Let's talk about the Sopranos for a second you play the character that everybody hates. How did that affect you? What was I like?
Well, I don't [think] that everybody hated him. I think that
That he became a character that everybody hated to like that well, okay, all right
I'll take that you know I played a lot of characters where people love to hate him
but
With that character it was almost like I can't believe they haven't killed him yet. What are they Gonna kill him?
What are you gonna? Kill him? Yeah, what are you crazy, you killed him
Yep, I mean, I'll never forget watching that last episode with you know with you in it with Ralphie
And I you know I was like cheering as they were killing him my character
basically
The work that was put into it what they did is if you start watching that two
Seasons that I was on they introduced my character as someone that loves
The Coliseum and and I just recently seen Russell crowe in Gladiator
[that's] right. Yeah. He's so Ralphie is like
I love the gladiator might you know and I come to save the people of my country and it's all about gladiator and the
the play continues, so that Ralph you see
his his soul where he believes that his son has been injured because of
All of the bad that he's done his whole life and that that he's been a victim of really bad shit
Because you know he tells the priest my parents were animals, and you can't believe the shit
[they] did to me because he was a victim of sexual abuse and and and and mental abuse and
you know nobody is born bad this guy was created to be who he was and and
He dies the death of a gladiator
Because this wasn't a mafia hit this was too
Strong man, that's right
But Tony was about ready that in the episode before Tony is ready to kill a boss Johnny sack
because of the value [that] ralph even though he doesn't like Ralph the value that Ralph has
With the esplanade right right and in a fit of rage he winds up killing
Ralph
And a fight to the death because if Ralph gets in a lucky punch [Tony] Soprano's dead. [that's] gone. That's right, so
You know in the weight class that Tony had on Ralph Ralph never had a chance poor bastard
but but they know they're fighting and scratching and clawing at each other and
and it's over the indignation that Ralph has for being accused of
Killing a whore on the horse in fact he didn't kill the horse
He says I didn't kill the [swords] you fucking miserable piece of shit
You know my son is dying in a hospital, [and] you know and I'm and it's a blessing
It's a gift for Christ's sakes. I just killed a guy
Yesterday for you you know and I gave you the [money]
We did a scene where I give him this chunk of money?
And I say I'm sorry and I and I become vulnerable to him. I I share with him my innermost feelings
No, that doesn't you know [that] didn't track with the with the audience
They didn't get that yeah, so we you know completely over the head, and I'm the guy you know my character
I could find the cure cancer
You know I could become president United States
And I'd always be remembered as it guys the guy who got his head thrown on a bowling bag
Now did you know getting into this out sick and twisted this character was no no whatsoever no
I mean David Chase called me up and offered me the job and said that you know this guy's this scumbag
He's going to be around for a while, but I you know we're going to need him to be charming and funny
But you know he's a scumbag, but hey, they're all scumbags
That's the other thing is Tony Soprano is equally a vile
Human being of course, but he's [lovable]
Well all those guys were right. I mean you know Paulie walnuts is you know a piece of garbage, too?
But it's there's something really likable, but and that's one of the anchor had said that too
He said you know, they're all they're all scumbags
These guys didn't have a chance but day, but they're human beings and their human qualities
was
Fantastic the other thing is if you look at that last episode
It was really sympathy to the devil because they use key words of that song
Throughout the show you know Ralph when he when he meets the doctor uses allow me to introduce. [yes]. He does yes he does
Jesus that's Incredible that show is so deep there's so many different layers of it, and you know watch it as a fan
You [know] every time you saw any little thing that happened [know] that the parking garage that's going to come back
You know when it?
Doesn't and it never does with you know this issue in the woods it never comes with the russian it never comes back
I had I have terrible resentments. I was I was cruel [to] people because they called me ralphie
You know I would have I would I would
ostracize them and say
My name is Joe Joe, Pantoliano
Ralph Cifaretto is a character on a TV show [yeah], not real you know and
And they were trying to give me a compliment