.) takes part in the riots by throwing a molotov cocktail at a Police patrol car which erupts in a ball of flame. Harold kills a young black man, Leon Overall (Mason Bleu) stealing from their business, forcing him to escape the heat to North Carolina. Before leaving, he asks Dickie for a loan of US$1,000 saying that he will repay it, but instead Dickie gives him US$500 as a gift.

Later, at a carnival, Tony witnesses Johnny and Junior being arrested. Subsequently, Johnny is sentenced to four years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon. During an argument, Hollywood Dick kicks Giuseppina down a flight of stairs in their home. Dickie, in speaking with a downtrodden Giuseppina the next day finds out. He confronts his father later that night in the garage of their house, and an argument breaks out with the pair seated in the front of the car. The argument turns into a physical altercation where Dickie repeatedly slams his fathers head against the steering wheel in a fit of rage, accidentally killing him. He moves the body into the passenger seat and drives the vehicle through the riot torn streets to one of his father's businesses, douses the lifeless body and the building with petrol and sets it alight to make it look like it was destroyed in the riots. Wracked by guilt, Dickie visits his father's twin brother, Salvatore 'Sally' Moltisanti (Ray Liotta) who is serving a life sentence behind bars for the murder of another made man in his own family. Dickie's says he wants to do a 'good deed' hence his wanting to strike up a relationship with Sally, which his father had previously always forbidden. Dickie also starts a relationship with Giuseppina as his mistress. Meanwhile Tony has been suspended from school for starting up an illegal gambling operation, and so Dickie makes him swear a pinkie promise to do the right thing and follow the rules. 

We then fast forward four years to 1972, and Johnny is released from prison and Harold returns to Newark because the prosecuting Police Officer died and the case just dropped by the wayside. Harold starts up his own black-led criminal operation and begins by killing one of Dickie's men and stealing their protection money. Giuseppina has an affair with Harold after a fight with Dickie. Dickie and his crew locate one of Harold's crew, Cyril (Germar Terrell Gardner) in an auto repair shop late at night and torture him using an impact wrench to the mouth to gain the name of the man who ordered the hit, and then kill him. Before he died, Cyril blurted out Harold's name. In retaliation for Cyril's death, Harold and his gang engage in a drive-by shooting with Johnny's crew, during which one is killed. Harold and Dickie have a standoff, but they flee the scene when they hear Police sirens approaching.

After Tony (Michael Gandolfini) steals the answers for a school exam, the school counsellor tells Tony's mother, Livia (Vera Farmiga), that he has a high IQ and that on the Myers–Briggs scale he demonstrates the personality traits of a leader. The counsellor also tells Livia how Tony told her about a time in which his mother hugged him after his father was committed to prison and read to him from a book until he fell asleep and how it was one of his best memories ever. The next day, Livia tries to show her affection for Tony by cooking him up a burger for his dinner, but she mentions how her Doctor wanted to prescribe her antidepressants. When Tony suggests taking it, she retaliates against him. Tony subsequently asks Dickie if he could get the drug Elavil for his mother, but Dickie is reluctant.

Following the wake of Johnny's man who was shot and killed in the drive by shooting, Junior slips and falls on the rain soaked steps of the church. This results in Dickie laughing out loud uncontrollably in his face at his pain and suffering, so infuriating Junior. Dickie reconnects with Giuseppina and promises her a beauty parlour for her to run as a business joint venture between them but he acting as a silent partner and completely hands-off. This is her dream come true. During a walk on the beach, she confesses to her affair with Harold. Dickie is so besides himself with rage that he drowns her in the ocean. Dickie again visits Sally, who says that everyone close to Dickie ends up dead eventually. He goes on to say that the best Christmas present he could give to Tony, is to stay out of his life. Dickie listens to Sally's advice and begins to avoid Tony, refusing to see him or answer his calls. 

Later that night, one of Dickie's henchmen Silvio (John Magaro) encourages Dickie to reconcile with Tony, and Dickie relents and agrees to a catch-up at a local cafe the next morning at 9:00am, before the planned hit on Harold at 10:00am having learned where he is staying. However, before he can arrive home, Dickie is shot in the back of the head by an unknown assailant while unpacking Christmas gifts from the trunk of his car. Junior is seen later limping across the street to answer a ringing payphone. The voice at the other end simply says 'it's done' and hangs-up. The next morning at 9:00am Tony is waiting patiently at the cafe for Dickie to arrive, which of course he never does. At Dickie's wake, it is revealed that Dickie did acquire the Elavil for Tony, and had it in his pocket when he was killed. Tony looks despondently down at Dickie's corpse and imagines another pinkie promise with him, like the two had done all those years ago. Some time later, Harold has moved into a white neighbourhood, his organised crime operation reaping its rewards. 

For someone who has never seen a single episode of 'The Sopranos' I was neither wowed or disappointed by 'The Many Saints of Newark', but I was expecting more development of the young Tony Soprano and the experiences, influences, motivations and emotions that made him into the character that would become the leader of a criminal organisation. Instead what we get at the end is a young mid-teenage lad Tony Soprano, on the edge of adulthood, who could go either way - down the straight and narrow, or into a life of underworld crime - the jury is still out on that one, or maybe that was the whole intention! What we do get however, is a more intimate look inside the world of Tony's favourite Uncle Dickie Moltisanti, from his rise up the ranks as a result of the death/murder of his father, the murder of his mistress, the relationship with his fathers twin brother, his clashing with Harold, to his untimely death orchestrated by Junior with only fleeting glimpses of his influences over Tony. And how does Dickie explain away the death of his mistress, known to many of his cohort, who was last seen drifting away in the ocean? As a stand alone movie this works fine, but 'Goodfellas', 'The Godfather', 'The Irishman', 'Carlito's Way' or a whole host of other American mobster films you care to mention, this ain't. Perhaps as a three or four part mini-series this could have worked better with greater emphasis placed on the development of the young and impressionable Tony Soprano. The casting is however, spot on with special mention going to Alessandro Nivola, Ray Liotta and Michael Gandolfini who really carry the film through every scene. 

'The Many Saints of Newark' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 4th November 2021.

The 34th Tokyo International Film Festival is currently in full flight having opened on Saturday 30th October and ending on Monday 8th November. This festival is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and the only Japanese festival accredited by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations). TIFF has played an integral role in Japan's film industry and cultural scene since it was founded in 1985. TIFF aspires to be recognised as one of the four major film festivals in the world and in the same league as Cannes, Venice and Berlin. This year the Opening Night film was 'Cry Macho' Directed, Co-Produced and starring Clint Eastwood, with the Closing Night film being 'Dear Evan Hansen' Directed by Stephen Chbosky.

In Official Competition at TIFF this year The International Competition Jury will award the Tokyo Grand Prix, Special Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Artistic Contribution and the Audience Award from a line up of fifteen films. The winners will be announced at the Closing Ceremony, with the Tokyo Gran Prix winner collecting prize money of US$30K. Those films are :-

* 'Arisaka' - from The Philippines and Directed by Mikhail Red. World Premier screening.

* 'Californie' - from Italy and Directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman. Asian Premier.

* 'Crane Lantern' - from Azerbaijan and Directed by Hilal Baydarov. World Premier screening.

* 'The Daughter' - from Spain and Directed by Manuel Martin Cuenca. Asian Premier.

* 'The Dawning of the Day' - from Sri Lanka and Directed by Asoka Handagama. World Premier screening.

* 'The Four Walls' - from Turkey and Directed by Bahman Ghobadi. World Premier screening.

* 'Hommage' - from Korea and Directed by Shin Su-won. World Premier screening.

* 'Just Remembering' - from Japan and Directed by Matsui Daigo. World Premier screening.

* 'La Civil' - from Belgium, Romania and Mexico and Directed by Teodora Ana Mihai. Asian Premier.

* 'One and Four' - from China and Directed by Jigme Trinley. World Premier screening.

* 'The Other Tom' - from Mexico and the US and Directed by Rodrigo Pla and Laura Santullo. Asian Premier.

* 'Payback' - from The Philippines and Directed by Brillante Ma Mendoza. World Premier screening.

* 'Poet' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Darezhan Omirbaev. World Premier screening.

* 'Third Time Lucky' - from Japan and Directed by Nohara Tadashi. World Premier screening.

* 'Vera Dreams of the Sea' - from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania and Directed by Kaltrina Krasniqi. Asian Premier.

The Gala Section premieres the latest films ahead of their Japanese release. Ten films will be showcased this year which include much-talked-about films in international film festivals around the world, the latest films from internationally renowned auteurs, and entertainment films that were massive hits in their home countries. Those titles are : 'Churuli', 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye', 'The French Dispatch', 'Gensan Punch', 'The Hand of God', 'Last Night in Soho', 'Limbo', 'Memoria', 'The Power of the Dog' and 'Raging Fire'.

The World Focus section presents notable works from various international film festivals and the latest films that have yet to be released in Japan. The eight films showcased here are : 'The Box', 'Libertad', 'Veneciafrenia', 'Il Buco', 'Murina', 'Swan Song', 'Terrorizers' and 'Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash'.

Asian Future is a competitive section that features up-and-coming Asian Directors who have Directed no more than three feature-length films. The top film will be awarded the 'Asian Future Best Film Award' and prize money of US$10K. Two Japanese films have been selected this year. All ten films competing in the section will have their World Premiere showcasing. Those films are : 'American Girl', 'Asu', 'The Brittle Thread', 'The Brokers', 'The Coffin Painters', 'The Last Birds of Passage', 'The Nighthawk's First Love', 'Somebody's Flowers', 'When Pomegranates Howl' and 'World, Northern Hemisphere'.

For the complete run down of scheduled films and a whole lot more from this years 34th Tokyo International Film Festival, you can go to the official website at : https://www.2021.tiff-jp.net/ 

This coming week then we have four latest release new films coming to you local Odeon, and we kick off with the 26th instalment in the MCU that sees a race of immortal beings with superhuman powers who have lived on Earth for thousands of years hidden in plain sight, reunite to battle the evil Deviants. This is followed by a story of a violent gang war from the perspectives of mobster Dickie Moltisanti and his teenage nephew, Anthony Soprano, in the midst of Newark's 1967 riots. Next up, and in the world of international crime, an Interpol agent attempts to hunt down and capture the world's most wanted art thief, with the help of the world's second most wanted art thief. And closing out the week is a documentary  about a legendary cookbook author and television superstar, who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'ETERNALS' (Rated M) - this much hyped epic superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name, is the 26th film in the MCU and the third film in the MCU's Phase Four. Directed and Co-Written by Chloe Zhao whose prior film credits are 2015's 'Songs My Brother Taught Me' her debut, then 'The Rider' in 2017 and the critically acclaimed 'Nomadland' in 2020. Originally set for release on 6th November 2020, it was then moved back to 12th February 2021 and then to this week in the US, UK, Australia and other international territories due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film cost US$200M to produce and has so far generated mixed or average Reviews. 

Starring an ensemble cast that takes in Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie that following the return of half the global population in 'Avengers: Endgame' ignites 'the emergence', the Eternals (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth) —an immortal alien race created by the Celestials (their mythology is that they are members of the first lifeforms created in and by the original universe, and have contributed to the creation of the Multiverse including the evolution of life therein) who have secretly lived on Earth for more than seven thousand years, are forced into reuniting to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants (an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth instigated by the alien Celestials, and wage war against their counterparts, the Eternals), after an unexpected tragedy forces them out of hiding in plain sight. 

'THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK' (Rated MA15+) - is an American crime drama story Directed by Alan Taylor whose previous film making credits take in his debut 'Palookaville' in 1995, 'The Emperor's New Clothes' in 2001, 'Thor : The Dark World' in 2013 and 'Terminator : Genisys' in 2015. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'Homicide : Life on the Street', 'Sex and the City', 'The Sopranos' and 'Game of Thrones'. Co-Written by and based on characters created by David Chase this film serves as a prequel to Chase's HBO crime drama series 'The Sopranos', and takes place during the 1960's and '70's in Newark, New Jersey. The film follows a young Anthony Soprano who is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark's history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family's hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is the uncle he worships, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities, and whose influence over his impressionable nephew will help make the teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we'll later come to know - Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini, and the son of James Gandolfini who played Tony Soprano in the TV series). The film has garnered largely positive critical acclaim, has so far recouped US$12M off the back of a US$50M production budget, saw its World Premier showcasing at the Tribeca Film Festival in late September and went to general release in the US on 1st October along with a month-long simultaneous release on HBO Max. Also starring Jon Bernthal, Leslie Odom Jnr., Corey Stoll, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta and Billy Magnussen. 

'RED NOTICE' (Rated M) - is an American action comedy film Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Rawson Marshall Thurber, whose prior film making credits include his debut 'DodgeBall : A True Underdog Story' in 2004, 'We're the Millers' in 2013, 'Central Intelligence' in 2016 and 'Skyscraper' in 2018. The film gets a limited cinematic release from this week, before going to air on Netflix from 12th November. With a budget somewhere in the vicinity of US$180M it represents the biggest investment made by the streaming service in a feature film to date. Here then, when Interpol issue a Red Notice — the highest level arrest warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted criminals, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) lands the case. His world wide pursuit finds him in the middle of a daring robbery where he’s forced to team up with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, Sarah Black aka 'The Bishop' (Gal Gadot). 

'JULIA' (Rated PG) - this American documentary film is Directed and Co-Produced by Julie Cohen and Betsy West with Ron Howard serving as Executive Director. The film chronicles the life of Julia Child, who lived from 1912 until 2004 and was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognised for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' (published in 1961) and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was 'The French Chef', which premiered in 1963 and aired over 145 episodes through until 1973. All up Julia Child claimed fifteen TV series, eight DVD releases, published eighteen books and in 2009, a feature film 'Julie & Julia' adapted by Nora Ephron from Child's memoir 'My Life in France' saw Meryl Streep played Child. The film won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical or Comedy. This film has garnered mostly positive Reviews, saw its World Premier screening at the Telluride Film Festival in early September, and now gets its release in the US and here in Australia from this week. 

With four new release films this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-