Synopses & Reviews
James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is the first biography of the actor who died, in June 2013 at age 51, widely recognized as one of the best—and most defining—actors of his generation. The book is informed by fresh interviews with Sopranos actors, the stars acting teachers and coaches, his childhood friends, buddies from his days as a nightclub bouncer, and Hollywood figures including the directors of his posthumously released films. Bischoff decodes Gandolfinis portrayal of mobsters and bad guys from his breakout role in True Romance with Patricia Arquette to the television series role that made his career, and his portrayals of real people like Leon Panetta in Zero Dark Thirty. Gandolfinis personal life--from his marriages and family interactions to his deep friendships with his fellow cast members—enriches and enlivens this book, and deepens our understanding of the star. James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano is a fascinating look at Gandolfinis complicated relationship to his roots, to the role that made him wealthy beyond his imagination, and to American notions of masculinity, power and fame. Even as he scaled the heights of his profession, creating a TV character as vivid as Carroll OConnors Archie Bunker and as volcanic as Marlon Brandos Stanley Kowalski, Gandolfini remained a reluctant celebrity dedicated more to his craft than to his career. James Gandolfini: The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano delivers a textured, multilayered portrait of the on- and off-screen life of a complex, talented man who rose from an Italian immigrant family in northern New Jersey to join the ranks of Americas most iconic actors, and whose death is mourned.
Synopsis
JAMES GANDOLFINI: THE REAL LIFE OF THE MAN WHO MADE TONY SOPRANO is the first biography of the actor, who died in June 2013 at age 51, and who some think was one of the best—and most defining—actors of his generation. Far from being a cut-and-paste, the book is informed by the fresh interviews Dan Bischoff is conducting with Gandolfinis family, his fellow “Sopranos” cast members, HBO executives, the stars acting coach, childhood friends, the “sex worker” he went out with in between his two marriages, buddies from his days as a bouncer at Scores, Mario Batali (the chef at the restaurant Gandolfini bartended for when both were at Rutgers), and Quentin Tarantino, who wrote "True Romance".
Bischoff will cover Gandolfinis portrayal of mobsters and bad guys, from his breakout role in “True Romance” with Patricia Arquette, to the series role that made his career, to his portrayal of Leon Panetta in ZERO DARK THIRTY. JAMES GANDOLFINI: THE REAL LIFE OF THE MAN WHO MADE TONY SOPRANO will explore Gandolfinis complicated relationship to his craft, to where he came from, and to the notions of masculinity, power and success those issues kicked up.
In JAMES GANDOLFINI: THE REAL LIFE OF THE MAN WHO MADE TONY SOPRANO, Bischoff gives readers interesting, textured writing and a multilayered portrait of a complex, talented man on- and offscreen.
Synopsis
JAMES GANDOLFINI: THE REAL LIFE OF THE MAN WHO MADE TONY SOPRANO is the first biography of the actor, who died in June 2013 at age 51, and who some think was one of the best—and most defining—actors of his generation. Far from being a cut-and-paste, the book is informed by the fresh interviews Dan Bischoff is conducting with Gandolfinis fellow “Sopranos” cast members, the stars acting coaches, childhood friends, buddies from his days as a bouncer in New York City and as a popular campus figure at Rutgers, and the director of his last film, Enough Said, Nicole Holofcener.
About the Author
DAN BISCHOFF is the award-winning art critic for the Star-Ledger, where he has been covering art and culture in New Jersey and New York since 1996. Previously, as the chief political and investigative editor at The Village Voice, he developed pieces that won several awards. Bischoffs writing has been published in the Voice, Mother Jones, The Nation, The San Francisco Chronicle, The St. Petersburg Times, ARTnews, The Deal, CBS MoneyWatch.com, and elsewhere. He lives in South Orange, New Jersey.
Table of Contents
Chapter One: All Roads Lead to Rome
Chapter Two: Park Ridge Italians
Chapter Three: The Romantic Lead
Chapter Four: Working Guy to Gentle Hitman via True Romance
Chapter Five: The Sopranos Begins
Chapter Six: Pressures of Success
Chapter Seven: Beloved
Chapter Eight: After T
Chapter Nine: Gotta Blue Moon in Your Eye