The Many Saints of Newark

"We want The Many Saints of Newark to spin a good yarn, and for the most part it does."

"Watchable but weirdly obtuse with a tricksy narrative reveal that doesn't add much."

"It feels close enough to coming home again."

"Unfortunately, what (Chase) comes up with in this over-plotted Sopranos prequel is much less interesting than what he planted in our heads over six seasons."

"Entertaining but inessential."

"A busier proposition than its HBO forefather, this sets up more than it can pay off. But it does manage to balance fan-service with plenty of rich, original, complex material."

"Brilliant performances by Alessandro Nivola and Michael Gandolfini help this prequel become a valuable new addition to the Soprano family."

"Sinewy and smart, it's a rich imaginative leap into the pre-history of an iconic show, and a rare instance of the big screen doing right by the small."

"Gandolfini and Stoll are stand-outs in a generic gangster narrative."

"The film's only weakness is Chase's usual failing: he doesn't know how to end anything."

"The young Gandolfini... is a gamble paid off. He gives the film lifeblood."