The Sopranos is more than a crime drama—it subtly exposes society’s relentless chase for success, leaving behind deeper, hidden truths.
From no network wanting to run it, to now being one of the most highly acclaimed shows out there, The Sopranos truly revolutionised television. Its popularity knew no bounds, and James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano became a household name. He was a huge part of the show that perfectly brought forth psychological elements with a mix of crime drama.
While the show deeply captivated audiences with its storytelling, Michael Imperioli’s comments about it might change something for the fans. For him, The Sopranos was much more than just a crime drama.
Michael Imperioli had some strong words for The Sopranos
The Sopranos had an interesting beginning. From being rejected by every major network to becoming one of the greatest shows of all time, it has surely come a long way. While HBO came to its rescue and gave it a platform, the storytelling of the show itself garnered huge applause from the audience. For his role as Tony Soprano, James Gandolfini became a household name and won several awards for his performance.
Playing the mafia boss was tough for him, given his personal struggles with drugs and alcohol, but he remained dedicated to the show until the very end. While the actor passed away in 2013, his cast and crew have always made it a point to remember him and the show with fond memories. On the same subject, Michael Imperioli shared his thoughts about The Sopranos, emphasizing that it isn’t just about organized crime.
In an interview with The Independent, he explained that The Sopranos reflects the empty pursuit of the American Dream. The show highlights the harsh realities of modern society, where people chase money, success, and power in the hope that it will bring them happiness and satisfaction. But in reality, it does the opposite. He added:
The sham of it all: consumer culture, materialism, making more money, getting better jobs and houses than the prior generation. At the end of the day, it’s not going to fulfil your spirit. It’s hollow and empty, and we’ve been convinced that it’s more important than anything else.
These comments shed new light on the show, which perfectly captured these themes. The protagonist, Tony Soprano, was deeply unhappy despite his enormous wealth and power. Not just him, but other characters like Carmela and Christopher also faced the same struggles.
With new audiences discovering the show, Imperioli’s perspective offers a fresh take, revealing that beneath the crime drama, The Sopranos was ultimately about the struggles we face in our everyday lives.
Michael Imperioli detailed the actors that have played a huge role in his acting career
Long before he stepped into the shoes of Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, Michael Imperioli had already worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The most notable in this lot would be Goodfellas, in which he starred alongside Robert De Niro, which was a dream come true for him.
In an interview via The New Yorker, he detailed how watching movies like Apocalypse Now, Dog Day Afternoon, and Midnight Cowboy influenced him to become an actor. He also added that actors like “Pacino, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro” really inspired him. That working “with some of them was unreal. I kept pinching myself.”
While Imperioli did work with Niro and Voight in The Five People You Meet in Heaven, there was one actor he never got the chance to share a screen with. This was none other than Al Pacino, though he did rehearse with him once for The Merchant of Venice. He also explained this experience as it was like playing basketball with Michael Jordan.
