Bailey was...eager to show another side of Gandolfini: a hard-driving, obsessive character actor who fretted over line memorization and sought out projects and roles that cut against what naturally became a tough-guy persona.
It must be tricky to write a biography of a celebrity you can’t interview (Gandolfini passed away in 2013), but Bailey does a masterful job of it here ... The book’s biggest draw is the author’s approach: to treat James Gandolfini not as a superstar, or a pop-culture icon, but as a regular guy who had never sought fame and who struggled to keep himself balanced once he was a global sensation. Bailey is a perceptive film critic and an equally perceptive biographer. Much has already been written about Gandolfini and The Sopranos, but Bailey’s fresh approach yields new insights. Consider this book a must-read.
A fast-moving, entertaining bio of a Hollywood mensch ... Displays a respect for Gandolfini’s craft and a sympathy for his sweet and salty nature off-screen.
