The Sopranos

[Egan]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Yes indeed, and the fact that the Russian is still out there... perfect.
The episode Long Term Parking, oh god that was chilling. I still get kinda angry when I think about it

And not just a Russian....but an 'interior decorator who killed 15 Czechoslovakians!"

I'm trying to remember what episode it was had that line '..And the last face you see won't be Tony's, it'll be mine. It won't be like the movies." Great line. I think Tony had sent Patsy to deal with one of Tony's girlfriends.

[Egan]

Originally Posted by Dowly

"Pine Barrens", season 3 Ep. 11

And directed by Steve Buscemi, if I remember right.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Re: Sopranos finale, I'm not sure why anyone thinks Tony gets whacked. There was the Members Only guy looking him over before going to the can, but really, without any other evidence, like a gunshot sound or scream, I have to say the series just ended... Tony will be getting the paper in his robe tomorrow.

One of my favorite classes in college was Intro to Film. It was amazing how much more you can appreciate movies and TV when you have things pointed out to you and you learn about cinematography and why things are shot the way they are and all that.

So I'm firmly in the "Tony's dead" camp. Here's why:

First off there's the "You probably don't even hear it when it happens, right?" comment that Tony makes. Remember, in film and TV, every line of dialogue is carefully crafted and is there for a reason. It's planting the seed in the viewer's mind and it's a foreshadowing of what's to come.

Also, If you break it down very carefully from a cinematography angle, it's pretty clear that he was killed. When Tony walks into the restaurant, the bell on the door dings, he stands there, then you see the restaurant from his point of view. That shot establishes that we're going to be bouncing back and forth from seeing Tony to seeing things from his point of view in this scene.

So as the scene goes on we go from seeing Tony at the table. *DING* back to his point of view and he watches someone come in the door. On and on that goes. Tony, then *DING* then Tony's point of view. Tony, then *DING* then point of view. The director is doing some classic Pavlov conditioning of the audience. Hear a bell, and you see Tony's point of view.

Then they throw a wrench into it. You see the guy in the jacket come walking in, THEN you hear the *DING*and Tony looks up to see him walking in the place in front of A.J. So why would this guy be different than the others to walk in? Why do we see him before the *DING*. Why is A.J. covered up by this guy. He's some random dude that we don't know, and A.J. is a character we know. Why would the director obscure a character who should be the focal point of the shot with some random guy? It's because this guy is important.

There's the obvious clues too, where he's nervously tapping his fingers, and going out of his way to look away from Tony as he walks by. The camera follows the guy all the way to the bathroom. And then the shot ends with this:



See how A.J. and Carmela are together on one side of the table, and Tony is framed in that door frame with the jacket guy? That's telling you something. It's putting a separation between Tony and his family, and it's essentially putting Tony in a "box" with the assassin.

Yadda yadda, moving on...

The payoff and the key to the whole scene is that Tony hears the door *DING* (presumably Meadow is walking in) and since we've already established the pattern here - Tony, then *DING* then Tony's point of view, this says a lot. We hear the *DING* then we get 10 seconds of black. It's a long time before the credits are shown, so the director is trying to really hammer the point home that the black is part of the show. It's there for a reason. So Tony's point of view is blackness. Death.

And that, Neal, is your Skybird-length explanation of why people believe he was whacked.

[August]

If the camera was in "Tony-view" mode when the screen went black then maybe Mookie has something with his beginner film course training but if not there is enough ambiguity to allow the series and Tony to appear in a sequel which is probably the whole reason it was done that way.

You kill off the star and if they bring the series back again it would be without him at least without some plot gymnastics to account for it.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

One of my favorite classes in college was Intro to Film. It was and TV, every line of dialogue he pattern here - Tony, then *DING* then Tony's point of view, this says a lot. We hear the *DING* then we get 10 seconds of black. It's a long time before the credits are shown, so the director is trying to really hammer the point home that the black is part of the show. It's there for a reason. So Tony's point of view is blackness. Death.

And that, Neal, is your Skybird-length explanation of why people believe he was whacked.

And that, my friend, is a very good analysis. I think I agree. Never heard it described this thoroughly before. :thumbup:

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by August

If the camera was in "Tony-view" mode when the screen went black then maybe Mookie has something with his beginner film course training but if not there is enough ambiguity to allow the series and Tony to appear in a sequel which is probably the whole reason it was done that way.

You kill off the star and if they bring the series back again it would be without him at least without some plot gymnastics to account for it.

Yea, Tony fell asleep

The only thing that didn't make sense to me, why kill him in public with all the people around, this wasn't the 20's. That seemed stupid and sort of ruined the end for me. You would assume they drove, people would see faces, cameras, possible police. I don't see another boss risking his men getting caught and becoming rats.

Tony should've went out tied to a chair in a basement, cussing and fighting or crying like a baby and begging for his life. When you watch a show that long, you deserve to see the star get what was coming.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Egan

And directed by Steve Buscemi, if I remember right.

Yeah, think so.

[u crank]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

@ U Crank dude spoiler alert my friend not all have seen The Wire and you will ruin a major player in the story for them.(I have myself but still you should edit that out)

Done. Thanks for the heads up. I should have known better 'cause I hate when that happens.

I thought that the last episode of the first season where the younger slingers have to do that thing that was hard to watch and in the last season the one guy that Mcnulty turned.
I really wish they would have gone on with The Wire I was really getting into some of the younger characters like Micheal.

More good stuff. It was an excellent show. I'm thinking of watching it again.

Originally Posted by August

Best HBO series ever was Band of Brothers. Fact.

Nope, opinion, no matter how bad you want it to be a fact.

For me, Sopranos is the best series ever made. I have only seen all episodes twice and never ever had a feeling like "meh... this episode was ok, but nuttn special!".
Every episode made me drop my jaw, specially because of the deep characters. Tony is the best example. What a terrible guy he is, right? But on the other side, we all still like him, see the other side of the medal.

Regarding the ending. For me, Tony is dead. If you watch it very closely (and know the whole series very(!) well, you will see TONS of indications that he was shot. Before I bore you with my poorly chosen words, Ill just smash an awesome link in, with an analysis that should convince anyone abut what exactly happened - and why.
Additionally, David Chase (after being annoyed to death by all the questions about the end of the series) confirmed T´s death. Not directly, but very clearly.

The Sopranos: Definate explanation of the END

It is a long read - but...

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano

Watcha gonna do about it?

Oh and... Tony does not appreciate this analysis:
(EDIT1: Picture removed. Steve thinks Tony making a gesture, saying "Here´s your ending" is way too offensive in a Forum with lots of half naked women, dirty humor and many long time members saying bad words. My apologies to everyone for this heavy violation of the rules, I feel ashamed.)

EDIT2: I made it family friendly - it was waaaay too offensive before.
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