Monthly Archives: September 2024

’Wise Guy’ A Breakthrough Session


“Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos” is a triumph of storytelling. It’s as much about the creator as it is about the creation.

Alex Gibney directs with respect for Chase and “The Sopranos”, but avoids excessive hero-worship. The documentary presents an honest, well-rounded portrait of its subject.

The documentary is grounded in Chase’s own words.

A replica of Dr. Melfi’s office serves as the primary setting. It’s a brilliant move, evoking the introspective tone of “The Sopranos” itself.

Here, Chase is at his most candid. He revisits pivotal moments that shaped his career and the cultural revolution of “The Sopranos”.

The documentary is split into two parts. Each offers a different lens on the show’s evolution.

Part one explores Chase’s early struggles as a network television writer. We see his fight to find his voice in an industry resistant to darker, personal narratives.

Gibney excels in showing Chase’s transformation. From an industry outsider with a rejected mobster script to the visionary behind “The Sopranos”.

The second half shifts to the show’s production. It’s an insider’s look at the alchemy between Chase and his ensemble cast.

Archival footage feels like gold to series fans. Early auditions and behind-the-scenes moments offer fresh perspectives on familiar characters.

The documentary goes beyond nostalgia. It invites viewers to rethink “The Sopranos” through Chase’s complex relationship with his Italian-American roots.

Family dynamics that haunted Chase are explored in depth. They provide insight into the show’s psychological underpinnings.

Interviews with key cast members are revealing. Edie Falco and Michael Imperioli offer touching reflections on James Gandolfini.

Gibney doesn’t shy away from addressing the final episode. Chase, historically tight-lipped, provides just enough insight without demystifying its ambiguity.

“Wise Guy” is more than a documentary. It’s a love letter to fans who’ve walked the streets of New Jersey with Tony Soprano.

It also serves as a psychological portrait of a man who rewrote television’s rules. Chase’s balance of dark and light, personal and universal, shines through.

Gibney and Chase have created something worthy of the series itself. It’s nuanced, complex, and utterly compelling.

“Wise Guy” captures the essence of both Chase and his creation. It’s a fitting tribute to one of television’s most influential series.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A Frozen Bouquet

Some factslaps about “Ice Flowers:”

  1. Formation: Ice flowers, also known as frost flowers or ice crystals, form under specific conditions. They typically appear when the air temperature is below freezing, but the water or ground beneath is not completely frozen.
  2. Process: As water vapor escapes from small cracks or pores in the freezing surface, it immediately crystallizes in the cold air above. This process continues, building up intricate structures over time.
  3. Appearance: As seen in the image, they often resemble delicate flowers or feathers made of ice. They can vary in size but are usually quite fragile and can range from a few centimeters to several inches across.
  4. Occurrence: While they can form on various surfaces, including plants and thin ice, the ones in this image are forming on a frozen body of water, likely a lake or fjord in Norway.
  5. Rarity: Ice flowers are relatively rare and ephemeral. They require very specific conditions to form and can disappear quickly when those conditions change.
  6. Variations: Depending on the exact conditions, ice flowers can take on various shapes and sizes, sometimes appearing more feather-like, needle-like, or as in this case, flower-like.

Seven Hours And 15 Days

Odin, the Great Pyrenees from the Tubbs wildfire, became a symbol of loyalty and bravery during the 2017 Northern California wildfires. His story is remarkable because he refused to abandon his flock of goats when the Tubbs Fire swept through Sonoma County.

As the wildfire approached their property, Odin’s owners, Roland Tembo Hendel and his family, had to evacuate quickly. They tried to take Odin and their herd of goats with them, but Odin refused to leave the goats behind. In the chaos of the fire, they had no choice but to leave him, hoping he might somehow survive.

When the family returned after the fire had passed, they feared the worst. Their property had been devastated, but miraculously, they found Odin alive and still guarding his goats, all of whom had also survived. Odin had not only protected the goats but also a group of small deer that had taken refuge with him. Despite injuries, burns, and singed fur, Odin had done what he was bred to do—protect his flock.