"The Sopranos" I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano (1999)

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Director:

John Patterson

Writers:

David Chase (creator)
David Chase (written by)

TV Series:

"The Sopranos" (1999)

Original Air Date:

4 April 1999 (Season 1, Episode 13)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Tony starts cleaning house, while Artie feels torn between keeping the peace in his household, and getting even with Tony for destroying his restaurant.

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Psychiatrist | New Jersey | Mafia | Female Nudity

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15

1:00 PM

AETV

I Dream of Jeannie Cusamano

#1.13

Cast

James Gandolfini	...	Tony Soprano
Lorraine Bracco	...	Dr. Jennifer Melfi
Edie Falco	...	Carmela Soprano
Michael Imperioli	...	Christopher Moltisanti
Dominic Chianese	...	Junior Soprano
Vincent Pastore	...	Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero (credit only)
Steve Van Zandt	...	Silvio Dante (as Steven Van Zandt)
Tony Sirico	...	Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri
Robert Iler	...	A.J. Soprano
Jamie-Lynn Sigler	...	Meadow Soprano
Nancy Marchand	...	Livia Soprano
John Ventimiglia	...	Artie Bucco
Kathrine Narducci	...	Charmaine Bucco (as Katherine Narducci)
Frank Pellegrino	...	Agent Frank Cubitoso
Al Sapienza	...	Mikey Palmice

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Brad Grey Television

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At 25:23, after Dr. Melfi decides to unlock her door to let Tony into her office, the door drifts open before she manages to insert her key, indicating that the door was neither locked nor closed.

Quotes:

[Tony urges Dr. Melfi to get out of town for a while]
Dr. Jennifer Melfi: I have patients who are suicidal!
Tony Soprano: Well they're not gonna feel any better about their life if you get clipped.

Movie Connections:

References "Jeopardy!" (1984)

Soundtrack:

It's Bad You Know

Season 1: Great opening season that doesn't put a foot wrong

After watching a lot of rubbish on television recently, I decided that I would watch back over some television shows that are known as being high quality. I watched The Sopranos when it screened originally so for some of the episodes it has been years since I had seen some of the episodes, making it a place that I was keen to start in terms of putting some quality back into my viewing habits. Watching it though, I was surprised how much of it from a decade ago has stuck in my mind – even the little moments, which I guess speaks to the quality of the show and how it engaged me when I first watched it.

Time and the repeat viewing has not diminished the impact of the show though and season 1 had me hooked through all the episodes. We hit the ground running with the theme of family built up in Tony's life. Whether it be his biological family or his business family, Tony's conflicts and challenges make for engaging drama, with well-written and well played out events. The strength of the show is that the events do not just "happen" but happen "to" characters and we get to see this not only in the moment but also beyond the moment – because these are "real" people who are not at the whim of whatever scene they are in at that moment. This is the heart of the season – Tony's attempt to keep his family close and effective while his business does nothing but threaten him and his family, introducing fractions between characters. The children in the family are not that well developed but the rest are, driving the drama forward and making it as engaging as it is. They also manage to come over as unreal and a little absurd in their colourfulness but not to the point that they become clichés with nothing else to them.

Season 1 sums up the show perfectly, with stresses of all types all playing a part within a tapestry of drama that engages whether it be related to Tony's psyche or related to internal mafia politics. The arch of this season sees the dangers from within Tony's crew and family along with minor little things that I only really appreciate now having seen the series through to the end already. Some seeds are sown that will grow into things of significance later, while there are some great links between dialogue and scenes now and later (most noticeably of course being the conclusion of this season and the conclusion of the final episode).

The cast take the material and deliver upon really well. Gandolfini makes the part his own, using his face as much as his presence, managing to convince both as a man to be feared but also someone who has panic attacks and bottled up issues inside him. Falco is not as good but is still very strong; Carmela has less time here but the development is fast and effective. Both Sigler and Iler are good, although Iler doesn't have a lot to do. Sirico and Zandt are great characters and deliver plenty of character, while Imperioli does well with his character even if it feels like he is being "developed" faster than I would have liked. Bracco allows Gandolini to do his thing and her performance is subtle for the most part. Not so with Marchand, who plays the manipulative mother to a tee – wonderfully overwrought and powerful. Chianese is good here as Junior, he captures the character well and makes his "semi-puppet" leadership role work within the narrative. Below this level the characters are not as well developed perhaps but they are still effective within the story – whether it be as a comic figure or as part of something else. I can't really think of anyone I thought gave a bad performance in the season.

Season 1 hits the ground running then. Shorter than I remember, it has lost none of its impact or ability to engage. The absurdity of Tony's life is well portrayed but not to the point where it loses realism. The struggle between the two sides of his life and the dramas within each of them are really well written and the development of the characters and delivery of the engaging narrative only serve to make it better. A great season all round with no real weaknesses to be found.