Cleaver (The Sopranos)
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''Cleaver'' is a metafictional film within a TV series that serves as a plot element toward the end of the HBO
television drama series In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
''
The Sopranos ''The Sopranos'' is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster, portraying his difficulties as he tries to balance ...
''. Although very little film material is actually shown in the series, its planning and development are discussed at large throughout multiple seasons of the show. The extent to which character
Christopher Moltisanti Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ''The Sopranos''. He is Tony Soprano's protégé and a member of the DiMeo crime family, rising from associate to captain over the course of th ...
mixes confidential and personal information about the Soprano mob family into the story elements of ''Cleaver'' is the focal point throughout its development. ''Cleaver —originally titled Pork Store Killer—'' can be categorized as a
direct-to-DVD Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was p ...
mafia "Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
-
slasher film A slasher film is a genre of horror films involving a killer stalking and murdering a group of people, usually by use of bladed or sharp tools like knife, chainsaw, scalpel, etc. Although the term "slasher" may occasionally be used informally as ...
, described alternately as "''
Saw A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mov ...
'' meets ''
the Godfather II ''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. ''Part II'' s ...
''", "'' the Ring'' meets ''
The Godfather ''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caa ...
''", and "a story of a young man who goes to pieces, then manages to find himself again".Lupertazzi's description of the movie at the premiere in "
Stage 5 Stage 5 (or, originally, "Stage V") is an unofficial stage at the Walnut Valley Festival, an annual bluegrass festival in Winfield, Kansas, United States. Set up in the Pecan Grove campground, the informal stage began in 1987 when camper Russe ...
"
Several characters are credited for their involvement in the project. The screenplay was written by J. T. Dolan based on a story by
Christopher Moltisanti Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ''The Sopranos''. He is Tony Soprano's protégé and a member of the DiMeo crime family, rising from associate to captain over the course of th ...
. The film was directed by Morgan Yam, and produced by Carmine Lupertazzi, Jr. and Moltisanti. The film starred
Jonathan LaPaglia Jonathan LaPaglia (, ; born 31 August 1969) is an Australian actor and television personality. He has hosted Network 10's revival of ''Australian Survivor'' since 2016. As an actor, LaPaglia is known for his roles as Frank B. Parker in the tel ...
as Michael "the Cleaver" and
Daniel Baldwin Daniel Leroy Baldwin (born October 5, 1960) is an American actor. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Baldwin played the role of Detective Beau Felton in the NBC TV series '' Homicide: Life on the Str ...
as mob boss Salvatore ("Sally Boy"). Sally Boy's key advisors are played by George Pogatsia (Frankie) and Lenny Ligotti (Nicky). Initially, Moltisanti and Lupertazzi attempted to cast
Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and tw ...
as the mafia boss in the episode "
Luxury Lounge "Luxury Lounge" is the 72nd episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the seventh of the show's sixth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Danny Leiner, it originally aired on April 23, 2006. Starring * James Gandolfini ...
", but Kingsley turned the part down.


Plot

The protagonist of ''Cleaver'' is Michael, a character nicknamed "the Butcher". When Christopher Moltisanti proposes the plot to writer J. T. Dolan, he says the film is about a "young wise guy, assassin, gets betrayed by his people. They whack him and leave his body parts in dumpsters all around the city. Long story short, he is put back together, by science...or maybe it's supernatural. And he gets payback on everyone who fucked him over, including the cunt who he was engaged to. She was getting porked by his boss the night the hero was killed." Several episodes in the film are drawn from Moltisanti's own life experiences as a
made man In the American and Sicilian Mafia, a made man is a fully initiated member of the Mafia. To become "made", an associate first must be Italian or of Italian descent and sponsored by another made man. An inductee will be required to take the oa ...
in the Soprano crime family, including a misinterpreted and overblown rumor concerning an alleged affair between Family head
Anthony Soprano Anthony John Soprano is a fictional character and the antihero protagonist in the HBO television drama series ''The Sopranos'' (1999–2007), portrayed by James Gandolfini. Soprano is a member of the Italian-American Mafia and, especially late ...
and Christopher's then-fiancée
Adriana La Cerva Adriana La Cerva is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ''The Sopranos'', portrayed by Drea de Matteo. She is the long-time girlfriend and, later, fiancée of Tony Soprano's protégé, Christopher Moltisanti. For her performance, de Mat ...
. The film closes on a tight shot of a
crucifix A crucifix (from Latin ''cruci fixus'' meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the ''corpus'' (Lati ...
and a
cornicello A cornicello (), cornetto (; ), corno (Italian for "horn"), or corno portafortuna (literally "horn that brings luck" in Italian) is an Italian amulet or talisman worn to protect against the evil eye (or ''malocchio'' in Italian) and bad luck in ...
, juxtaposing " the sacred and the profane".


Development

Moltisanti met Dolan while both were in rehab recovering from heroin addiction. In the episode "
In Camelot "In Camelot" is the 59th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the seventh of the show's fifth season. Written by Terence Winter and directed by Steve Buscemi, it originally aired on April 18, 2004. Starring * James Gandolfini ...
" (5x07), their friendship gets complicated when Christopher introduced J. T. to the underground world of high-stakes poker games, inadvertently giving the writer a new outlet for his addictive personality. Dolan rapidly found himself $60,000 in debt, and soon wound up back in rehab at Moltisanti's prompting. The film itself originated in "
Mayham "Mayham" is the 68th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the third of the show's sixth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Jack Bender, it originally aired on March 26, 2006. Starring * James Gandolfini as Ton ...
" (6x03) when Moltisanti offered Dolan a way to clear his debts: to write a screenplay for a digital slasher film based on a concept by Christopher. But the story had its genesis earlier, when Christopher began his quest to write a screenplay in "
The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti" is the eighth episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos''. It was written by David Chase and Frank Renzulli, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on February 28, 1999. Starring * James Gan ...
" (1x08). After struggling through 19 pages, Moltisanti became disillusioned and slipped into a depression, throwing away his work. He later had an affair with studio vice-president Amy Safir in " D-Girl" (2x07). Through her, he met '' Swingers'' and ''
Made Made or MADE may refer to: Entertainment Film * ''Made'' (1972 film), United Kingdom * ''Made'' (2001 film), United States Music * ''Made'' (Big Bang album), 2016 * ''Made'' (Hawk Nelson album), 2013 * ''Made'' (Scarface album), 2007 *'' M.A.D.E. ...
'' scribe Jon Favreau, with whom he discussed his film concept. When they decide that the title of the movie is to be ''
Cleaver A cleaver is a large knife that varies in its shape but usually resembles a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is largely used as a kitchen or butcher knife and is mostly intended for splitting up large pieces of soft bones and slashing through t ...
'', Christopher mentions to Tony that the estate of Black Panther Party leader
Eldridge Cleaver Leroy Eldridge Cleaver (August 31, 1935 – May 1, 1998) was an American writer and political activist who became an early leader of the Black Panther Party. In 1968, Cleaver wrote '' Soul on Ice'', a collection of essays that, at the time of i ...
has filed a motion to put a hold on production because of the name association. This is never brought up again in the series and the title does not change. In " Kaisha" (6x12), Moltisanti discussed the similarities between Sally Boy and Anthony Soprano with Julianna Skiff, describing both as men who think that everything belongs to them — a notion crystallized by Sally Boy in ''Cleavers finale when he tells Michael: "What you have belongs to me" because "what's mine is mine; what's yours is mine."


Episodes

* "
The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti "The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti" is the eighth episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos''. It was written by David Chase and Frank Renzulli, directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on February 28, 1999. Starring * James Gan ...
" (1x08) * " D-Girl" (2x07) * "
In Camelot "In Camelot" is the 59th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the seventh of the show's fifth season. Written by Terence Winter and directed by Steve Buscemi, it originally aired on April 18, 2004. Starring * James Gandolfini ...
" (5x07) * "
Mayham "Mayham" is the 68th episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the third of the show's sixth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Jack Bender, it originally aired on March 26, 2006. Starring * James Gandolfini as Ton ...
" (6x03) * "
Luxury Lounge "Luxury Lounge" is the 72nd episode of the HBO original series ''The Sopranos'' and the seventh of the show's sixth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Danny Leiner, it originally aired on April 23, 2006. Starring * James Gandolfini ...
" (6x07) * " Kaisha" (6x12) * "
Stage 5 Stage 5 (or, originally, "Stage V") is an unofficial stage at the Walnut Valley Festival, an annual bluegrass festival in Winfield, Kansas, United States. Set up in the Pecan Grove campground, the informal stage began in 1987 when camper Russe ...
" (6x14)


Mockumentary

In conjunction with the premiere of "
Stage 5 Stage 5 (or, originally, "Stage V") is an unofficial stage at the Walnut Valley Festival, an annual bluegrass festival in Winfield, Kansas, United States. Set up in the Pecan Grove campground, the informal stage began in 1987 when camper Russe ...
," HBO aired the seven-minute
mockumentary A mockumentary (a blend of ''mock'' and ''documentary''), fake documentary or docu-comedy is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on c ...
''Making Cleaver'', detailing the film's production. Including in-character interviews with Moltisanti, Lupertazzi, Yam, Baldwin, LaPaglia, and special-effects make-up artist Steve Kelly, the behind-the-scenes look is broken up into four segments: "Concept," "Courting Kingsley," "Cast and Crew," and "A 'Family' Production." The mockumentary is included in the Season 6 Part 2 DVD set and in The Complete Series DVD collection.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cleaver Fictional films The Sopranos