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  • James Gandolfini

  • The Real Life of the Man Who Made Tony Soprano
  • By: Dan Bischoff
  • Narrated by: John Ventimiglia
  • Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (43 ratings)
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James Gandolfini cover art

James Gandolfini

By: Dan Bischoff
Narrated by: John Ventimiglia
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Summary

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 audiobook, as performed by Gandolfini's Sopranos co-star John Ventimiglia (Artie Bucco), is informed by fresh interviews with Sopranos actors, HBO executives, the star’s 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 Gandolfini’s 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, including his portrayals of real people like Leon Panetta in Zero Dark Thirty. Gandolfini’s 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 Gandolfini’s 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 O’Connor’s Archie Bunker and as volcanic as Marlon Brando’s 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 America’s most iconic actors.

©2013 Dan Bischoff (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about James Gandolfini

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice insight

Very nice stories about a very interesting man. Can't help but feel a lot of things are repeated to bulk up the content however

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good informative book

What made the experience of listening to James Gandolfini the most enjoyable?

This is a great way to consume a book: I can multitask yet be listening intently. It is an excellent informative book, I kept thinking about what I had heard for days afterwards.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The inside track on the world's favourite character

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Had the feeling he keeps saying the same things over and over.
Was disappointed.
Such a shame was looking forward to it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

needed a proofread!

What did you like best about James Gandolfini? What did you like least?

The book was great! there's not a lot to go on really- only a few interviews with the man himself exist. Unfortunately, it is sort of ruined by the constant deja vu of MULTIPLE entire paragraphs and whole sentences repeated over and over again, How can that possibly happen! I understand they must have been rushing to get this book out but how can so much stuff be repeated and surely even John Ventimiglia would notice that he's reading the same parts over and over! It is really bizarre.

Have you listened to any of John Ventimiglia’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I was looking forward to hearing him doing On The Road but it's been removed from Audible (at least temporarily)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Keep a cast list of surnames beside you in order to keep apace!

Read with authentic accent except couldn't keep up with referenced acting colleagues surnames mentioned so suggest keeping a Sopranos cast list handy!

Pleased to learn of largess to those less fortunate in light of bonkersly huge wages earned. So sad there was ever a need for any addiction of any sort especially with such a charmed work life.

Brilliant actor and fascinated to read more about him. Sad such a short life but clearly lived to the full.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very good biography

big fan of James Gandolfini and this was a good insight into his life Rip. loved the narration by the actor who plays Artie Bucco in the sopranos

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