David Chase, acknowledged for shaping HBO’s monumental American drama series, the unforgettable ‘The Sopranos,’ discussed a captivating viewpoint of celebrated filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The revelation occurred on the ‘It Happened in Hollywood’ podcast, where Chase shared a fascinating detail. Scorsese, known for directing iconic films like ‘The Irishman,’ ‘Goodfellas,’ and ‘Taxi Driver,’ has openly admitted his inability to connect with ‘The Sopranos’ (1999-2007).
This intriguing detail concerning Scorsese’s views about ‘The Sopranos’ came to light, courtesy of an enlightening conversation involving Chase. On ‘It Happened in Hollywood,’ Chase aimed to demystify why Scorsese, a fellow connoisseur of the cinematic craft, was unable to resonate with his groundbreaking television series.
Exposing the unexpected perception of Scorsese, Chase mentioned during the podcast that the acclaimed filmmaker didn’t quite grasp the premise of the renown show. The revelation involved Scorsese’s resistance and lack of relation to the show’s portrayal of American underworld, which seemingly presented a stumbling block to his appreciation.
The specific point of contention for Scorsese seems to be the show’s hyper-realistic, but to him, unfamiliar depiction of Mafia life. When probed if Scorsese had ever publicly revealed his indifference towards the series, David Chase pointed out that Scorsese indeed confessed his inability to relate with the show, which resulted in his disenchantment.
Chase delved deeper into Scorsese’s objections about the show. He suggested that Scorsese found the portrayal of mafia characters dwelling in lavish houses in New Jersey fairly unreal. This struck a chord of incongruity with Scorsese’s understanding and expectation of the mafia lifestyle.
Expanded on Scorsese’s comments about his inability to identify with this newer generation of mobsters, Scorsese reportedly admitted being unable to watch more than one episode. The Sopranos’ portrayal of affluent, suburban mobsters, with a completely different upbringing than Scorsese himself, seemingly failed to captivate the veteran filmmaker.
The controversial language used in ‘The Sopranos,’ particularly the unrestricted usage of profanity at dinner tables in front of families, also allegedly puzzled Scorsese. He found it hard to connect with the show as it starkly contrasted with his upbringing and personal experiences.
Yet, the auteur behind ‘The Sopranos,’ David Chase, seemed unphased by Scorsese’s critique. He candidly responded by pointing out that the frames of reference are distinctively different between himself and Scorsese, leading to the divergent artistic interpretations.
For Chase, the series authentically reflects his personal experiences and background growing up in New Jersey. Recognizing this difference in their respective upbringings, Chase maintained that what he was portraying in ‘The Sopranos’ was a true reflection of his reality, even though it didn’t resonate with Scorsese.
Chase was quick to underline that Scorsese’s upbringing in New York’s Little Italy, surrounded by the activities of the Five Families organized crime, shaped his perspective on mafia life, which is markedly different from Chase’s New Jersey upbringing.
Chase went on to reinforce this concept by explaining the reality that he was familiar with was rooted in his experiences of encountering branches of the Five Families organized crime. This mafia was unique to the suburbs of New Jersey, distinct from Scorsese’s familiar New York mafia milieu.
Chase added that his depiction involved mafia figures in the ‘burbs building luxurious homes and desiring a green life – an aspect of suburban life Scorsese found hard to align with his paradigm of the underworld. Chase understandably held the belief that the realism depicted in The Sopranos would indeed feel alien to Scorsese, as they were simply not part of Scorsese’s lived experience.
In summarizing his stance, Chase concluded by affirming the authenticity of the different representations of mafia life in their respective works. He suggested that while Scorsese’s works embodied the realities of his experiences, the Sopranos stood true to Chase’s experiences, making them equally valid, but diverse in their portrayal.