Why Did Phil Grab The Bedsheets? | The Sopranos Explained

In The Sopranos, Tony Sopranos' nemesis, mafia boss Phil Leotardo, wants to find Vito and take him out. Phil is furious with Tony that he isn't doing enough to find Vito, so he takes matters into his own hands.
Phil and his goons eventually find Vito who is staying at a motel, where they attack him. While Vito is beaten with bats, Phil Leotardo grips the bedsheets and makes a weird face. Why did Phil Leotardo grip the bedsheets as Vito was beaten.

[@seanmoore-l1t]

He was absorbing the bed so he could add it to the interior when he turns back into a house.

[@medivhal]

Best fucking comment.

[@keveardo]

The Thing, whateva happened there

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@User-1683x2]

Lol you win!

[@ArjunRoy-gp7co]

He was an interior decorator, Phil Leotardo?

[@stevewalker206]

"It's 1978. They even have sheet-grabbers in the Iranian monarchy."

[@AnneHathawayRules]

The level of historical accuracy in this joke makes me happy 😂

[@alantrimble2881]

@@AnneHathawayRules@CineRanter makes Shah of Iran jokes whenever Phil is being discussed. I find it hilarious, but I’m afraid it goes unnoticed by much of the audience.

[@AnneHathawayRules]

@@alantrimble2881 And there were also claims that a lot of people in the Iranian monarchy were closeted homosexual and a blind eye was turned. So I don't know if it was intentional or not but the historical accuracy of the comment cracked me up.

[@678jrj4]

There are pillow biters in the Special Forces

[@nicologanmargie1465]

I love how they played “rock the casbah” when tony was chasing Philly before the car crash❤

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

Because he compromised. He loved him like a brother in law.

[@lambrosk3790]

Wow I just laughed out loud. Good one 😂 😂

[@TheCagamerda]

Meme aside, never tought of it that way

[@toby099]

Brother in law of what? The good ship lollypop?

[@lambrosk3790]

@@toby099 that's good. I'm sure he didn't come up with that one on his own.

[@matthewsplatthew]

There was nothing we could do… Phil was a made guy and the sheets weren’t

[@lambrosk3790]

Real greaseball stuff. 😂

[@bobbyfirmansyah8580]

There was nothing we could do.. Phil is a Shah and Vito is a Parade Float. It was among the Brother in Law.

[@sidwidle]

It died on the vine.

[@NuncNuncNuncNunc]

The bed was made.

[@roncur]

😆

[@markangelou9368]

The sheets weren’t sitting at 12 o’clock..they were askew

[@AnneHathawayRules]

They feel fine to me

[@CoD1889]

They were off-kilter.

[@daveruss9972]

@@CoD1889 - you got an eye problem? you're looking like Stevie Wonder with them rolling all around

[@chandler586]

@@AnneHathawayRulesHow can they be fine if they’re askew?

[@roncur]

Yall are a complete mess. 😆😆😆😆

[@JerryC25]

He was thinkin about grilled cheeses

[@AnneHathawayRules]

Off the radiator? 🤔

[@jpmnky]

Nah. It was stroking into a tissue.

[@joeydinner8188]

​@jpmnky Now that's compromise

[@AnneHathawayRules]

@@joeydinner8188 I think it's a little too much compromise to be honest with you

[@joshuahoover6841]

I just thought he enjoyed watching Vito's head go bing bam boom pow, bing bang boom

[@sammyr401]

Phil was as gay as the day was long! 30 years in the can, lol. He literally came out of the closet!

[@MikeB-rb7nk]

Vito’s head was chalked?

[@thecinephiliac4034]

(Laugher died down) You’re a funny guy, Joshua, really funny.

[@gorillachronicles]

I'm pretty sure it was more that he liked watching his backside get Bing pow Bam Boom

[@coreyhall1150]

​Funny, (Ligjt snicker) what do ya mean funny? Funny how?? What funny like a clown? Like Ihe's heeah ta fuckin amuse you????​@@thecinephiliac4034

[@ZomegJ]

He was thinking about his 47 year old kid brother Billy, that's why.😂😂

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

Whatever happened there...

[@caesar349]

@@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564whatever happened there??!!

[@coreyhall1150]

Him? He's an old man.

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

It’s sad when they go that young.

[@leyenda6149]

CineRanter is a funny mf, all due respect

[@Xxrocknrollgod]

respect? What the fuck do you know about respect?

[@daveruss9972]

Agreed. Phil's "animal cruelty" toward Blundetto got me this time.

[@joelglanton6531]

Those who give respect... get respect

[@lukemarvenko2845]

Dr Milfie

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

He really blindsides you with his inside jokes. I sometimes have to take a few seconds to process 😂

[@minionofgozer7414]

I think Phil did stuff in prison he was ashamed of, he probably felt guilty about enjoying it and killing Vito was a way for him to 'let go' of his guilt. Coming out of the closet, gripping the bedsheets was maybe all symbolic ways of him showing us he was letting go, killing that side of himself.

[@joelglanton6531]

1:26 Contrary to popular belief, it's actually never mentioned in the series how long Phil Leotardo was in the can

[@fromulus]

Insecurity is a hallmark of Phil Leotardo, even his own family name causes him grief. It's always deep concern and worry of how he's seen by everyone around him, it consumes him. That alone makes the idea of him also being internally conflicted or just confused, sexually, more than possible, not to mention how generally anti-gay he is. Of course that's not abnormal in the Sopranos world, but Phil seems to have the most anger towards it, and that contrast couldn't be more clear than during the discussions he and Tony had about Vito after it was discovered. All of these parts, including the sheet grab, are there for a reason. I don't think I'd use the term 'closeted', because that would require Phil to internally acknowledge himself as at least possibly gay, and I don't think he was capable of reaching that conclusion, or coming close. He'd off himself if he thought there was even a chance of that, probably. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

[@dcstiger]

A complete lack of self awareness and the inability to have real introspection seem to be common traits in narcissists. They are obsessed with how others perceive them. However they are unwilling or unable to understand what truly motivates their behavior.

[@tinnedtuna8242]

"Everybody's gay with you" The writers loved to make fun of the most viciously homophobic characters like Richie and Phil. But it was more about their insecurity than their homophobia. A bit like Tony saying hell is for those other sickos, the role of gay people in their self-mythologizing is to inflate their own sense of masculinity and righteousness. For sure David Chase intended one interpretation of the scene to be that Phil is intensely closeted. But it's to distract from the deeper point about horror and violence these guys inflict in their 'moral crusades', and their own confusion about how to feel when coming face to face with it.

[@nickstone1587]

Phil was a total willybasher, agreed

[@rustykuntz94]

“After Phil’s brother was mauled by an animal” lol😂 you’re the best!

[@BeeDeeAckeeeee]

Phil was just anticipating his transformation into a house

[@areasontosmile1704]

🤣😂

[@bilalashraf1611]

I love to imagine a random viewer who doesn’t watch the sopranos being completely confused because they take phil turning into a house and having supernatural abilities out of context

[@corvidconfidential8826]

I watched the show a few times and I still don't get it

[@richardhart9204]

I think, despite himself, he was just simply horrified by the beating.

[@lean.2366]

Next video: "why did vito's cakes grip the pool cue?"

[@MoralesCorner]

I have never believed the whole 'Phil is repressing gay feelings' theory either. Seems pretty basic to me. At the end of the day, he was a brave Italian mobster and in this house, Phil Leotardo is a hero. End of story!

[@taylorlibby7642]

You say "brave", I say "psychopath".

[@toby099]

Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt honey

[@preworkoutfiend4650]

It’s been proven to be true by the creator. He said it in a podcast

[@MoralesCorner]

​@@preworkoutfiend4650 was he gay, David Chase?

[@MoralesCorner]

​@@toby099 George Carlin ova here

[@KoH4711]

never get tired of the brilliant writing/dialogue in these uploads - the subtle jokes are just primo

[@jameskozy7254]

It's not a dialogue if only 1 person is speaking.

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

Essentially an insightful discussion in the language of the comments of a Borko video.

[@joelglanton6531]

They're great but they're pretty much the polar opposite of subtle lol

[@noone12748]

@@joelglanton6531 Only if you know the lines

[@hejsantxu]

He wanted to lay on the bed ok ? he compromised for years only grabbing the bedsheets ok ?

[@cultivatedmind8352]

Frank Vincent is hands down one of the best actors in mob movie history. I never got why he wasn't in more movies. Raging Bull, Casino, Sopranos. He was fantastic in everything he did. Plus there was something real that translated in his performances. He wasnt cartoonish yet somehow completely hilarious, and despite the theories about him being gay, was an old school paisano and lived by the codes. Ralph was a good wicked villain, Ritchie was a good thug, johnny was a good pragmatist, but the only villain who felt like a real gangster was Phil. He made grilled cheese on the radiator. Can sense when car seats are off by even the slightest increment. Did 20 years in the can, not a peep, just to defend the likes of Rusty Miglio. A true friend and stand up guy.

[@pointman913]

He has 92 credits to his name as per IMDB. Seems like a lot to me

[@greenbeech3055]

His hands were stuck to the sheets due to the copious amount of semen left by johns.

[@jpmnky]

Nah. By the time Phil got there it was dried up, crusty. Maybe he was hoping the sheets would shatter like glass.

[@CollaredConsulting]

You ought to know sweetie

[@SRTarlow]

Struggling with his inner voice, calling him to don a tempting leotard and dance, dance, DANCE! 🤣

[@narxes]

He was fishing for CineRanter to make a video about it. See if he thought Phil is gay.

[@malaisto925]

What do we have to do? Actually see him take it in the arse???

[@FreddyRuger-b6s]

It was a combination of the humidity, vitos see through socks reminded him of those ellis island fucks changing his last name to a ballet costume. His askew heart couldnt take it (an allegorical metaphor)

[@steves1015]

I like the idea he is a sadist. To me he seems to be caressing the bed, not just squeezing it - indicating that he enjoyed it. The Sopranos has featured several characters who like the violence and get off on it (just look at the smile on Ralph's face when Furio is extorting money and you can hear the screams outside), and in reality there were psychopaths (like Mad Sam Destanafo and Anthony Spilotro) who enjoyed the violence. It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that Phil got his rocks off from hurting others. Also, I dispute that Vito was really tortured - in the scene it looks like he is first struck in the head by the bat, which would likely render him unconscious, then there were no whimpers or words from Vito after that, while he was getting beaten. (contrast that to other beatings in the show like Beansie where the victim remained alive and conscious).

[@isaacgraham5727]

You somehow think that Phil Leonardo WASN’T a goddamn sadist? He was an enforcer for the mafia, of course he got off on hurting people! I think the absolute and obvious answer to this is that Phil was feeling some sort of arousal at beating Vito to death and r***ing him with a pool-cue. And no, it doesn’t make him gay, just an extremely sick guy.

[@markdavids2511]

@@isaacgraham5727 Nah, if he’s getting sexually aroused watching a guy get anally raped with a pool cue, he’s a homosexual sadist.

[@vespasian606]

It was all deflection based on self disgust. Vito was the catalyst that brought his internal conflict to the surface and that alone was enough to have him killed. No idea if Phil really thought he might be gay himself but the mere possibility drove him nuts.

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

Doing 20 years and not banging a femboy is gayer than 8 guys fooking 9 guys

[@dan7027]

He drank some wine and became emotional

[@AnneHathawayRules]

He should've had a breadstick

[@coreyhall1150]

He had an empty fuckin stomach

[@BaronMorte]

OOOOOOH Take it easy! e is entitled to some wine, he did 20 years in the can you know?

[@JosephMan485]

It's simple. He was 'getting-off' to the beating.

[@_good_for.]

Nope, he was insecure so he's the most impulsive

[@iamcase1245]

Homophobes are almost all gay, it's been proven by science. Phil was either getting off on the beating or he was feeling emotional about seeing his lover get killed. Either way that's gay.

[@dabearcub]

David Chase doesn’t do simple. Phil did stuff in the can, or wanted to…it’s been confirmed.

[@iamcase1245]

@@dabearcub David Chase isn't the master writer he thinks he is. He's good, very good. But his symbolism is a lot more visible and not as subtle as he thinks it is.

[@TalkingTorah613]

Phil is the "strong and silent" type that Tony Soprano constantly idolizes, and hes proof that its not all it's cracked up to be.

[@RobertEdwinHouse9]

Phil is anything but silent

[@Kallark26]

“Turn into a house”…😂😂😂😂 0:48 you really had to have watched the show to really understand that one…or the Reza Pahlavi line…😂😂😂😂😂😂 comedic gold bro 😂😂😂😂

[@CharlieMartini6]

Vito 'Hawk Tuah' Spatifore

[@bornjusticerule5764]

smh 😂

[@joelglanton6531]

Pito Spitafore

[@dexxxxed4297]

He really does look like the Shah of Iran 😂😂

[@collette3428]

He loved him like a brother in law. He was sad he had to kill him.

[@NeilXSwint]

Phil didn't have the makings of a viscarole athelete.

[@djpuplex]

He got it in the joint. What a pain in the ass that prison sentence was.

[@keithmichael112]

I figured what he was watching moved him in some way, pretty sus

[@Psychology]

I hate the "phil is gay himself" theory. Plenty of people hate gay people and are not gay themselves.

[@lawrenceragnarok1186]

Why did he grab the sheets so sensually then?

[@Psychology]

@@lawrenceragnarok1186 Because he enjoyed seeing gay Vito get the shit bear out of him. He enjoyed it not in a sexual way but in a "you had it coming" kind of way

[@SPL0869]

So they say….but it seems like the loudest ones against it also do the most catching.

[@Psychology]

My reply got deleted? Wtf

[@chungusamongus2338]

​@@lawrenceragnarok1186he's a sadist and he was watching a guy getting beaten to death.

[@apstrike]

No way. I think my brought overarching take is that it's ambiguous, and Phil might or might not be gay, and it's good writing to retain that ambiguity. But if Phil is grimacing and grabbing the bed sheets it likely means one of two things. First, he's conflicted about gay sex without being gay, and he wants to deliver this brutal fatal punishment and watch it, despite it being uncomfortable for himself. The other interpretation is that watching Vito being ass raped reminds Phil of the same thing being done to him. And he responds to that in two ways, with shame and self-loathing because he did not want to be abused in this way, but also with lust and attraction because, though he did not like it the first time, he did eventually like it. If Phil is gay, it's highly likely that the gay sex he enjoys is violent and abusive, with him in charge. That or the exact opposite, but it's highly unlikely to be a loving sensitive relationship.

[@incogneto2834]

He said he jacked off in a tissue...there's nothing to suggest he is gay.He's old school mafia...that's why a homo made man has no place in a family..in this thing of ours.He takes the traditional rules very seriously.

[@sobbyhasselhoff]

"The lone gayman theory" 😂😂😂 this kid is one hell of a writer

[@fuwad84]

First of all, I LOVE how you're sticking Soprano's dialog all throughout your vid, hilarious! Second, and most importantly, your take hits the nail on the head in my book. Phil is portrayed as someone with a huge chip on his shoulder, who made countless sacrifices and, as head boss, is acting upon his tremendous sense of inadequacy to prove to everyone, and himself, that he's a big tough guy old-school mafioso. He sacrificed his best years, his black cherry, his dignity, and too much to list here and now he has an opportunity to get paid for it. It also doesn't help that his height could make him vice-mayor of Munchkinland.

[@dionruffin3996]

Phil is a cold hearted person but even he felt a bit of sadness for Vito they knew each other a long time

[@summer-west]

9:12 don’t forget, Ritchie was going to drive a Lionel up a ramp and into someone’s ass. Choo choo shoes, running the train

[@phil-Leotardo.171]

Because I had an empty fvckin' stomach, dats why, not to mention the sight of Vito and da pool cue made me sick.

[@bigb860]

To show that Philly was human after all. Vito may have been a “fuckin disgrace” to their business, that thing of theirs, but he did care for Spatafore on a human level. It wasn’t like it was a quick whack and done. He has to sit there and watch someone he looked at as family get brutally beaten to death.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

This is perhaps the most meme-heavy video you've made in terms of the references and it's absolutely hilarious

[@YackaSleep]

I think the can broke him. He kept getting dragged into everything when he got out. His wife was the one up his ass about killing Vito. I think he was fed up w the life but he was so respected and he’d already given up 20 years that he was stuck. I think that’s why he cried while Tony was speaking to him in the hospital. I believe him grabbing the sheets was a physical manifestation of the disgust he felt inside for the life he was trapped in. That seemed to be a theme for most of the main characters. They all wanted to escape but once ur in ur in. When I first started watching the show I thought it was a celebration of the mob life but now I think it’s a great depiction of how toxic and destructive a life like that really is. Chase is a genius for that in my opinion

[@lewcarl958]

Looks like uncle Philly was the captain of the good ship lollipop all along

[@chrismemphis8062]

Borko asks about you cineranter

[@PentagramDave]

Seems like there was one episode that had Phil watching something on tv that might appeal to gay men, maybe male bodybuilding. However, I havent heard it mentioned in any analyses

[@flapjackbickle645]

I have to hand it to you, Ranter: that was your wittiest video so far 😂.

[@XtotheK]

THANK YOU for not being a "Phil secretly a finnook" sheep. It's tiresome. Phil was indeed clearly a sadist. I think the only thing you didn't touch on was that this was the only time when a severe amount of pain was (or in Tony B's case, would of) about to be handed out to someone, that he himself didn't personally physically get involved in. He just gave the order and watched. And I think that's because, as hilarious line as it may have been, he truly did love Vito like a brother in law. It hurt him to have to do this to a family member (albeit by marriage) who he respected and cared for in their thing. But he felt like had to do it, as the sin of Vito's dishonour was simply too much to look past so he made two of his guys beat him to death and send a message afterwards to whoever cared to know.

[@thecinephiliac4034]

My guess is he was having ptsd, the pool cue being inserted into Vito’s shine box giving him flashbacks to the beating he got from Spit Shine Tommy and Jimmy the Gent back in the 80s or whatever.

[@LaserRanger15]

I think he didn't exactly want to do it, but felt he needed to do it some weird honor, mafia thing.

[@mikeplaysit]

The turned into a house thing killed me lol

[@WisteriaNerium]

People think it's funny that Phil might've been gay and that's why he took it out on Vito but I think it's funnier he wasn't gay, and for all his talk about how he did 20 fucking years in the can and how nobody challenged him for it, he realize it would look very suspicious if he lets it go. Like he wants everyone to think about his 20 years in the can with respect and not think about the implications it would have.

[@kevinoday3716]

No Scraps in his Scrapbook

[@MichelangeloVA]

You know fact that phil had vito beaten beyond recognition and then SA'd him (either alive or post mortem with the pool stick) for being gay. Makes me low key wonder what he would of done to that animal blundetto?

[@Suaru]

Before clicking the video, I had to take a second to prepare myself for all the out of pocket comments to come. I still wasn't ready. 🤣

[@AnneHathawayRules]

"Now go home and get your fuckin BEDSPREAD"

[@SJReid82]

Dr. Milfi indeed lol. Your turns of phrases are why I love this channel, never mind the actual content.

[@leo_the_v.3847]

I think he was just distracted from the thought of having some delicious grilled cheese ready on the radiator at home waiting for him and he couldn't contain his excitement.

[@Soya22181]

You diminish your videos when you keep using soprano tv quotes after every sentence...try talking normal for once...

[@tacitus6384]

I know Vito's bottom was grabbed.

[@Bullntheheather]

Ive always believed this scene to be highly sexual. I think the death of Vito was because Vito found sexual freedom something Phil would never have he in essence was jealous. Plain and simple. His murder was a turn on.

[@minnumseerrund]

Uncle Philly was shining Johnny's cakes in an alternative universe

[@calistudent6335]

Let's face it, Vito's pishadeel was made and the bedsheets weren't.

[@daniel5730]

7:15 In his WOP sense...😂

[@joed9849]

Very observant CineRanter, the pool cue and the bedsheets.

[@JB-hl1qx]

The sacred & the propane..

[@shahidabdoullakhanzorovr1564]

Thinking about fond memories from his time aboard the "Good Ship Lollipop"...

[@MSJChem]

The bedsheets always made him emotional.

[@3einEye]

This is easily the funniest script you have ever written

[@cornerbodega712]

"After a semester and a half of eating grilled cheese off the radiator, he would have seen some shit." made me laugh so hard I started coughing. Holy shit, man. You're hilarious at tweaking the quotes just right.

[@IvanLendl87]

He’s not ‘creaming for Vito’ - he knows that Vito has done what he wishes he could do.

[@Nikedemos]

"...portrayed in the show by Reza Pahlavi" Never change, mate, never change. It's those random comedy gems that make your channel what it is!

[@TheSobeysworker]

I always took it as him feeling a sigh of relief. All his grievances being avenged in that moment.

[@ian7064]

I've always interpreted the scene as Phil projecting himself onto Vito in that moment. Thinking to himself, "This could happen to me if I ever get found out". That is assuming you subscribe to the notion that Phil was a closeted pillow biter. Vito hid it for years but was found out bc he got careless. Phil knows he can't make that same mistake or next time it'll be him getting the pool cue

[@vortega472]

You know what would make a really good video essay - figuring out how many years Phil was in prison. He never tells us how long he was in the can. Oh sweet sweet quiet Phil, he never really shared or expressed his emotions.

[@CollaredConsulting]

No PILLOW near to bite

[@MikeB-rb7nk]

The sheets were askew, so he gripped em to get at 12 o’clock again. So STFU about it already.

[@phoenixmodellingphotography]

"The lone gay man theory" 😂😂😂

[@leaf_robinson]

I dont know, if Its common, but I always thought that in "Test Dream", Tony actually heard shots being fired in his dream, so he had current events projected. Rising tension in the dinner scene kinda contemplates it. Weird one was that episode

[@seejeh4060]

Bro went crazy with the metaphors here I had to lower my volume in the lunch room at work 😭😂😂

[@PteraDon742]

Phil definitely has some sort of sadistic or torture thing. Whether he is closeted or not is more debatable. In the scene where Tony is talking with Johnny Sack about NY's revenge on Blundetto, after JS becomes boss -- JS tells him "Phil's going to do it, and he's going to do it his way". That tells us Phil is known for harsh methods, because Tony was asking JS to do something with his new power to make it quick and painless. Look at how Phil took out Angelo, too. Not like Vito, but pretty harsh for a scene in the middle of the street.

[@KutWrite]

The sadism angle makes the most sense to me. LOL to your mass-incorporation of so many show references into your narration!

[@Wcnmb1314]

100% agree, Phil was feeling extreme pain, mixed with shame, regret, self-hatred, and ultimately despair

[@matteopantangelli9477]

I looked at this that he was getting off on the power of killing Vito and saying screw you to Tony. Phil had compromised so much in life and finally was getting the revenge he desperately wanted and loved the feeling

[@Abefroman-lq3md]

He had a huge mantail engorgement! Salutation’s from Belfast Northern Ireland 🇬🇧

[@FalkZad]

Phil loved Vito like a brother-in-law

[@scottsotak8788]

I always liked Phil. He was as old school as could be. A good man. It was all business.

[@perry7416]

You think someone just grips the bed sheets like that?! No! He orchestrated it! Vito!

[@EdgarHernandez-bg1pu]

Makes perfect sense... Even when he kills Angelo... Instead of saying something like "should've stayed retired" which sounds like he's kinda throwing it in his face, they make him say "you couldn't fkn retire" which sounds more like he didn't want to do it but he made him

[@CineRanter]

Great point. Funnily enough I made a KZbin Short about this very thing!

[@MikeB-kq9hv]

In am interview David Chase revealed that the character of Phil actually wanted to grasp a quilt but he compromised and grasped a sheet

[@Big_Finger_Jim]

I haven’t watch Sopranos yet, so seeing a ten minute video explaining why a guy grabbed some bedsheets in my recommendations was very amusing.

[@tizodd6]

I swear...every Sopranos primary character could have their own mini-series or movie. And each would be pretty interesting.

[@ellebassa9288]

I think he's trying to ground himself. he's reminding himself of the gravity of the situation.

[@drunk_swede_gaming1004]

He loved that sheet like a brother in law

[@joelglanton6531]

He wanted to bite a pillow in the Special Forces. He compromised- he gripped the bedsheets in la Cosa Nostra

[@toby099]

He grabbed the sheets right at the moment he came in his pants. Phil was a closeted fanook.