James Gandolfini dead at 51

[kernelbogey]

It's always shocking to hear about anyone dying before their time. I wasn't a great fan of The Sopranos - I abandoned the box set halfway through the second series, warned (on these boards, no less) that it became increasingly darker.

My memory of him is in the role of the General Miller in the British film In the Loop, derived from The Thick of It, devised by Armando Ianucci, and satirising Anglo-US preparations for an invasion of a country not dissimilar to Iraq .

I recall him sitting on a kid's bed in someone's house, chatting to a politician ,with whom he'd got away from the party crowd, about how many troops they would need to invade this fictitious middle east country, and doing the calculation on a child's calculator that beeped and called out encouragement.

At the same party, Gandolfini as the general in full uniform, is quizzed about his attitudes by someone who doubts his commitment to warfare. Gandolfini points to his uniform, barely missing a beat, and saying 'What do you think this is - the Village People?'. Classic delivery of a great line.

[Mr Pee]

It's always shocking to hear about anyone dying before their time. I wasn't a great fan of The Sopranos - I abandoned the box set halfway through the second series, warned (on these boards, no less) that it became increasingly darker.

My memory of him is in the role of the General Miller in the British film In the Loop, derived from The Thick of It, devised by Armando Ianucci, and satirising Anglo-US preparations for an invasion of a country not dissimilar to Iraq .

I recall him sitting on a kid's bed in someone's house, chatting to a politician ,with whom he'd got away from the party crowd, about how many troops they would need to invade this fictitious middle east country, and doing the calculation on a child's calculator that beeped and called out encouragement.

At the same party, Gandolfini as the general in full uniform, is quizzed about his attitudes by someone who doubts his commitment to warfare. Gandolfini points to his uniform, barely missing a beat, and saying 'What do you think this is - the Village People?'. Classic delivery of a great line.

This is very sad news. 51 is no age, especially for one who found success relatively late in life. I was and am a big fan of The Sopranos, a series that expected its audience to think, and never underestimated them, right up to the (in)famous final scene, which was open ended and left viewers questioning whether Tony and his family were dead or alive. James Gandolfini was crucial to that shows success, managing to portray brutality, love, and weakness in the same character, often at the same time. He has been equally good in other roles I have seen him in, but for me, he will always be Tony Soprano.

[Tevot]

Hello there,

I was shocked to read that he was only 51. I suppose his build and weight (as well as his acting) gave the impression that Tony Soprano was in his late forties / early fifties rather than 38 which was Gandolfini's age when The Sopranos started. I've yet to see the final series but will certainly look it up to remind myself of Gandolfini's talent and major contribution to this series.

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[johncorrigan]

Hello there,

I was shocked to read that he was only 51. I suppose his build and weight (as well as his acting) gave the impression that Tony Soprano was in his late forties / early fifties rather than 38 which was Gandolfini's age when The Sopranos started. I've yet to see the final series but will certainly look it up to remind myself of Gandolfini's talent and major contribution to this series.

Best Wishes,

Tevot

He was always good value - I love his performance as the submariner loyal to his relieved captain, Gene Hackman, in Crimson Tide. But as a Sopranos fan he will always be Tony - great performances throughout, but that final season where he is looking round and all his old friends are gone, disposed of, usually by him or on his orders and he becomes a lonely man at the top - that's terrific acting. Very sad to hear this news.

[Nick Armstrong]

But as a Sopranos fan he will always be Tony - great performances throughout, but that final season where he is looking round and all his old friends are gone, disposed of, usually by him or on his orders and he becomes a lonely man at the top - that's terrific acting. Very sad to hear this news.

Yes to that. 'Sopranos' is the only series I've devoured from end to end on DVD in a relatively short period of time one winter - brilliant viewing.

Judging by the photo on BBC News, Gandolfini had got pretty huge of late... Can't have helped a heart condition.

(*Considers switching to semi-skimmed milk*)

[pastoralguy]

I'm really shocked by this. He was one of my favourite actors and has a large part in my favourite film of all time 'True Romance'. I was delighted to see him in the Sopranos and followed the series. What a loss.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

sad news; very impressed with his Director of the CIA in Zero Dark Thirty ... in which he did look rather large ... bur very sad ..

[amateur51]

It's always shocking to hear about anyone dying before their time. I wasn't a great fan of The Sopranos - I abandoned the box set halfway through the second series, warned (on these boards, no less) that it became increasingly darker.

My memory of him is in the role of the General Miller in the British film In the Loop, derived from The Thick of It, devised by Armando Ianucci, and satirising Anglo-US preparations for an invasion of a country not dissimilar to Iraq .

I recall him sitting on a kid's bed in someone's house, chatting to a politician ,with whom he'd got away from the party crowd, about how many troops they would need to invade this fictitious middle east country, and doing the calculation on a child's calculator that beeped and called out encouragement.

At the same party, Gandolfini as the general in full uniform, is quizzed about his attitudes by someone who doubts his commitment to warfare. Gandolfini points to his uniform, barely missing a beat, and saying 'What do you think this is - the Village People?'. Classic delivery of a great line.

Very sad news indeed.

I'm with you about his performance in 'In The Loop' in which Tom Hollander played the lightweight government minister to great effect too. There was a scene between Gandolfini and Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in which they hurled vicious basic language at each other without raising their voices - makes me shudder to think of it still, but it was powerful acting from both in what was essentially a satirical comedy.

[Nick Armstrong]

http://www.joe.ie/pic-of-the-day/great-tribute-to-james-gandolfini-at-site-of-final-sopranos-scene/

Classy (good publicity too, mind you... the American way... )

[Karafan]

What a nasty shock that awful news was.

After eight series with this great actor, you almost feel like you knew him. A tremendous, powerfully undertstated actor, who dominated every scene he was in and yet was clearly a team player loved by his fellow actors.

"Lightning in a bottle" indeed. Couldn't have put it better myself. Condolences to his family.

RIP, Mr Gandolfini.

[Mr Pee]

Just a quick heads up for Sky viewers- in tribute to James Gandolfini, Sky Atlantic are going to be showing four classic Sopranos epidodes from 9pm tomorrow night, Friday 21st June.

And I find this tribute from Holsten's Ice Cream parlour, where the very final scene of that epic series was shot, rather touching:-

http://www.joe.ie/pic-of-the-day/great-tribute-to-james-gandolfini-at-site-of-final-sopranos-scene/

[Nick Armstrong]

And I find this tribute from Holsten's Ice Cream parlour, where the very final scene of that epic series was shot, rather touching:-

http://www.joe.ie/pic-of-the-day/great-tribute-to-james-gandolfini-at-site-of-final-sopranos-scene/

We are ad idem on that: see #9 above

[kernelbogey]

Yes to that. 'Sopranos' is the only series I've devoured from end to end on DVD in a relatively short period of time one winter - brilliant viewing.

Judging by the photo on BBC News, Gandolfini had got pretty huge of late... Can't have helped a heart condition.

(*Considers switching to semi-skimmed milk*)

So you'd recommend I give the series another whirl, Calibs? If, on a scale of 0-10 (10 most violent) The Killing is, say, a 6, where does Sopranos score in your view?

BW, kb

(*Bought skimmed milk & several tins of oily fish yesterday, did not replace butter or wine*)

[Mr Pee]

So you'd recommend I give the series another whirl, Calibs? If, on a scale of 0-10 (10 most violent) The Killing is, say, a 6, where does Sopranos score in your view?

BW, kb

(*Bought skimmed milk & several tins of oily fish yesterday, did not replace butter or wine*)

I'd say it's hard to quantify in that way. We all have different levels of tolerance to such things. What's a 10 to some might be a six to to others. My parents gave The Sopranos a go and didn't stick with it because of the language, rather than the violence.

Certainly there are moments of extreme violence, but then it would be a strange look at Mob life without such scenes. But I don't think there is ever violence for the sake of it; nothing gratuitous. The series as a whole has been righly praised and showered with awards. I would certainly urge you to give it another go.

And Cali...sorry to duplicate your link! How did I miss that??

[johncorrigan]

I'd say it's hard to quantify in that way. We all have different levels of tolerance to such things. What's a 10 to some might be a six to to others. My parents gave The Sopranos a go and didn't stick with it because of the language, rather than the violence.

Certainly there are moments of extreme violence, but then it would be a strange look at Mob life without such scenes. But I don't think there is ever violence for the sake of it; nothing gratuitous. The series as a whole has been righly praised and showered with awards. I would certainly urge you to give it another go.

I'd agree, Mr Pee - for guidance, the DVD for 'The Killing' is certificate 15, whereas 'Sopranos' is generally 18. The language can get a bit tough at times, though it's often the contasts between Tony's two families that make the violence strike harder. There are some wonderful personalities in there but Gandolfini holds the whole thing together. The series is not even - there are times when it dips, but throughout Tony is just exceptional as a character and Gandolfini wonderful.