Friends remember James Gandolfini's sad eyes and sex appeal in HBO tribute

HBO will remember James Gandolfini on Sunday with a special tribute featuring more than two dozen friends and colleagues, including "The Sopranos" family creator David Chase, his "Sopranos" wife Edie Falco, and "Sopranos" underboss Tony Sirico.





Gandolfini died of a heart attack on June 19 while vacationing in Italy with his son. After "The Sopranos" went off the air, the actor maintained a fruitful relationship with the network that made him an international star. He produced two documentaries on veterans' issues for HBO and the film "Hemingway and Gellhorn." He also starred in HBO's "Cinema Veritae," a film co-starring Diane Lane. Just before he died, he had begun working on a new mini-series "Criminal Justice."

In a promo released by HBO, Chase comments on Gandolfini's sad eyes, Falco recalls laughing with him, and Sirico calls him "a good man" who "just happened to be a brilliant, brilliant actor." Lane remembered his unexpected sex appeal.

The special includes clips of the three-time Emmy winner's work and behind-the-scenes footage. It will air on Dec. 22 at 8:30 p.m on HBO.

Source: today

'Enough Said': James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus shine in charming comedy-drama-love-story (review)

So you just started dating this new guy, and suddenly you fall into a friendship with his ex-wife (though neither of them knows). Would you want access to the vast knowledge of his ex’s plus and minus charts, or would you rather discover him in a more free style fashion?

That is the question facing Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in Nicole Holofcener’s new crowd-pleasing comedy-drama-love-story “Enough Said.”

Eva doesn't even hesitate to lap up every last detail (mostly critical) being offered by her new friend, Marianne (Catherine Keener), a poet who used to be married to Albert (James Gandolfini in one of his last completed movie roles before he passed away last June).

REVIEW

Enough Said

Who: With Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener. Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener.

Rated: Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, comic violence, language and partial nudity.

Running time: 93 minutes.

Grade: A-

Eva can’t believe her good fortune. She considers Marianne her personal “Trip Advisor” for her budding relationship. A divorced mom whose daughter is soon heading to college, Eva wants to get this one right. Of course, such knowledge and alliances can lead to all manner of complications.

Holofcener, whose films include “Walking and Talking,” “Lovely & Amazing,” “Please Give” and “Friends with Money,” has always had a great ear for the travails women embroiled in difficult relationships or struggling with post-divorce maladies. She usually travels in the indie realm, with more quirky themes and characters. This is by far the most mainstream and accessible movie she has ever made, and it offers a host of dead-on observations and good chuckles.

“Enough Said” features some of Holofcener’s best dialogue and winning performances all around. Keener, always an intriguing actress, has appeared in every one of Holofcener’s films and has become a kind of alter-ego for the writer-director. The cast also includes Toni Collette as one of Eva’s friends, who is weighed down by the tedium and exhaustion of marriage and kids; Ben Falcone as her husband; Tracey Fairaway as Eva’s college-bound daughter, Ellen; and Eve Hewson as Albert’s bratty daughter Tess, who is also college-bound.

Louis-Dreyfus is a charming presence. She has that amazing ability to turn one seemingly throwaway line, or word, into an effective, laugh-provoking moment. In “Enough Said,” she takes on a part with more depth than her usual comedic offerings, and completely nails it.

It helps that she is playing opposite such a distinguished pro as Gandolfini. It is a bittersweet experience watching Gandolfini’s grace and wit as the schluby Albert. (The “Sopranos” legend made this film and wrapped the crime drama “Animal Rescue,” due out next year, before he passed away.) Holofcener’s simple dedication in the closing credits reads: “For Jim.”

Source: Cleveland

‘Sopranos’ star James Gandolfini ‘displayed his usual sense of humor’ when he signed will prior to his death

The acting legend signed the will in December, dividing up his $70 million estate. A lawyer was hired to protect the interest of his two young children.

"The Sopranos” star James Gandolfini spent weeks working with lawyers on his last will and when he arrived at their office to finally sign the document, he "displayed his usual sense of humor and friendly personality," according to a report filed Thursday in Manhattan Surrogate Court.

The report, by a Brooklyn lawyer appointed to protect the interests of Gandolfini's two children after their father died of a massive heart attack in Rome in June, says he is satisfied that the actor knew what he was doing and the will is valid.


"It is my conclusion that this instrument was properly executed by the decendent as he had the capacity and not under duress, coerced or subject to undue influence," the guardian, Anthony Lamberti, said.

Lamberti said he reached that conclusion after spending 17.5 hours interviewing the actor's business manager, Valerie Baugh, his lawyers, Barry Kaplan and Roger Haber, and the two witnesses, Mayra Vilche and Janeth Leon.

He said Baugh told him that the actor met with her alone in a conference room last December 19 where he read and discussed the final document which divided an estate said to be worth as much as $70 million.

"Ms. Baugh indicated that the decedent understood the seriousness of what he was doing but also displayed his usual sense of humor and friendly personality," Lamberti said.

In front of video camera, he signed the will when all the witnesses were in the room.

Haber told Lamberti said Gandolfini had signed a few wills during his lifetime but the last one was done to account for the birth of Gandolfini's daughter, Liliana Ruth, last October.


The will divides the actor's estate among his two sisters, widow and daughter. Gandolfini's son, Michael, 14, does not get any part of that because his father provided for him with a separate trust that is funded by a life insurance policy.

Lamberti said he did not interview his “ward” Michael, who has moved to California with his mother, Marcella Wudarski, Gandolfini's first wife.


He submitted a bill to the court for $7,000 which will be paid by the estate.

Source: Ny Daily News