Sopranos - Season 6 part 1

Brian Olewnick · March-14th-2006, 10:41 AM

Just wanted to say that I trust Bill Laswell picked up a nice check....

MRS · March-14th-2006, 10:42 AM

Good to hear after studying with him closely the last year of his life that Wild Bill's interest in the Mayan calendar seems oh so germane to Meadow's tits.

Jon Abbey · March-14th-2006, 10:42 AM

any attempts to translate the previous posts will be appreciated. I consider myself fairly proficient in Schaumannese, but am a bit lost here.

Brian Olewnick · March-14th-2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

any attempts to translate the previous posts will be appreciated. I consider myself fairly proficient in Schaumannese, but am a bit lost here.

I forget if you're up to the current season or not.

In any case, the initial montage recapping what the characters had been up to over the past year was set to a piece from Material's "Seven Souls" album (the title track? I forget) with Wm. Burroughs reciting the Souls. Funny, in the NYT review, the writer mentioned the "darK' music at the beginning but, apparently, didn't recognize that voice!

MRS · March-14th-2006, 10:56 AM

That reading appears on a few other WSB recordings as well. In spite of such a pretentious and shoddy attempt to garner some vague, hip validation with that montage, I thought it was a pretty good episode--and I all but stopped watching the show early last season.

Melfi scenes = bathroom/Heineken breaks.

clinthopson · March-14th-2006, 11:17 AM

We were satisfied with the first episode. Most of it was being brought up to date.

Can't wait 'til Sunday.

BTW did anyone last through the complete episode of "Big Love?" How tedious can something get?

Jon Abbey · March-14th-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

In any case, the initial montage recapping what the characters had been up to over the past year was set to a piece from Material's "Seven Souls" album (the title track? I forget) with Wm. Burroughs reciting the Souls. Funny, in the NYT review, the writer mentioned the "darK' music at the beginning but, apparently, didn't recognize that voice!

oh, that's what that was? unbelievably pretentious, pretty surprised they mustered a reasonably solid episode after that. from all reports, the next few go rapidly downhill, though.

stonemonkts · March-14th-2006, 03:28 PM

I hate to say this, mostly because I was looking forward to this season as much as ever, but, the show has definitely lost something. Much of the acting seemed a bit stilted (even Gandolfini, who hinted as much about this season when he repeatedly complained about the layoff being too long).

Also, the appearance of the film is bugging me. They've filtered the cameras with some sort of inky effect which I find annoying, and reminiscent of too much schlocky hollywood fare.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the episode, and look forward to the next 11 eposodes. But I truly believe the show has lost something. I have re-watched every season this year for the umpteenth time, and I can safely say they haven't had a stellar episode since Pauly and Chris were lost in the woods, chasing the Russian.

Prior to that, there were some truly great episodes which I fear they won't match this season; but I could be (and hope I am) wrong.

Vince Kargatis · March-14th-2006, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

they haven't had a stellar episode since Pauly and Chris were lost in the woods, chasing the Russian.

And wtf? Was anyone satisfied they dropped that storyline cold?

stonemonkts · March-14th-2006, 04:25 PM

I'd be very surprised if that Russian doesn't re-surface to go after Pauly and Chris (and maybe anyone associated with them too).

He'll come back like Rasputin, mark my words.

Jon Abbey · March-14th-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

And wtf? Was anyone satisfied they dropped that storyline cold?

yeah, that was absurd.

I give these guys (Chase and co.) a lot of credit, they had a really good idea and have done some nice stuff with it. but they really could be doing a much better job. I worry that with so many episodes left before it wraps up (18 total?) that it's going to become even more pretentious, dream upon dream upon dream. ugh.

Jason Bivins · March-14th-2006, 04:39 PM

And don't forget lots of obvious animal imagery as well, Jon. I heart bears.

The debut was decent, with some mildly interesting acting moments from the usual suspects, and the narrative was passable. But several things bode ill: if the way the suicide character was dealt with is an indication of this season's innovation, we're in for a long haul (you could smell that coming in the guy's first moments on screen); likewise, if the writers plan on resorting to cheap devices like Junior shooting Tony (you can just imagine them conspiring, "Oooh, let's come up with a real SHOCKER for the first episode" - but don't worry about coherence or development) then things look grim.

MRS · March-14th-2006, 04:45 PM

Could some of their allusions be more ostentatious? Junior watching the Douglas/Menjou confrontation in Paths of Glory amidst Tony walking in/the Pontecorvo dilemma? What I say ever year about every episode:

MORE HESH

Let's see. . .owns horses, has several black women walking around his home in robes, that's 1 & 1A baby.

jesus marion joseph · March-14th-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bivins

But several things bode ill: if the way the suicide character was dealt with is an indication of this season's innovation, we're in for a long haul (you could smell that coming in the guy's first moments on screen);

I thought he would get two in the hat. Maybe they felt that another head shot wouldn't carry quite enough drama. The hanging was "different", and pretty graphic.

You're right, though, that the foreshadowing was weak.

blawless · March-14th-2006, 05:05 PM

Listen, you guys, I don't have cable and won't be seeing this for a while, so don't spoil this season by talking about it. (I don't mean you, Michael--thanks for the encrypted commentary. As you were.)

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-14th-2006, 05:11 PM

All i know is that with Carmine on the treadmill, Fat Vito down to a robust 250 or so and unable to stop yammering about it, and the fact that Tony sounds like he's going to have a heart attack when he's just standing idle, i thought they were foreshadowing Tony collapsing. Or mocking their audience.

I had no idea what that opening thing was, but i have to say it confused the hell out of me. I suppose i'm not that bright. I thought Ms. Siglar's acting was impeccable in that scene though.

Enforcer · March-14th-2006, 07:51 PM

It's probably a safe bet that there isn't a Sopranos thread this strange anywhere else on the internet.

Mike Schwartz · March-14th-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blawless

Listen, you guys, I don't have cable and won't be seeing this for a while, so don't spoil this season by talking about it. (I don't mean you, Michael--thanks for the encrypted commentary. As you were.)

H-E-L-L-L-O?!

You would think that this would be the thread for you to avoid if you're waiting for a while to get the DVD or get HBO at a later date.

This will be the thread that people, including myself, will discuss the new season.

I thought it was a dynamite opener.
With all the 'concern' about Tony's health coming up and the irony of getting shot by his uncle of all things was a pretty interesting twist.

The scene of the guy hanging himself was quite something.
They had a number of the cast members, including the guy who just came off the show on Imus on Monday.

The head honcho of the show, as they told it, makes a point of telling the actor who is about to be written off the show priviately, soon followed by a number of the cast menbers all going out together for "the last supper."

Jon Abbey · March-14th-2006, 08:21 PM

blawless continuing his role as unsung JC MVP...

Rob Damen · March-14th-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

I hate to say this, mostly because I was looking forward to this season as much as ever, but, the show has definitely lost something. Much of the acting seemed a bit stilted (even Gandolfini, who hinted as much about this season when he repeatedly complained about the layoff being too long).

Also, the appearance of the film is bugging me. They've filtered the cameras with some sort of inky effect which I find annoying, and reminiscent of too much schlocky hollywood fare.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the episode, and look forward to the next 11 eposodes. But I truly believe the show has lost something. I have re-watched every season this year for the umpteenth time, and I can safely say they haven't had a stellar episode since Pauly and Chris were lost in the woods, chasing the Russian.

Prior to that, there were some truly great episodes which I fear they won't match this season; but I could be (and hope I am) wrong.

Ding!

Second!

In fact, I'll do you one better ... while I enjoy the show, I don't think it's gotten much better since Season 1, and I think they've repeated almost exactly the same storyline since Season 2.

I've been enjoying "The Shield" much more these past few years, frankly.

Cheers,

Rob

clinthopson · March-15th-2006, 01:00 PM

You guys are being too picky. It's a hour's worth of entertainment that is better than damned near anything on the tube, plus no commercials.

I agree with Rob, "The Shield" is so intense that it leaves us wrung out every week. Next week is the season finale. We get an Eastern feed of the show so I record is and then ff through the commercials.

Forest Whittaker is incredible.

Jon Abbey · March-19th-2006, 09:53 PM

worst episode ever, exactly what I feared last week. zero plot development, all pretention (David Chase credited as the sole writer). the only nice touch in the whole thing was Annabella Sciorra's voice as the wife in the hallucinatory state/dream/whatever. one hour of my life I'll never get back.

Brian Olewnick · March-19th-2006, 09:54 PM

Hey, a whole season of dream sequences! Awesome.

I spent half the show trying to convince myself that the ICU scenes were also dreams as a way of justifying the painfully wooden acting and dialogue. Ron Leibman was hilarious.

Feh.

Jon Abbey · March-19th-2006, 09:55 PM

oh, and...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bivins

And don't forget lots of obvious animal imagery as well, Jon. I heart bears.

one bear for Jason, sitting by the elevator. UGH.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-20th-2006, 01:58 AM

You guys are crazy. That was the best episode of 'Thirtysomething' I've seen in years.

Borat Pri Hagafen · March-20th-2006, 02:23 AM

I have to admit that i laughed out loud at "Maybe he was a homo and couldn't talk to anybody about it."

Poor Vito. His journey is a long and strange one.

Lenny D.Guitarist · March-20th-2006, 06:40 AM

The second episode was just a waste of time. Poorly conceived, poorly executed. The promos for the third episode look pretty good.. the hotheads
Phil, Paulie Walnuts, and Chris may be ready for some showtime!

Cem · March-20th-2006, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

blawless continuing his role as unsung JC MVP...

It's that rare occasion when I agree with Jon. blawless is like an avant-Nagel ... with sleeper hits up the ying-yang!

Brian Olewnick · March-20th-2006, 08:21 AM

This morning, I found myself wondering if, in fact, everything in the episode last night wasn't a dream. Might explain a few things like Leibman's ridiculous impersonation of a surgeon, the gaping hole in the middle of Tony's belly (coulda sworn he was shot on the right side and, besides, Junior wasn't packing a bazooka. There should be an entry wound about 1/2 inch wide or less and, with endoscopic surgery, there's no need to open such a large wound for bullet retrieval), the generally bizarre acting of all the principals.

Nah, I suppose not.

Dan G · March-20th-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

This morning, I found myself wondering if, in fact, everything in the episode last night wasn't a dream.

I was thinking the same thing as I was watching it, and hoping that next week starts with Tony still on the floor of Jr.'s house. And then they can shelve this episode and not show it in repeats.