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I'm having troubled staying interested in Boardwalk Empire. The first Martin Scorsese-directed episode had moments of flair with whip-smart editing and nice juxtaposition of events. Humor and character counted. But there was still the over-the-top violence and gratuitous nudity that stuck out. Scorsese hasn't handled nudity well since 1973. The following 2 episodes have dropped the humor and nice characterizations and kept the R-rated nudity and violence. We have a too-familiar story about corrupt politicians and ruthless gangsters double-crossing each other and the show brings nothing new to the table . . .
We're left with scene after scene that plods along, waiting for a writer to throw in an unpredictable turn or an engaging character to side with. Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt had some nice quiet moments in the pilot, but seem to be going through the motions since. Kelly MacDonald is giving nothing to do except look earnest which lasts about one scene before she starts looking constipated. There are some nice religious aspects to Michael Shannon's federal agent character, but he's a passive, thinking man's actor, much better at observing than springing into action. A Serious Man's Michael Stuhlbarg is miscast as an annoying windbag gang boss. The only actor on fire is Stephen Graham who brings a vitality to Al Capone (the casting agent must have seen him as Baby Face Nelson in Michael Mann's Public Enemies).
It doesn't help that Boardwalk Empire is on the same night as AMC's Mad Men, which, in its 4th season is easily having its best. Mad Men takes unusual turns each episode, has layers upon layers within each character, and continues to show a world never seen on TV before. Boardwalk Empire feels like an uninspired dumbed-down retelling of The Untouchables with extra blood and sex to get the viewer's attention.
Scorsese's pilot: B+
2nd & 3rd episodes: B-
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Boardwalk Empire
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2 comments:
Spot on review. My rating of the episodes would be B, B- and B+. I thought the most recent one picked up a lot with the black character and the racial issues, as well as more info on Michael Shannon's character. I was ready to give up, but I'll give it a couple more episodes. Capone is the best actor/character. Buscemi is spectacularly miscast and MacDonald is wasted thus far. I do appreciate seeing Clifford alum Dabney Coleman as the Commodore.
I didn't buy the racial issues which seemed tailored for modern audiences rather than how it actually was. Shannon lost me when he tortured the witness. Buscemi is always great in support, but never works as the lead. I did like Dragnet alum Dabney Coleman. I may have seen my last episode.
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