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Walter White vs Tony Soprano - Who Gave A Better Performance?
- Thread starter Marion Cobretti
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Ultimadrago
Member
Last week i saw the first season of The Sopranos and a few episodes from the second.
things i don't understand:
things i don't understand:
Everyone knows who Tony Soprano is, and the guy walks in the streets, without any protection or bodyguards?
why the guy lives in a regular house with no security?
his children go to a public school? wut?
the guy is a Waste management consultant but he has no office and he has a second job at the stripclub as the owner too?
the "goodfellas" kid who got shot in the foot, is trying to make a movie script? and he taking acting lessons? wut?
why the guy lives in a regular house with no security?
his children go to a public school? wut?
the guy is a Waste management consultant but he has no office and he has a second job at the stripclub as the owner too?
the "goodfellas" kid who got shot in the foot, is trying to make a movie script? and he taking acting lessons? wut?
You ever see Enough Said? I kinda hoped he was a lot like his character in that movie in real life.
Anyway I think Gandolfini's the right choice here. Cranston did a great job as well however.
KaiserBecks
Member
Gandolfini. There are no losers in this contest though, Bryan Cranston was great as well. Just not as great.
TheLegendary
Member
If you want to look at it that way then that makes Gandolfini's performance even more impressive. Cranston played two static "characters types" whereas Gandolfini made Tony more of a complete human being. James had covered the gamut of human emotion in the same way we all do , albeit Tony was on an (hopefully) exaggerated and twisted scale. There was a lot more room for subtlety in the Sopranos but at the same time, with the fits of rage, panic attacks, mental breakdowns, depression , etc; he also had the opportunity to display the big swings, which is a lot of what Breaking Bad is all about.
I love both but Tony Soprano the character is the best there is.
Probably Cranston. There was more range with the character. He had more depth to his growth as a character. If you look at Walter each season, you see the subtle changes that Cranston has to keep tweaking to make it feel organic.
That's a very tough thing to do as an actor. While it's true most characters will go through a change in their story, it's not as common to have a character have a drastic change slowly across a story. It's not entirely fair to compare the roles 1:1, because again, Cranston had a bit more room to perform as an actor than the Soprano character.
Not to say Tony wasn't a complex character with various emotions he was. But I will say, for the most part his character stays the same across the board. And there is nothing wrong with that, he's an amazing character.
That's a very tough thing to do as an actor. While it's true most characters will go through a change in their story, it's not as common to have a character have a drastic change slowly across a story. It's not entirely fair to compare the roles 1:1, because again, Cranston had a bit more room to perform as an actor than the Soprano character.
Not to say Tony wasn't a complex character with various emotions he was. But I will say, for the most part his character stays the same across the board. And there is nothing wrong with that, he's an amazing character.
Tony Soprano inspired Bryan Cranston's performance, so I don't think there's any way that the one who was inspired can be better than the one who laid the foundation. They were both amazing though. Even without knowing what I said above, I'd still barely give the edge to Gandolfini.
blainethemono
Member
Could also check out Alive Day Memories for that. It's basically just him interviewing a bunch of Iraq war veterans who were seriously injured and letting them talk about the experience and the effect that had on them. The focus is almost entirely on them, Gandolfini barely ever says anything and just kind of lets them talk for the most part.
http://unclebarky.com/reviews_files/87840f3e5009b8854eb50f211c9c2bd5-234.html
Mr. Saturn
Member
RoninChaos
Member
Walt had like 12 people murdered in jail. He became ruthless and took out all the enemies he could. Walt hated senseless violence in the first few episodes. After that, he had no issue with it.
Summer Haze
Banned
This, this, this. Couldn't agree more. Not only is Walter White one of my favourite characters, Bryan Cranston is also one of my favourite human beings (he's a seriously cool guy irl). I seriously love the guy...but James Gandolfini did a much better job with making Tony feel human. I went in expecting a run-of-the-mill mob character (kinda like Paulie), but instead I was presented with the deepest, most complicated and most realistic portrayals of a person I've ever seen on TV. Partly because of how he was written, of course, but good writing is nothing without a talented actor. James owned that role.
RIP.
This is the 21st century, organized crime has changed a lot when it comes to how things operate and such. Important people don't get murdered in public willy nilly, its been that way for awhile. He has a waste management office he never goes to because the title and job is one of the only legit things he could report to the IRS.
The show isn't unrealistic, its modern in every sense.
Woody Invincible
Banned
Agent Dale Cooper wins everytime.
Gandolfini by a mile.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Cranston is great, but isn't even in the same postcode that the ballpark Gandolfini is playing in is located.
I'd have to say that Gandolfini's performance is better. Don't get me wrong, Cranston was excellent in his role, but the way I see it, WW didn't have as much depth as Tony Soprano as a character. He was certainly complex, it's just that Tony goes through so many emotional states and inner conflicts that their excellent portrayal by Gandolfini throughout the series makes his performance my favourite in TV history.
Yeah, and I mean he's part of a reasonably powerful family right off the bat from what I remember. Unless someone has an incredibly important reason to take him out, they aren't going to for fear of retaliation.
And it's not exactly a smooth day to day life for Tony through the entire show. Without getting specific, shit pops off later in the series.
If we're going to being supporting characters into this then Edie Falco is going to win out every time.
Ultimadrago
Member
- Because everyone knows who Tony Soprano is, he doesn't need constant bodyguards. In fact, living in such a fashion would likely aggravate attacks in Tony's universe as it would display a life lived out of fear which Tony himself takes active steps to ward against such a reputation. Plus, someone would have his gang and allies to worry about if they did screw with him or his. "Random" attacks are highly discouraged in organized crime (at least in the show) for this reason. It can start a whole slew of chaos from the inside and out. Not an action to be taken lightly.
- See above.
- I don't know if you're curious about this because Tony has money or because it exposes the children to danger. On the latter, it's the same deal as above. On the former, why not? Tony thinks school is important, but the type to start his kids in private school just to start them in private school? Nah. Though if you keep watching, the concept is confronted later in the show.
- Waste management consultant is a front. He has other people deal with the specifics and does not need to clock in to keep his public image as one. Co-owning the Bada-Bing is not a "job" in the literal sense, but more of a meeting place or unofficial office for Tony and the gang in a space that he controls.
- And you mean Christopher? lol. Yeah, he's "somethin' else" to say the least. I actually watched Goodfellas after viewing the Sopranos and laughed out loud seeing him in there. His character is quite interesting in The Sopranos.
Probably never.
I know.
It most certainly does.
That wasn't senseless violence it was necessary. Senseless violence is by definition violence without any real point besides maybe the pleasure of derived from inflicting harm on others. If Walt had a choice he would choose not to harm anyone but if it was necessary to keep his life or business afloat he would do it. Tony on the other hand reveled in violence, he enjoyed having or beating up weaker people and enjoyed the thrill of the gangster lifestyle. His primary concern was not about business and professionalism it was about having a good time with that life.
When Tony and Chris stole that liquor from those other gangsters I thought it perfectly encapsulated the nature of Tony Soprano's personality and perfectly contrasts that with Walter's personality.
TheLegendary
Member
Are you sure you even watched Breaking Bad?
TOP SHOTTA
Member
Walter White - because I think it was a better display of acting talent.
James Gandolfini was more "born and bred" to play Tony Soprano than Bryan Cranston was to play Walter White. So if we're measuring just pure acting talent, it's actually pretty easy. Walter White. On the 2 characters alone though - setting aside any notion of acting - both are masterful and almost impossible to rank. Breaking Bad was so recent and slightly better realized and explained in my opinion so WW would get the vote from me, but just barely. It's so hard when you're literally talking about two of the best performances of all time in a TV show.
If there was a third, who would it be? Jack from Lost? Someone else from Lost? Or, do we go down precipitously from there?
James Gandolfini was more "born and bred" to play Tony Soprano than Bryan Cranston was to play Walter White. So if we're measuring just pure acting talent, it's actually pretty easy. Walter White. On the 2 characters alone though - setting aside any notion of acting - both are masterful and almost impossible to rank. Breaking Bad was so recent and slightly better realized and explained in my opinion so WW would get the vote from me, but just barely. It's so hard when you're literally talking about two of the best performances of all time in a TV show.
If there was a third, who would it be? Jack from Lost? Someone else from Lost? Or, do we go down precipitously from there?
James Gandolfini by a country mile. And it isn't even close.
Al Swearengen (Deadwood) maybe?
Or let's just stay with the best TV drama ever and say Edie Falco.
Al Swearengen (Deadwood) maybe?
Or let's just stay with the best TV drama ever and say Edie Falco.
That's who I'd go with. McShane in that role is one of the few actors who is able to rival Gandolfini and Cranston in terms of moral ambiguity and complexity. He's undeniably a bad person because of his actions, but he's so damn charismatic that you can't help but root for him (especially when Hearst comes into the picture).
It's really a shame Deadwood didn't get more seasons.
akachan ningen
Member
Gandolfini and Falco both have better performances than Cranston.
D
Deleted member 47027
Unconfirmed Member
Shit, I think the more interesting comparison is between supporting characters.
Edie Falco vs Aaron Paul. Now THAT'S a tough one. Falco was incredible.
Edie Falco vs Aaron Paul. Now THAT'S a tough one. Falco was incredible.
Gandofini by far. He makes Tony seems like a real person. Multi-faceted, not just one or the other. He's also nothing like his on-screen character. Someone mentioned this earlier, but the episode where Tony is on a "business trip" on the west coast you can hear his natural accent and voice and it's like he's someone else entirely.
Cranston is good, but he has two modes on BB. One is Walter White, the other is Heisenberg. There's little in between, no nuance. You can practically see it when he changes between the personas, like flipping a switch or putting on a mask.
Cranston is good, but he has two modes on BB. One is Walter White, the other is Heisenberg. There's little in between, no nuance. You can practically see it when he changes between the personas, like flipping a switch or putting on a mask.
speculawyer
Member
Little Steve Van Zant
Yes, have you? Walt does not enjoy senseless violence.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Edie Falco was definitely great, but for supporting characters no one beats Walton Goggins on the Shield.
That's going to be a little tricky to arrange
Gandolfini will play Walter White in the years after the end of Breaking Bad. He's been preparing for the role for some time now.
Walter was a terrible liar.
WW was an amateur, Tony is a professional.
Static? Nah, not even close.
"Heisenberg" started out as a street name he came up with, then became a mask he wore to assure himself and others that he was in charge, before evolving into a full-blown personality of its own.
There's a comic book analog that I considered for this.
Bruce Wayne/Batman is a human in disguise as a super-being.
Superman/Clark Kent is a super-being in disguise as a human.
Cranston had to gradually go from the first of those examples to the second, and then back and forth between the two depending on his character's psychological state and emotional ability to handle the situation at hand. There were times where it was Walt pretending to be Heisenberg, and then there were times where it was Heisenberg pretending to be Walt.
exmachina64
Banned
Damn.
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