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What Did Martin Scorsese Think of The Sopranos?

Published in Scorsese TV Opinions 2 mins read

Martin Scorsese did not like The Sopranos, stating quite directly that he "didn't get it" and found it featured "all these trees and s***."

Scorsese's Specific Criticism

According to David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos, Martin Scorsese conveyed his dislike for the acclaimed HBO series. Scorsese reportedly told Gibney that he simply "didn't get it" and remarked on the mundane, non-cinematic aspects, saying, "it's like all these trees and s***." This suggests a disconnect from the kind of dramatic, often gritty, urban narratives typically associated with the gangster genre, especially those Scorsese himself championed.

David Chase's Interpretation

David Chase elaborated on why Scorsese might have felt this way, suggesting that The Sopranos deliberately went against the established grain of gangster projects that had been popular up until that point.

The Sopranos represented a significant departure from traditional mob stories, which often focused on:

  • Rise and Fall Arcs: Epic narratives of characters ascending to power and their eventual downfall.
  • Urban Grime and Glamour: Depictions of city life, elaborate criminal enterprises, and high-stakes power struggles.
  • External Conflicts: Emphasis on gang wars, law enforcement confrontations, and the violent aspects of the underworld.

In contrast, The Sopranos delved deeply into:

  • Psychological Depth: Exploring the internal struggles, anxieties, and therapy sessions of its protagonist, Tony Soprano.
  • Suburban Mundanity: Setting a significant portion of the narrative in a suburban environment, highlighting the everyday aspects of family life and the existential ennui that could accompany it.
  • Internal Conflicts: Focusing on the characters' personal demons, family dynamics, and the often unglamorous aspects of being a modern-day mobster.

Scorsese's comment about "trees and s**" can be interpreted as his reaction to this shift from the grand, often operatic scale of traditional gangster epics to the more grounded, introspective, and at times, seemingly unremarkable daily life depicted in The Sopranos*. The show prioritized character study and psychological realism over constant action and overt criminality, which may not have resonated with Scorsese's established artistic preferences for the genre.