"The Sopranos" Amour Fou (2001)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Timothy Van Patten

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
Frank Renzulli (teleplay)

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

13 May 2001 (Season 3, Episode 12)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Gloria grows increasingly demanding until Tony realizes who she is, and Jackie Jr. ends up in very serious trouble when Chris realizes who he is.

Plot Keywords:

Returning Character Killed Off | Gangster | Psychiatrist | New Jersey | Mafia

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano (credit only)
Steve Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante (as Steven Van Zandt)
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri (credit only)
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano (credit only)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Jason Cerbone	...	Jackie Aprile Jr.
Andy Davoli	...	Dino Zerilli (as Andrew Davoli)
Louis Crugnali	...	Carlo Renzi
Nick Tarabay	...	Matush (as Emad Tarabai)
Joe Pantoliano	...	Ralph Cifaretto
Drea de Matteo	...	Adriana La Cerva (credit only)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Silvercup Studios - 4222 22nd Street, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Quotes:

Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: [to Chris Moltisanti] You may not love me but you will respect me!

Movie Connections:

Features Basic Instinct (1992)

Soundtrack:

Return to Me

Things go bad

Death is just around the corner, and judging from this episode's events, it will be quite nasty too: starting on a bleak note and ending on an even bleaker one, Amour Fou lays down the road for the no doubt affecting, tragic finale with relentless strength.

Having been hit in the face with a steak at the hands of Gloria, Tony decides to end it with her, and has Patsy Parisi tell the insane woman what awaits her, should she decide to stalk the big guy or his family. The bad day gets even worse when Jackie Jr., upon hearing his father and Tony got made after robbing a card game, decides to pull off a similar stunt, only to run into Furio and Christopher, who recognize him and ask for his head. Tony agrees that the boy has run his course, but waits for Ralphie's say on the matter.

Essentially the first half of a two-parter, Amour Fou is, like all other season closers, not afraid to get its hands dirty: while Jackie's fate was pretty clear from the start, the treatment Gloria receives comes off as cruel even by Sopranos standards. The human drama that takes place should be involving enough even for those who don't like the show (because of the violence, the swearing or whatever reason there might be), a fact acknowledged by Tony's angry reaction to a spiteful remark made by Chris: "You may not love me, but you will respect me!". That sentence is aimed at the program's detractors as much as it is at Chrissy. Personally, I love it.