Obviously, Tony Soprano was a role he played as an actor. He did it well. Actually, so well that he helped turn HBO from a fringe pay channel into a major network watched by tens of millions. I know many people who subscribed to HBO JUST to be able to watch The Sopranos.In real life though, Gandolfini was a kind and generous family man that will be missed by many.RIP Jimmy.
I’m a bit disappointed in you, Omnius, as you comment sounds like something that would be written by those you so often criticize. Can you not separate the actor from the role?Did you hate Brando for breathing life into the Godfather? Or Anthony Hopkins for his brilliant but horrible Hannibal Lecter? How about Larry Hagman’s J.R. Ewing?I am the first to admit that I despised Tony Soprano, and would have been glad to see him rubbed out at the end of the series, but I have to give credit to the actor who created such a vivid character that I could hold in such contempt.Do not confuse the actor with his character (there have been plenty of actors who played good guys who were absolute skunks), and certainly don’t be one of those people who judge people by their weight, which isn’t terribly different from judging them by their height or color.
“Look at all these supposed adults who don’t know the difference between an actor and his character – the cartoonist included!”
The cartoonist has the excuse (not that he needs one) that he’s doing a cartoon. That’s the joke: The only way to get “Tony Soprano” behind bars is for James Gandolfini to pass through the Pearly Gates.
Did The Sopranos “glorify” the Mafia? Was Tony Soprano an admirable character? He was a compelling character, very well written and very well performed. The humanity and the brutality of the character were equally evident, and neither one negated the other. Y’know, kinda like real people.
Gandolfini was a good actor, a humble and kind man, who gained fame playing a total scumbag. I can think of a number of famous actors who were always the “good guys” in the roles, but were in real life, scumbags.
It’s always a shame to lose such a powerful talent so young.
Omnius: Of course you hate Gandolfini. In addition to acting in roles that threaten your fairy-tale view of reality, he was a producer of award-winning documentaries on the effect of war on those compelled to participate in our name, but then are ignored or even condemned for what war did to them. You are a brute for your lack of concern.
WOW. Is that just utterly classless or what? Mr. Gandolfini was a fine actor and seems to have been a decent human being who performed his job with grace. You should be remembered so fondly.
When Ray Bolger died in 1987, a lot of cartoons showed Scarecrow running along the Yellow Brick Road to catch up with Dorothy (Judy Garland d. 1969), Tin Woodsman (Jack Haley, d. 1979) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr, d. 1967) as they made their way to the Emerald City/Heaven.
Was that disrespectful of Bolger’s long and successful career outside “Wizard of Oz”? Would it have “confused” people?
Indeed we should separate the actors (both men and women) from the roles that they play. It is not that, that I would even begin to argue with, but the glorification of the evils that some men and groups do. For that reason, I have never seen, not do I ever intend to see, either “The Godfather” series or “The Sopranos”, and I certainly would never wish my grand children to do so. This is not ignoring the reality of such groups, as I do keep abreast of such people within the context of history, but like the NAZI’s of the past, their history is certainly not something to inspire good and healthy values in other human beings!
The true heroes of both my youth, and I would hope the youth of today, should be the great explorers, scientists, engineers, and others that have contributed so much (some at the very peril of their lives, such as the great astronauts of all nations) to the betterment of humanity.
Even sadder, is the newest trend that even lacks what little greatness might even lay in the paths of such groups as the Mafia, in the latest trends in so-called reality TV. To me at least the activities of such as The Kardasians and Honey Boo Boo, are not even worthy of the respect I could show even great villains. they are just simply disgusting (but perhaps, they are the greatest actors of them all?)!! Oh well,,,, as I am 70+ years old, I probably will not live long enough to see the ultimate results of all of this anyway!!
allinx almost 11 years ago
This does not say Gandolfini, but Soprano. A murderer, a thief, a gangster, a bully, now in heaven. The sick side of hero worship.
blanche64 almost 11 years ago
i thought gandolfini was a great actor. he caught my attention in true romance, long before sopranos. i will miss him and wish him god speed.
deadheadzan almost 11 years ago
Godspeed, Mr Gandolphini, Godspeed.
ConserveGov almost 11 years ago
Obviously, Tony Soprano was a role he played as an actor. He did it well. Actually, so well that he helped turn HBO from a fringe pay channel into a major network watched by tens of millions. I know many people who subscribed to HBO JUST to be able to watch The Sopranos.In real life though, Gandolfini was a kind and generous family man that will be missed by many.RIP Jimmy.
McSpook almost 11 years ago
I’m a bit disappointed in you, Omnius, as you comment sounds like something that would be written by those you so often criticize. Can you not separate the actor from the role?Did you hate Brando for breathing life into the Godfather? Or Anthony Hopkins for his brilliant but horrible Hannibal Lecter? How about Larry Hagman’s J.R. Ewing?I am the first to admit that I despised Tony Soprano, and would have been glad to see him rubbed out at the end of the series, but I have to give credit to the actor who created such a vivid character that I could hold in such contempt.Do not confuse the actor with his character (there have been plenty of actors who played good guys who were absolute skunks), and certainly don’t be one of those people who judge people by their weight, which isn’t terribly different from judging them by their height or color.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 11 years ago
“Look at all these supposed adults who don’t know the difference between an actor and his character – the cartoonist included!”
The cartoonist has the excuse (not that he needs one) that he’s doing a cartoon. That’s the joke: The only way to get “Tony Soprano” behind bars is for James Gandolfini to pass through the Pearly Gates.
Did The Sopranos “glorify” the Mafia? Was Tony Soprano an admirable character? He was a compelling character, very well written and very well performed. The humanity and the brutality of the character were equally evident, and neither one negated the other. Y’know, kinda like real people.
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
Gandolfini was a good actor, a humble and kind man, who gained fame playing a total scumbag. I can think of a number of famous actors who were always the “good guys” in the roles, but were in real life, scumbags.
It’s always a shame to lose such a powerful talent so young.
hippogriff almost 11 years ago
Omnius: Of course you hate Gandolfini. In addition to acting in roles that threaten your fairy-tale view of reality, he was a producer of award-winning documentaries on the effect of war on those compelled to participate in our name, but then are ignored or even condemned for what war did to them. You are a brute for your lack of concern.
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 11 years ago
“especially as fat as he was.”
WOW. Is that just utterly classless or what? Mr. Gandolfini was a fine actor and seems to have been a decent human being who performed his job with grace. You should be remembered so fondly.
fritzoid Premium Member almost 11 years ago
When Ray Bolger died in 1987, a lot of cartoons showed Scarecrow running along the Yellow Brick Road to catch up with Dorothy (Judy Garland d. 1969), Tin Woodsman (Jack Haley, d. 1979) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr, d. 1967) as they made their way to the Emerald City/Heaven.
Was that disrespectful of Bolger’s long and successful career outside “Wizard of Oz”? Would it have “confused” people?
McSpook almost 11 years ago
@lookinside, lifebyc & allinxThank you all for the kind words.
McSpook almost 11 years ago
@ ypoons7666 & Gore BaneThank you for your kind words, all the more meaningful since we are so often on opposite sides of an issue.
frodo1008 almost 11 years ago
Indeed we should separate the actors (both men and women) from the roles that they play. It is not that, that I would even begin to argue with, but the glorification of the evils that some men and groups do. For that reason, I have never seen, not do I ever intend to see, either “The Godfather” series or “The Sopranos”, and I certainly would never wish my grand children to do so. This is not ignoring the reality of such groups, as I do keep abreast of such people within the context of history, but like the NAZI’s of the past, their history is certainly not something to inspire good and healthy values in other human beings!
The true heroes of both my youth, and I would hope the youth of today, should be the great explorers, scientists, engineers, and others that have contributed so much (some at the very peril of their lives, such as the great astronauts of all nations) to the betterment of humanity.
Even sadder, is the newest trend that even lacks what little greatness might even lay in the paths of such groups as the Mafia, in the latest trends in so-called reality TV. To me at least the activities of such as The Kardasians and Honey Boo Boo, are not even worthy of the respect I could show even great villains. they are just simply disgusting (but perhaps, they are the greatest actors of them all?)!! Oh well,,,, as I am 70+ years old, I probably will not live long enough to see the ultimate results of all of this anyway!!