HBO "Boardwalk Empire"

[Keith]

A new HBO show coming in September 2010 that takes place in 1920's Prohibition and chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi), the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster. Martin Scorsese is directing the pilot episode and the show's creator and writer is Terence Winter who wrote and produced many of The Sopranos episodes.

It's got a pretty strong cast and the sets look great. The fact Scorsese is behind it I'm all for in. Something to look forward to this year.

[Steve-O]

I'm looking forward to that. I'll do the HBO upgrade in Sept.

[Keith]

New trailer.

[BobtheGambler]

Ooh, thanks Keith. Marty's back, and HBO's got 'im. And OMG, it's Omar! Michael Kenneth Williams to y'all, from HBO's THE WIRE, only the greatest television show evah! True dat. The music for this clip is way cool. I'm geeked.

[BobtheGambler]

Here's the source of the music utilized in the most recent promo clip. Perhaps some out there have heard of the Brian Jonestown Massacre...

[Keith]

Can't wait any longer.

[Keith]

September 19th on HBO

[Little Mac]

Oh my God, this looks amazing!!

Steve Buscemi in an HBO drama is enough to get me pumped in and of itself, but directed by Scorsese! And it has Omar!

However, one thing that doesn't please me, is the concept of being up-to-date on an HBO sitcom. I am in love with nearly all of HBO's original programming (some shows, such as True Blood, I could have done without), but this will be the first that I watch as it actually airs. I've gotten so used to just seeing episode after episode of say, The Wire, or The Sopranos, at my own pace. I don't think I can adjust!

[Keith]

10 days! I know I shouldn't hype it but I can't help it.

[Nauga]

On the contrary, keep hyping! Now I can watch it at work since I apparently missed it fast forwarding through Hard Knocks!

Michael Shannon's got the face and voice of a great smarmy guy and he looks like he'll be a great smarmy holy man here.

[Andrew666]

I'm looking forward so much to Boardwalk Empire that I can barely contain myself - does anyone else feel the same?

Growing up on a diet of Dorothy Provine in The Roaring Twenties and Robert Stack in The Untouchables, this new Martin Scorsese produced (and he directs the first episode) saga of prohibition in 1920s Atlantic City is like a dream come true.

Not only that - but it has two of my all-time favourite actors - Steve Buscemi and Gretchen Mol.


Gretchen Mol as Betty Page

The film tales the saga of Nucky Johnson - the King of Atlantis - part gangster and part politician, he ran the Republican political machine in the city for 30 years before being caught on the ever-popular income tax evasion. Building an empire based on alcohol, gambling and prostitution, he created the economy that made Atlantic City what it is today. “We have whisky, wine, women, song and slot machines," he said, "I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it. If the majority of the people didn’t want them they wouldn’t be profitable and they wouldn’t exist. The fact that they do exist proves to me that the people want them.”

Every day, he wore a fresh carnation and lived in a suite of rooms on the ninth floor of the Ritz-Carlton.

This should be one helluva series!

[Little Mac]

Found a review for the series:

http://tv.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/art...walk.html?_r=1

[Keith]

I am beyond excited.

[Keith]

Tomorrow, 9 PM!

[Little Mac]

Just caught it. What a great show.

I am however a little disappointed in the overindulgence of theatricality (but then, with Scorsese directing what else was I expecting). I like the realism in HBOs other shows like the Wire and The Sopranos, and was kind of hoping for that sort of atmosphere. Also missing in my opinion was the great subtlety between characters that gave the relationships so much depth in some of their other shows. A good example of this flaw can be seen in the wife beater character, who was basically just portrayed as an endlessly vicious and inhuman beast. I just expected a little more characterization on HBO's part. Oh, and finally, I found Buscemi, as much as I love the guy, is a little awkward in this role (although I'm pretty sure that'll get ironed out smoothly as the time passes).

Those are just my nitpicks, otherwise I think we got a great series ahead of us, and so far, I really hope it grows beyond it's 12 episode contract. Good stuff.

EDIT: Did anybody else happen to catch the little homage to The Public Enemy in the beginning? Thought it was a nice touch.

[Bob]

I waited to watch Boardwalk Empire before I read the NY Times review, but my thoughts on last night's episode somewhat echos the review. Certainly impressive production values, and Scorsese covers some similar ground - e.g., the murder of Big Jim Colosimo mirrors the murder of Joe Pesci, from the gun to the head to the pooling of the blood all over the floor. A series shouldn't take 5-6 episodes to get you involved in the characters. The Sopranos didn't do that, it was involving from the get go. Great set design only goes so far, it's the narrative thrust and the emotional involvement we give to the characters that sustains a series of this length. Right now I don't see any characters here that we want to watch every week.
Also Buscemi, while a wonderful insect-like character actor, I don't think can really carry a whole series the way the great Ian McShane did in Deadwood, or Gandolfini in The Sopranos. Steve is just too weird looking. I doubt whether I'll be coming back to this with any regularity.

[Nauga]

Haven't watched it yet; I think my DVR is going to spontaneously combust one of these days. I'm planning a double header tonight with the documentary they showed this weekend. That said... I remember reading that a good chunk of future episodes would be in Chicago and that the storylines were more compelling than the Atlantic City stuff. I'm bracing myself for the Scorsese pilot cause it looks like he's gone more Gangs of New York and Shutter Island as far as the splashiness goes.

[Steve-O]

I like that the story takes place as Capone makes his move -- well before he's established. I liked the show -- and it does look great. Give it a few episodes and it'll probably hook viewers. First episodes -- like Mad Men, The Wire even the Sopranos -- are usually weak because all the time is spent introducing everyone. I think Dabney Colemen will be a key character too...

The look: more like The Untouchables (1987) than Goodfellas. Notice the shaving shot from above just like in The Untouchables.

I'll give the show a B+. A bootlegging gangster show that looks this good is going to be hard for me not to love. I'm guessing like Rubicon it'll tighten up a bit in weeks to come.

One gripe: Hopefully they'll stop all the unnecessary camera movements and old timey music over montages soon...

[Keith]

One gripe: Hopefully they'll stop all the unnecessary camera movements and old timey music over montages soon...

I believe that will stop for the upcoming episodes not directed by Scorsese.

I loved the pilot and will watch the pilot again on demand before the second episode.

[Little Mac]

Great news, guys!

Oh, and Steve-O, happy birthday!