'Many Saints of Newark' tells an origin story, following (again) in 'The Godfather' footsteps

Origin stories aren't reserved for superheroes, as "Joker" made clear. But the mob drama occupies a peculiar niche, with "The Many Saints of Newark" following "The Godfather Part II" in charting the roots of a crime kingpin, as well as a privileged son who, despite nobler aspirations for him, goes into the bloody family business.

"Many Saints" represents an interesting exercise, not only following up the landmark TV series "The Sopranos" with a movie prequel but doing so 14 years after the character of Tony Soprano (the late great James Gandolfini) signed off, leaving behind endless debate about what happened at the end.

Yet in terms of who wore it better, watching "Many Saints" merely heightens an appreciation of all that the "Godfather" sequel represented then, and remains now. Not only did the film go back to reveal how Vito Corleone (played by Robert De Niro) became the Godfather, but it explored the moral decay of his son Michael (Al Pacino), the war hero who turned out to be the best suited temperamentally to replace his father, despite dad's hopes that Michael would escape that life.