'Boardwalk Empire' Premiere Review

As I anxiously wait for the DVD release of Season 4 of "Game Of Thrones", I've made the decision to finally get around to watching something that's been floating around in my curiosity. Yet another HBO show, but one I was especially attracted to for a few key reasons. How could I possibly say no to something with the name of Martin Scorsese attached to it? It's a period piece centered around political corruption and gangland too? This can't be ignored. I have friends who really love this show and I hope I do too as I continue watching it. I've just finished the pilot episode of "Boardwalk Empire" and this post is just to summarize my initial thoughts without rambling too much about other expectations. The show's over, but this is my review of its first episode.

Atlantic City, 1920. It's the eve of Prohibition in the United States. Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson is the treasurer, but also a central figure in the city's political corruption. Playing both sides to his favour, Nucky publicly declares alcohol to be the scourge of society, but behind the scenes begins to negotiate with criminal bootleggers to import Canadian whiskey in the country.

The series premiere was directed by my all-time favourite filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, who has since sat in the chair of the executive producer.
While only some of Scorsese's usual directorial traits are evident (ie, the use of prolonged tracking shots), the subject matter alone is right up his alley given his past efforts with films like "Goodfellas" and "The Departed".

What's more evident however is the comfort Steve Buscemi has in the role of 'Nucky' Thompson. The character and Buscemi got together like bread and butter. Everything in Thompson's personality, from his cynicism, unrestricted bluntness and his readiness to lie to peoples' faces are all traits that you can see in other characters that Buscemi has portrayed over his career. For all I know, this may very well become my favourite performance by him, but I guess we'll wait and see.


Above other things, I loved the recreation of the era itself. It's not so much the plot itself of this episode that engaged me as it really is just an establishment of what's to follow, but how this time and place has been brought to life. There's a vibe that despite the excitement of the Roaring 20s taking off and the jazz scene going through the roof, many Americans are still suffering from the experience of the First World War. This is best shown through the driver James Darmody, who besides Nucky and Margaret Shroeder, is one of the few characters that really caught my attention.


Additionally, everything from the fashion, the high level of tobacco smoking, the popularity of silent film, the cars and the feeling of optimism for the future, and the presence of mob boss Al Capone tell me that "Boardwalk Empire" understands this period of history as well as it does the experiences of its fictional characters.

It's not by any means one of the best episodes in a TV show I've ever seen, and there are pilots for other shows I greatly prefer, but I am still very pleased with the result. It's political, historical and dramatic all in one strong mix and I have high hopes for what the rest of the first season, let alone the show in all its entirety has to offer. With this cast and crew involved, I'm sure I'll be pleased with what's to come.