'The Sopranos' Would Be Nothing Without This This 29-Year-Old Underrated Steve Buscemi Movie

The Sopranosis often hailed as the single greatest television series of all time because it featured writing, directing, and acting that was on the same level as what was in the cinema; showrunner David Chasewas certainly not shy about the films that inspired him, as The Sopranos makes frequent callouts to classic crime films such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Once Upon A Time In America. Although it would make sense that Chase would model the show after iconic portrayals of mobsters, The Sopranos drew inspiration from the independent slice-of-life drama Trees Lounge, which served as the directorial debut of Steve Buscemi. Chase referred to Buscemi as an “unsung hero of indie film directors," as he felt that Trees Lounge “was so well-directed and clear, and not baroque.”