190 replies to this topic

[DuffMan]

[SportsGuy]

Cant wait!

[BSLChrisStoner]

Grantland: Board to Death HBO's Boardwalk Empire is back. And it still isn't working.
http://www.grantland...-empire-returns

[SportsGuy]

Disagree with the general tone of that article.

[Mackus]

I, also, enjoy watching but don't particularly care about Boardwalk Empire.  The plot is typically a mess, but the production and acting are so good that it's still worth watching.  Totally agree that the periphery characters like Harrow, Chalky, Capone, and Van Alden are far more interesting than the main story line typically is.

[NewMarketSean]

I kind of agree with the article. Thompson is not a great character to base a mob series around and Buscemi isn't the best actor to be the main character in a mob series. Look at the main characters in other mob movies/TV shows: Soprano, Corleone, Hill, Montana....there were no qualms with any of them, they were perfect for their stories and perfectly cast.

 

There's just something off about Buscemi's Thompson. Especially since Jimmy was killed, since he balanced Thompson's fatherly influence. The show might be better now if Thompson was the one who was killed instead of Jimmy.

 

That said the supporting cast is great and the sets and costumes are great and the story-lines, while murky, are solid.

 

It's a good show, just not great -- which is what the article boiled down to.

[SportsGuy]

I kind of agree with the article. Thompson is not a great character to base a mob series around and Buscemi isn't the best actor to be the main character in a mob series. Look at the main characters in other mob movies/TV shows: Soprano, Corleone, Hill, Montana....there were no qualms with any of them, they were perfect for their stories and perfectly cast.

 

There's just something off about Buscemi's Thompson. Especially since Jimmy was killed, since he balanced Thompson's fatherly influence. The show might be better now if Thompson was the one who was killed instead of Jimmy.

 

That said the supporting cast is great and the sets and costumes are great and the story-lines, while murky, are solid.

 

It's a good show, just not great -- which is what the article boiled down to.

I think Buscemi does a very good job in the role...I just think you can argue that they didn't cast the role properly.

 

You said, there is something off about him...Maybe its his size and that is throwing things off in your mind(especially comparing him to soprano)?

 

He isn't intimidating at all...he wins with his intelligence and money.

[NewMarketSean]

Michael Corleone or Tony Montana weren't intimidating figures, physically. Yet they still had that intimidating aura. I just don't get that from Steve B.

[Matt]

I miss Jimmy, he was the best.

[SportsGuy]

Very so so episode tonight IMO.

[TonySoprano]

Alan Sepinwall continues to be a must-read for fans of the show.  Here is his overall review of the first 5 episodes as it relates to the first 3 seasons (very mild spoilers, if any).  He says he is going to write less on the episode specific reviews, but here is what he wrote for New York Sour.  Enjoy.

[TonySoprano]

Very so so episode tonight IMO.

I have to say that I agree with a common theme in a few reviews I read this morning.  The show is well acted but slow moving.  It's no Sopranos or The Wire.

[SportsGuy]

I have to say that I agree with a common theme in a few reviews I read this morning.  The show is well acted but slow moving.  It's no Sopranos or The Wire.

Nope...I also agree with the idea that a lot of the secondary characters are more compelling than Nucky...and I don't think that is a reflection on Buscemi, who I think is a really good actor.

 

Its the writing.

[mweb08]

I agree that the show is disappointing overall. It's good, but it's clearly not a great show IMO. Some of the secondary characters are more compelling than Nucky, but some are real life guys that you know where they're heading anyway. However, some of the secondary characters are usually part of boring plot lines IMO, even if they're well acted, shot, etc. Overall, there's too many characters and the main plot often isn't compelling enough.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I liked the first episode. Although the whole "here take this money and we are cool" scene was pretty lazy writing.

[Markus]

Finally got caught up on last weeks episode.  Like others have said, was kinda slow, but it wasn't bad.  I liked it.  Plus it had it's fair share of nudity (can never go wrong there) and I got a good chuckle out of the crudely-drawn sex-act, come-on drawn on the napkin. 

 

I'm kinda interested in seeing what the new agent, Agent Knox, is gonna do.  He's already kinda played the I'm-dumb-and-naive angle to his own interest.

 

Plus I can't wait to see more of Ron Livingston and Jeffrey Wright.

[NewMarketSean]

The constant threat of violence makes this show compelling alone. I thought the first episode was good beside the Gretchen Mol scenes. They need to write her character off the show.

[BSLChrisStoner]

"You can address me as Acting Director Hoover."

[TonySoprano]

Here is an excellent recap

http://www.nj.com/en..._episode_2.html

[Markus]

Jeffrey Wright playing Valentin Narcisse.  #Boss

 

Also I loved that second-or-2 look on Van Alden's face when he got to release some pent-up aggression/frustration.  Looked almost cathartic for him and something he could easily enjoy doing more.

 

Poor Harrow, becoming the monster others see him as but can't put down his own dog.  Sad stuff there all around.