Regarding “The Sopranos,” is there really anything else to say? The previous 25 years have seen a great deal of analysis of HBO’s six-season mob phenomenon in books, interviews, and podcasts. The show concluded to divided applause in 2007. Thus, when the high-end cable behemoth proposed a documentary to director Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side”), he chose to focus on the reserved series creator, David Chase. According to Gibney, “I felt that story had never really been properly told before.” “I started telling the story of David Chase and ‘The Sopranos,’ sort of like a combo platter.”
The outcome is a three-hour documentary called “Wise Guy,” which will debut on HBO and stream on Max this Saturday at 8 EDT/PDT. It includes fresh behind-the-scenes video along with interviews with the creative team and cast. The film opens in an exact replica of Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) psychiatrist’s office. Melfi sparred with mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) throughout the drama, which has won 21 Emmys. In a thorough discussion with Gibney, Chase discusses how his childhood influenced the program and his original idea for “Sopranos” as a motion picture.
The opportunity to collaborate with Alex as a director thrilled Chase, 79. It was a little startling at first to be talking so much about oneself. However, he laughs and continues, “I got into it.”
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