Title Sequence Review: “The Sopranos”
March 24, 2009One of my favorite title sequences has to be HBO’s The Sopranos, even though I have only seen random episodes from the show here and there. The sequence is fairly simple, showing the show’s main character, Tony Soprano, driving on the New Jersey Turnpike to his suburban New Jersey home.
The title sequence is shot with a handheld camera, bringing the viewer into the action. In this case, it seems like the viewer is in the car with Tony Soprano, driving out of New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel and south on the New Jersey Turnpike, seeing everything he sees along the way. The views from the Turnpike of the gritty industrial landscape and working and middle class suburbia emphasize the show’s location, New Jersey.
The opening theme song, “Woke Up This Morning,” by Alabama 3 and the rolling white credits fit well with the style of the title sequence and overall theme of the show.
