the greatest TV show in history should spawn a feature-length prequel that is somehow disappointing: it is watchable but weirdly obtuse with a tricksy narrative reveal that doesn't add much
the feeling that each line carries a connection to the future is likely to leave passive fans/those less familiar with the HBO series feeling lost and bored
it's undeniably entertaining stuff, but this choppy collage-style portrait of the formative figures in the life of the young Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) is better suited to the needs of existing fans rather than those of Sopranos neophytes
it's heaven for "Sopranos" fans, though this is really less a prequel than a spin-off; "Many Saints" has much to recommend it, beginning with the team of Chase-Taylor, whose writing and directing blend seamlessly. Nearly every actor is perfectly cast
it's a busy, unnecessary, disappointingly ordinary origin story, doesn't work; In the end, the best thing about “The Many Saints of Newark” is that it makes you think about “The Sopranos,” but that's also the worst thing about it
David Chase's slick prequel to his hit HBO series is a massive letdown; Unfortunately, what he comes up with in this over-plotted Sopranos prequel is much less interesting than what he planted in our heads over six seasons
David Chase gives "The Sopranos" a lively and convincing origin story; It's a sharp, lively, and engrossing movie, one that provides a fascinating running commentary on how the world of "The Sopranos" came into being
as a "Goodfellas"-ish crime drama that vividly evokes time and place, "Saints" is rendered with enough bare-knuckled verve, unpredictability, and darkly glinting wit to make it work
a busier proposition than its HBO forefather, this sets up more than it can pay off. But it does manage to balance fan-service with plenty of rich, original, complex material
"The Many Saints of Newark" is both instantly recognisable and somehow unplaceable. It's fierce and brilliant, too -- a work that both expands on and complicates the cultural legacy of "The Sopranos"
"The Many Saints of Newark" is both gripping mob drama and gratuitous "The Sopranos" fan service; Brilliant performances by Alessandro Nivola and Michael Gandolfini help this prequel become a valuable new addition to the Soprano family
by Tara McNamara [Common Sense Media ]
by Jake Cole [Slant Magazine ]
by Rafer Guzman [Newsday ]
by Nick De Semlyen [Empire Magazine ]
