Warning: The Many Saints of Newark SPOILERS ahead
Just like The Sopranos, the dialogue is a huge piece of the pie in the prequel movie, The Many Saints Of Newark. The New Jersey mobsters and those close to them talk way more than they break the law, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The endless conversations help audiences understand the characters' motivations and solidify the plot.
Most of the movie's quotes perfectly describe the person who is uttering them. Sally Moltisanti is always philosophical because he has chosen to spend his prison days reading instead of talking while Livia is pessimistic and doubtful because she's a negative person in general. Whether the remarks are meant to mock or inspire, they don't fail to entertain.
"Pain Comes From Always Wanting Things." - Sally Moltisanti
While visiting Hollywood Dick's twin brother, Sally Moltisanti, in prison, Dickie Moltisanti confesses that he badly wants a son but has been unable to have one. In response, Sally advises him to stop wanting too many things if he wants to be happy.
As a veteran mobster, Sally is a great judge of character. He has seen the greed in Dickie's eyes and has accurately concluded that this is what's causing him so much pain. Dickie's counterargument is that a son isn't a "thing" but a very important part of one's life. He is right, but using "son" instead of "child" makes him look more chauvinistic.
"The Little Kid Is My Uncle, Tony Soprano. He Choked Me To Death." - Christopher Moltisanti
Christopher Moltisanti is only portrayed as a baby in The Many Saints Of Newark, but there are a couple of voiceover moments involving the iconic character. As he is introducing a young Tony to audiences, he describes him as the man who choked him to death.
Christopher has one of the saddest deaths in The Sopranos and the voiceover reminder early in the prequel triggers some form of melancholy. Christopher's father Dickie always looked out for a young Tony, hence the older Tony ought to have repaid the gesture by looking out for Christopher. However, Tony cannot be faulted for not trying. He tried to push Christopher to greatness, but Christopher was battling too many demons.
"Say To Yourself: This Is The Last Time I’m Ever Gonna Steal Something." - Dickie Moltisanti
Tony isn't too happy when Dickie hands him stolen speakers. He feels that getting caught with them might ruin his chances of ever having a decent career. Dickie disagrees.
As Tony's mentor, Dickie sees potential in him to become a gangster. Though he appears genuine by making Tony vow to never do it again, he is cunningly ushering him into the world of crime. Dickie knows that once the teenager realizes how cool the speakers are, he will want more, and that will mean stealing them.
"He Doesn't Have The Makings Of A Varsity Athlete." - Junior Soprano
Junior says these words to a relative during a family dinner when Tony starts talking about football. It's a direct reference to The Sopranos where Junior constantly angers Tony by reminding everyone that he never had the making of a varsity athlete.
In the movie, the words don't hurt Tony much because he is still young and full of dreams; he's sure he'll prove his uncle wrong. When Junior repeats the words in The Sopranos, they are more hurtful because it has finally proved that he was right. Tony didn't have the discipline needed to play football. He was always destined to be a gangster, and Junior saw it decades ago.
"So Much Tragedy In Your Life. Your Father, Your Mistress…" - Sally Moltisanti
When Dickie reveals to Sally that his mistress died too, Sally, despite being imprisoned, can't help but feel pity for him. He advises Dickie to change his ways in order for fate to favor him more.
The deaths of Dickie's father and mistress can't be described as tragedies since he's responsible for both. He kills his father for pushing his goomah down the stairs then kills his goomah for sleeping with another man. Despite the deaths resulting from his own actions Dickie still feels bad about them and that's why he talks to Sally. He gets sound advice to help him be more reserved moving forward, but as one of the bravest characters in The Many Saints Of Newark, Dickie still jumps into fires.
"You Can't Prove It By Me, He's Got A D+ Average." - Livia Soprano
Shock plasters itself all over Livia's face when Tony's guidance counselor states that he is a genius. She won't agree since Tony only averages a D+ in school.
While it's a moment of genuine perplexity, it also highlights the little belief that Livia has in Tony. Even when the guidance counselor clarifies that the only reason Tony doesn't get good grades is that he doesn't apply himself, Livia won't buy it. She considers her son annoying and it's no surprise that she tries to get him whacked in the future.
"May I Make A Brief Suggestion For A Nice Christmas Present You Could Give Him? Stay Out Of His Life." - Sally Moltisanti
Dickie goes to visit Sally again in prison right before Christmas and the two discuss Tony. Regarding Dickie's relationship with the youngster, Sally has a suggestion.
Having analyzed Dickie's mannerisms during the few prison visits they've shared, Sally has concluded that the mobster is a bad influence on Tony. He's right since it's Dickie who helps Tony crawl into the mob. To Dickie's credit, he does try to do as he's told by ignoring Tony. That doesn't work because Dickie is too fun to hang out with. Tony constantly looks for him, and when he dies, Tony vows to honor his life by becoming a gangster.
"He Says I Got To F***ing Rob Your Old Man's Restaurant." - Tony Soprano
Tony and Artie's friendship moments in The Sopranos make some of the best scenes overall in the HBO series. In the prequel, their friendship is once again explored. Artie tells Tony how his father would like him to run the restaurant one day. On his part, Tony jokingly says that his father would like him to rob the restaurant.
The scene illustrates just how different mobsters are from normal people. Though they are close friends, Tony and Artie are destined for very different paths. They have the power to decide for themselves, but the foundations are laid early on by their parents. Artie grows to be the proud owner of the Vesuvio restaurant while Tony becomes a mafioso and robs plenty of businesses — but not the Vesuvio.
"If My Christopher Grows Up To Be Like Tony, I'd Be Goddamn Proud." - Dickie Moltisanti
Gang leader Harold McBrayer starts out as a close friend to Dickie, but their relationship goes south, with McBrayer even sleeping with Dickie's mistress. Before their enemy days, Dickie raves to McBrayer about Tony, wishing that he'd like his son to become just like Livia's boy.
Dickie's dream doesn't come true because an older Christopher jeopardizes every chance he has of achieving greatness. Even Tony wants Christopher to be like him and eventually take over as boss but Christopher's mistakes keep piling up so much that his catchphrase becomes "I'm sorry, T." On the brighter side, afterlife Dickie can at least be proud that his protégé Tony turned out to be a great mob boss.
"'It's Done!" - Junior Soprano's Hired Associate
In the final minutes of the movie, Junior takes a call right after Dickie gets shot. The person on the other end simply states "It's done" before hanging up. The words confirm that Junior was indeed responsible for Dickie's death and not Haydu, one of the best law enforcement officers in The Sopranos, as Christopher was lied to by Tony.
From a Cosa Nostra point of view, Junior has every reason to kill Dickie. He is more liked by everyone in the family, meaning he could become the Don ahead of Junior. Dickie keeps mocking Junior too, suggesting that his wife might be sleeping with other men for money. All this doesn't sit well with Junior, so he takes action.