Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

[Soccer Scrimmage]

HBO yesterday announced that their new series Boardwalk Empire will be starting Sept. 19.

I couldn't be more excited for something on tv. It's like someone tapped into my fantasies and then made a show based on them: it's about corrupt politicians and gangsters in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, made by exec producers Martin Scorsese and Terrence Winter (one of the Sopranos writers) and stars Steve Buscemi. It also appears Michael K. Williams (Omar from the Wire) will have a role.

You can find trailers and other promo videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/show?p=EkLXTC2n4js&feature=fvsp

[Cavalry Trouser Tips]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Mark Wahlberg involved too. This looks ace.

[G-Man]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Sounds too good to succeed.

[jason voorhees]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

As long as there's horses jumping into the Atlantic off the Boardwalk, I'm in.

I'm sure this will be intriguing, but the most intriguing aspect of AC was when gambling was legalized in the 80s by the New Jersey Legislature.

Historically, Philadelphia "owned" below I-195 and Atlantic City. When the Five Families of New York caught wind that the Philly mafia would be getting all of that legalized construction and gambling loot, they wanted in.

Thus, when people ask how much was true of the Sopranos, I always tell them the behaviors and attitudes are dead-on documentary to modern New Jersey. However, the murders happened in the 80s.

[G-Man]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

The first episode confused the hell out of me; it was just byzantine. The second started to make more sense. I'm going to watch the third tonight, probably.

Buscemi is an immensely watchable actor.

[Cavalry Trouser Tips]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

I am absolutely loving this. I agree the first episode was the weaker one, but once TvP was at the helm, it's becoming exactly what has been missing on the screen since The Sopranos finished.

Running Mad Men close as my favourite thing on telly right now.

[Sits]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

After considerable work through the OTF search function, I body-swerved the two later BE threads and chose this one as it was first. Didn't watch the series on pay TV as I missed it starting up but had heard so much about it.

SBS (terrestrial channel) started Series 1 on Saturday night with a double episode which I recorded and watched yesterday. I loved it; just immersing myself and marvelling in the atmosphere and performances. Echoing what others have said it's what I've been missing on TV since the end of The Sopranos.

I've also read it drags a bit later in the series so I hope that won't be my experience.

[jason voorhees]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Not sure who you heard that from. Season 1 definitely built to a fever pitch by the end.

Still getting massive ratings in the States.

[Reed John]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

It's boring.

[Come along, Min]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

First three episodes of series 3 are great, far better than series 2. All the better for getting rid of (Series 2 spoiler) this character I reckon.

New character Rosetti is great, some great scenes with the actor that plays him and Buscemi. And here's hoping for more scene with Nucky's brother (Shea Whigam) and Jimmy's old sidekick Richard Harrow and Ex-Fed Van Alden (Michael Shannon), who both seem to be bubbling under, waiting to explode.

Not a ground breaking series in terms of pace or writing (I think it nods towards The Sopranos are a little too heavy), but plenty of great acting, writing, directing etc. It looks beautiful. Gretchen Mol is particularly stunning as Gillian Darmody, cant take my eyes off her, electric.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Reed John wrote: It's boring.

You might want to give it another look Reed. Chris Haddock, who wrote and produced Intelligence and the DaVinci series's up here is working on this season's shows.

[Lucia Lanigan]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

I must admit, I've given the first series three episodes and found it slow and ungratifying. I want to bail, perhaps partly because there are too many other promising US TV series waiting to be watched.

It seems right that Scorsese should get his due on TV, seeing as he pretty much filmed the blueprint for these HBO-style series in Goodfellas and Casino. But at the same time, while I'm watching, I'm thinking: there's going to be this kind of violence, this kind of empty sexual relationship, and these kinds of characters, because its late Scorsese.

As a sidenote: I find Paz de la Huerta (Lucy Danziger) unbearable to watch. I thought she was putting it on in Enter The Void, cause they're all on drugs, but she is seriously gormless.

[Reed John]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

I gave it a long look. The first two seasons. Now I don't have HBO and don't plan to get it back. Not worth it.

[Renart]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

I like it all right, I guess, but it's gone a bit over the top. I won't give away any spoilers, but it's gone (quite purposely and explicitly) into John Webster/Grand Guignol territory, and I'm finding it all a bit lurid and unconvincing.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

You're absolutely right, but that's what I like about it TBH. It went slightly OTT towards the end of season two, and is all the better for it. It's not the best of the US cable series right now (they would be Homeland, Boss, and Mad Men) but it's still worth watching. The art-direction, especially the costuming is de-luxe too — I really want to meet Nucky's tailor.

[Renart]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

It looks fantastic, I agree. I'm also very impressed by the guy who plays Al Capone. His Brooklyn accent and mannerisms are very well done, and my jaw hit the floor when I learned he's from Liverpool.

It just seems like it's trying too hard to shock, and then rub our noses in the shocking bits, and I find it a little alienating. I'll continue to watch for at least a while, though.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

They guy who does capone is amazing, apart from looking more like john terry than al capone.

I recently watched the first two series and thought it was fantastic. Admittedly I did manage to miss the entire episode where Jimmy Goes to college. Seeing that a little bit later was....er....shocking.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

The supporting actors are excellent on the whole. The leads much weaker I feel. I've never been a huge fan of Steve Buscemi, I know his CV is excellent and he's respected among his peers, but, as an actor he has zero range as far as I can see. Kelly Macdonald is not exactly compelling either.

[Renart]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Agreed. I actually found the relationship between Jimmy Darmody and his wife more interesting, but—SEMI-SPOILER ALERT—we're seeing a lot less of them in the newest season.

I also think the psychotic FBI agent is overbaked. He's a good actor, but they could have made him even creepier if they didn't constantly hammer home the idea that he's psychotic and creepy.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Oh yeah, but again, I kind of like that about him. I wish they'd get Sam Raimi, or someone like him, to direct a few shows and push the violence over to ludicrous levels. Such as framing shots through bullet-holes in a body, and suchlike. Right now it's sort of betwixt and between the real and the fantastic.

[Pietro Paolo Virdis]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

What an amazing start to season 5. From the first scene with the kids in the ocean to the chain gang over to Cuba and... simply fantastic way to sweep with the story and catch up with where we were at when season 4 ended.

[WOM]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Agreed.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

Too bad it's the final season. Sons of Anarchy began it's last hurrah yesterday, and Mad Men finishes in the New Year as does Justified. Few of the the more recent cable shows are of same quality. Masters of Sex, probably, Vikings possibly, and Ray Donovan is improving, but otherwise...

[Reed John]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

There will probably be more.

I've never seen Masters of Sex. The premise doesn't really grab me.

[Amor de Cosmos]

Boardwalk Empire - new HBO series

For the most part it's very well done. In spite of, apparently, playing fast and loose with the facts so far as Virginia Johnson and Bill Masters are concerned, but then it doesn't pretend otherwise. The show's at its best when showing how sexuality, and it's implications and expectations, extend into every corner of our lives, even the most most mundane. Lizzy Caplan is excellent, BTW. One of the better actors to come out of American network TV in a long time.