Young Anthony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) 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 idolizes, Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola), who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities—and whose influence over his nephew will help make the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss we’ll later come to know: Tony Soprano.
For in-depth thoughts on The Many Saints Of Newark, please see my colleague Tia Fabi’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The Many Saints Of Newark comes to Blu-Ray with a stunning 1080p transfer, which comes from a 4K source. There is a 4K UHD Blu-Ray release that was not made available for review which would take more advantage of this fact, but the Blu-Ray is very striking as it is. The amount of distinct clarity and detail present on this Blu-Ray is truly something to behold. Subtle details on faces are amazingly clear and fine texture such as facial hair holds up surprisingly well both in close-ups and long shots. The film leans toward the cooler side of the spectrum with blue and grey tones taking more of a precedent in the presentation. The color palette is fairly neutral throughout most of the film, but there are the occasional pops of color, such as certain costume pieces and elements of the production design. Black levels hold up well with no glaring instances of black crush present. Digital noise and artifacting are a non-issue with this release. This is a great presentation for a very visually polished film. The few very brief instances of compression artifacts and banding are likely cleaned up on the 4K UHD Blu-Ray, so if you are capable you should likely go with that option.
Audio Quality
The Dolby Atmos track is extremely engaging, and it never fails to deliver something truly unbelievable. The soundscape on display here is very rich with a nuanced design from location to location. This film is not meant to be a full-throttle action film, but there are moments where certain kinetic sequences pack a bigger punch than one might expect. The riot sequence in the film packs a punch that will shake you to the core. The amazing soundtrack and score hits really hard without being too overwhelming to the competing elements. Dialogue comes through crystal clear with none of the information feeling lost to the music in the film or the sound effects. All of the effects have a nice sense of direction within the mix with noises such as a gathering crowd really springing to life. The height channels do not carry a majority of the weight, but they provide some good ambient support that fleshes out the soundstage. The movie uses environmental sounds to great effect, and the track retains strong detail even in the more chaotic developments. The track is a powerhouse from start to finish.
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes: Nearly six-minutes of unused material is provided here featuring Livia having a nightmare, family “moving day” and more.
- The Making Of Newark: A 13-minute featurette in which the cast and creative team weigh in on the process of creating this film from the decision to return to this world to casting and production details. There are some interesting insights that fans of the series should appreciate.
- Sopranos Family Honor: A nearly six-minute piece which delves into some of the overlapping characters between the movie and The Sopranos and how they are portrayed in each version.
Final Thoughts
The Many Saints Of Newark is not a flawless expansion of the story we all know and love, but it invites many intriguing ideas and provides a solidly entertaining gangster picture. It will leave you wanting more for some of these characters, but those who are front and center get a pleasing amount of depth to draw you in further. This may not be the most necessary movie ever, but it honors the legacy of the show well enough. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring an excellent A/V presentation and a couple of brief supplemental features. Whether or not you are a fan of the show, this film should entertain you. Recommended
The Many Saints Of Newark is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
