Apparently he was considered for Tony Soprano but I actually think he’d have been far better suited to the role of Ralphie, he’d have been brilliant (not that Joe Pantoliano wasn’t great) but in an alternate world I’d have loved to have seen Liotta and Gandolfini going head to head.
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Gandolfini was perfectly cast as Tony. I mean, his first language is New Jersey. A younger Liotta would have fit somewhere in the show - maybe Ralphie, particularly with his mob movie pedigree.
Still, Liotta is an odd choice. I don't know if his brain is baked from pot of if he had a stroke or killed brain cells with booze, but he's done as an actor.
Too bad James Gandolfini died. They certainly would have thrown a Stugots worth of money at him to do a sequel movie.
I always thought Steve Buscemi was miscast as Tony Blundetto. He and Gandolfini doesn't look anything alike. Ray Liota or Michael Madsen in that role would have been so much batter.
Don't get me wrong Steve Buscemi is amazing, but really miscasted here, many would agree.
Hmmmmm I would differ. I think Buscemi was suited to the tightly wound, bug-eyed intensity of Tony B.
I could see him as he was: somewhat of a more intellectual outsider to the macho-gangster norm, trying to do the everyday 9-5 but being gradually roped in.
I can't imagine the same with Ray Liotia or Michael Madsen in the role - taking orders in a laundromat and trying to start a massage therapy business. They're just imprinted in my mind as too imposing, "too macho".
You wouldn't buy them as trying to go straight - given their imposing presence and gangster movie pedigree.
Imagine him and Lorraine Bracco back together! She was up for the role of Carmela too.
But as already stated James Gandolfini was perfect, it was career defining.
Liotta was best suited to Ralphie of all the characters.
Imagine Liotta in the scene with the dancer outside the Bada Bing, I can totally see him as Ralphie.
He would’ve been great of course but he’s always been big time. I liked them taking a shot with an unknown and a fat guy. James hit it out of the park of course.
shareFrank Vincent was great, but Ray Liotta could have played Phil Leotardo well too.
shareRay Liotta will always be Hendry Hill to me. I liked when Frank Vincent popped in for a few. It was like a pro stopping in for a slice.
The big 4 from Goodfellas were way too big for Sopranos.
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