Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos: Review

Wise Guy David Chase and The Sopranos is a fascinating deep dive into one of HBO's earliest hits and one of the shows that defined television of the early 2000s.

Going Clear director Alex Gibney sits down for a fascinating chat with the show's creator David Chase about its legacy, his own past and the resultant success of the show - as well as the pressure he felt.

Cleverly mirroring Lorraine Bracco's Dr Melfi's surgery that she used to chat with James Gandolfini's mobster boss Tony Soprano, Gibney sets up an amiable chat with Chase, that will enlighten casual or non-viewers of the series, but may frustrate those who feel they already know the series inside and out.

As if to remedy the potential naysayers, Gibney peppers his two-part doco with some treasured insights - from auditions from various actors trying out for the main roles to footage of those who would ultimately get the roles giving it their best, the doco is a comforting nostalgia-heavy outing that makes for at times easy and occasionally enlightening viewing.

Yet the focal point remains Chase himself - whether it's seeing him struggle to speak at Gandolfini's funeral or confessing he really wanted to make films other than TV, he's a laconic presence that's worth sitting with as the show's curated history guide.

Perhaps a little more troubling though is how much of the darker side of the show is glossed over.

From conflict within a seemingly toxic writers' room to a lack of further discussion of Gandolfini's walkouts from the filming, there are flashes of darkness which don't appear to want to have the lights shone on them.

It's disappointing and while the doco never devolves to hagiography, its desire to fall short at the more intriguing elements is perhaps somewhat of a disappointment.

Equally, while most of the main cast get to chip in - either via archive on set footage or from interviews - it's intriguing to note the show's young stars Robert Iler and Jamie Lynn Sigler don't appear once in modern day interviews.

Filled with insight and plenty of great choices of moments from the show, this doco is one to savour - even if it's not the full Messiah in parts.

And when Wise Guy David Chase and The Sopranos ends, it does so exactly in the cheeky fashion you'd expect  - but when it does, you'll be hard pressed to resist the urge to fire up The Sopranos from the very beginning all over again.

Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos will be available as a binge on Neon and SkyGo from September 9