We finally know what happened to Tony in that ambiguous final episode of 'The Sopranos.' From 1999-2007 we were privileged to watch television being taken to a new level of quality and complexity. David Chase's 'The Sopranos' on HBO raised the bar. It showed that a cable series could be a hit, that it could have the production quality of a feature film, and not shy away from exploring familiar themes but in new, thrilling and complex ways. I think that 'The Sopranos' will go down as one of the most important, and one of the best, shows in television history. And the heart, the soul, the epicenter of that show was James Gandolfini's masterful portrayal of mid-level New Jersey mob boss, Tony Soprano. The Sopranos universe all revolved around Tony, and Gandolfini was able to portray brutality, kindness, love, anger, humor, ruthlessness, pathos, boldness, crippling fear and doubt, regret, insatiable appetites, shallow pettiness and oceans of depth. The show lived or died on Gandolfini's performance, and as creator David Chase said recently on what the casting of Gandolfini in the role meant for the show, it was simply "everything." One writer said today, all of the good and potential for good that we saw in Tony, despite his brutality and way of life, that was Gandolfini showing through the character. That is why Tony was such a rich and ultimately sympathetic character.
From everything that I have read, Gandolfini himself was (thankfully) quite different from Tony. He was generous, a great conversationalist, loved to sit down with close friends and smoke a cigar. He was uncomfortable with his fame, did not enjoy publicity, and he was not one of those actors who enjoyed talking about the craft. He was known as a tough interview, not due to rudeness, but he maintained that he was just a simple Jersey guy who happened to be on TV and in movies. But just watch 'The Sopranos,' and you will see a true master of the craft, one of the most talented actors of the last decade. If Tony had to go, I guess it was fitting that he died in a swanky hotel in Rome. Also of note, the next day Gandolfini was due to travel to Taormina in Sicily as an honored guest at a film festival. That is a nice thing to be looking forward to on your last day. Taormina is a gorgeous, seaside town in Eastern Sicily with stunning views and ancient Greek ruins. I've been there, and again it seems fitting. I can easily see Gandolfini sitting by the seaside, cigar in hand, enjoying an overflowing dish of Frutti di Mare. Fitting indeed. Goodbye Tony, and thank you Mr. Gandolfini for showing us what television, at its best, can and should be.
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