Sopranos Unauthorized

Obsessed with the hit HBO series The Sopranos, nationwide fans flock to New Jersey, cameras in tow, to visit the mob drama's most famous landmarks. Under the guise of “behind-the-scenes footage,” this unauthorized documentary intersperses many of these grainy and unenlightening personal home videos with visits to beloved locations like Pizzaland, Tony Soprano's house, and the strip club Satin Dolls, known to millions as Bada Bing. While it's admittedly entertaining to meet the nice woman who lives in evil Livia's house or discover that Satriale's Pork Store doesn't exist, the program's decision to use John Fiore (who appeared on several episodes as Gigi Cestone, who died on the toilet) and Marie Ruffalo as hosts was unwise: playing caricatures of the complex and intricate characters depicted on The Sopranos, their inane banter simply becomes nauseating. So, while interviews with legitimate cast members such as Vincent “Big Pussy” Pastore and David Proval offer occasional insights, the tour guides here are so obnoxious it's no wonder they're stuck talking to a boom operator instead of the genuine creative masterminds of the show. Optional. Aud: P. (D. Fienberg)