In case you were wondering what the movie version of The Sopranos might have looked like, director Luc Besson and producer Martin Scorsese are giving you a taste with The Family, a film that seems to follow the HBO drama’s lead, albeit with a madcap comedic spin. Formerly titled Malavita (an infinitely cooler name), the movie, whose poster and trailer were just released, could be imagined as a continuation of the Soprano clan’s saga, as it follows a proud mafioso (Robert De Niro), his not-to-be-messed-with wife (Michelle Pfeiffer), their angsty daughter (Diana Agron), and their mischievous son (John D’Leo) as they all struggle to adjust to their life in witness protection, a life some fans thought was the fate of Tony, Carmela, et al.
Though he’s been an active producer and penned countless scripts in recent years (including this one, alongside Michael Caleo, both of them adapting a book by Tonino Benacquista), Besson hasn’t stood at the helm of a full-tilt action movie since 1997’s The Fifth Element. One should hope the director hasn’t lost his breakneck touch, and even though the trailer (below) is as off-the-assembly-line as they come, there are some goods to look forward to, like Pfeiffer doing her best Edie Falco, right down to the religious conflicts, and the kids proving that the rotten apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Also starring Tommy Lee Jones and The Sopranos’ own Vincent “Big Pussy” Pastore, The Family opens September 20.
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