That first episode, the series pilot, was directed by Scorsese. Personally, I think it is his best work in any medium since Goodfellas. If it was a feature film, rather than a TV show, it would, in my estimation, be the best movie of the year, easily.
Of all the crap on TV, the fact that something like this gets produced is truly remarkable. It's production is artfully done, with compelling writing, terrific acting and unbelievable stylish and authentic production values.
I agree. I do not have HBO because of Bill Mahr but I am considering dropping showtime for HBO because of the show. I saw it when I went home for Thanksgiving.
Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.
Lone Starr: What?
Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.
Lone Starr: What's that make us?
Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing! Which is what you are about to become.
Love the show!
The book upon which the series is based was an interesting read.
Being from the Midwest I didn’t know much about Atlantic City the book
Filled in the details.
I like Boardwalk Empire.....about the only shows on TV I can watch is sports and HBO mini-series. I thought DeadWood and Rome were better mini-series but I’ll take Boardwalk Empire over about anything else on TV right now.
I watch the show, but it is most definitely NOT the best series ever. It is good enough to watch every week, but it telegraphs its plot and has too many rehashed themes.
I have to agree with you ODH, its a great show and I am switching from the football game as we speak. Its not fair to compare it with television, however. That other stuff is not the same sport, much less the same league.
I have not watched Boardwalk Empire because I will not watch HBO for obvious reasons. However in speaking to the general subject, is it just me or is it an aspect of the current day that Hollywood makes heros of all of the wrong people and villains of the good people?
To my mind this embodies the perversity of the Hollywood-liberal zeitgeist, to magnify murderous mobsters like this one and so many other movies while the good guys get very short shift unless they are cartoons. I would say that this is sad but when you realize that this is a prime US Export and that millions of people get their sample of American Life from such as this ...
I want Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey or “Dutch” Holland. I want good tough guys like Bogart and Fonda. Is this too much for Hollywood’s imagination ... I fear that the answer is yes!
Somewhat interesting. Steve Buscemi badly miscast.
Steve Buscemi is great actor. Is it wrong for me to say i find him oddly attractive? lol
Bump....
I also think “Empire” is great but, my only comment is—BRING BACK 24!!!!
I thought it was a bit overpraised. My main issue with it is the kitchen-sink problem that often affects period pieces like this. You can’t just have gangsters, you must have Al Capone and Lucky Luciano and Meyer lansky. You can’t just have one of Nucky’s friends get taken by a conman, he has to be taken by Charles Ponzi. Warren Harding’s mistress! The Klan! Lynchings (even though there never were any lynchings in New Jersey). Every possible 1920 celebrity and headline must make an appearance.
Also, the “hey aren’t we Republicans corrupt” messages bug me. And all of the black people in Atlantic City vote unanimously Republican because Chalky tells them to, not because the Democrats at that time were ardent supporters of Jim Crow and the Klan.
I watch very little TV but I do watch this series. Say do you know who the actor is that plays Danny’s father (the Admiral) we were trying to figure that out last night and drew a blank?
Discuss.
Wow. Shocker of an ending.