I watched it a 2nd time and still don't see a plot. I don't want to give a way any of the non plot but will comment on the characters.
Dickie- I thought the actor reminded me at times of Bobby Axelrod and at other times like Richie Aprile. I liked the character and the actor. We never really learn his role. Is he just an associate like his father? A made man? Capo? Was he an alcoholic? We saw him drinking but not misbehaving as a result. He has a picture from being in the Navy where he looks much younger. That has to be pre Vietnam, but was he never called to duty for the war? How old is he? Late 30s the 1st half and early 40s the 2nd half? We never learn why he is so close to the Soprano family.
Hollywood Dick- I thought Liotta looked awful. He has aged a lot. We never learn what happened to his first wife. He didn't add much to the story.
Giuseppina- really did not add a whole lot to the story. Never explained how she moved out of the house. Wouldn't her step daughter have wondered?
Uncle Sal- he looked better here. I really do not understand the point of this character. All of his scened were weird and added nothing to the story. Made me think they were fantasies or dreams. BTW how do you kill a made man in your family, get caught, and not be killed as payback?
I think you could have cut out the above 3 characters and spent more time on answering those Dickie questions.
I think they missed a huge opportunity to run a montage like GF1 This Loneliness or season 2 of the show It Was a Very Good Year. They could have covered 1967-1971 and showed Dickie helping to raise Tony without showing the Tony actor's face since they changed actors.
Johnny Soprano- he didn't have a big role. Thought he was consistent with the show Johnny.
Livia- I thought she did a good job. I thought she looked more like Carmela and even sounded like her at times. But she also had good Livia moments. Such a great character.
Tony- I thought he came across very much like AJ. People are saying that there is a hint to his fate, but you could go either way depending on what you previously believed. I did not understand the ending.
Junior- one too many see you next Tuesdays. I thought the actor and role were good but the ending IMO did not fit Junior's behavior. It contradicts his actions in the show.
Harold- interesting character. I think his role was under used and could have really added to the story. Gotta think he is involved in a sequel.
Paulie- he was funny and fit his character.
Silvio- he overacted and tried to be like Little Steven. I didn't like that. His story conflicts with the show.
Big P- his story conflicts with the show
Other comments:
I liked the opening scene but didn't understand the closing remarks by Chris.
The Soprano house in the movie looked like CNJ while in the show looked still relatively urban. Like something you see in Jersey City, Queens, Staten Island, or Yonkers. I suppose they couldn't use the same house.
The riots didn't really add to the story. The ended up being important to Dickie but it felt forced. Big picture of the Sopranos it wasn't needed.
Chase was amazing into adding very little things to the show that no one person could see everyone of them. I felt like the movie was the opposite. Very little detail.