She edited it… she didn’t want credit. (My guess)
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| Originally Posted by BorisTheCheese View Post Yeah that was some good stuff. Michael Shannon is damn creepy. He is perfect as the freaky Christian agent. That guy should be doing horror movies. Re: Big Jim- Was it New York? Why go after him and not Nucky? |
I didn’t think he was creepy here at all. I think you might be projecting from other roles he’s been in. Unless you’re only referring to his unusual appearance.
I’m curious what kind of role Michael K. Williams can play in this show, as a black man in 1920.
After the first freeze frame I knew we were in Scorsese’s playground. Perfectly executed there.
Great first episode.
I wonder if every episode will feel as ingrained in the Scorsese/Schoomaker feel as this episode is. With most series, the style of editing and photography of the pilot is kept constant throughout the series, but I can’t imagine it’ll be easy filling the shoes of Marty and Thelma every week.
“Martin Scorsese was involved in the project even before creator Terence Winter. He directed the pilot and established the look of the show, which other directors later emulated to make the show feel seamless. He is also one of the executive producers of the show. Winter stated that Scorsese weighs on the casting decisions, watches all the cuts and dailies. Up until the shooting of the show’s first season, Scorsese and Winter would meet every Sunday afternoon to review what went on during the week where Scorsese would have comments and suggestions. Martin Scorsese is expected to continue to be creatively involved in the ongoing production and if the series continues—with proper scheduling—he would like to direct more episodes.”
Michael K Williams will be the link to the black community. He’ll play a big role. The way his character was established, he’s someone who talks to Nucky regularly and kinda at the same level.
That was indeed some incredible Tv. And yeah, the Chicago hit at the end is a coup. Al Capone is rising.
Technology is doing some great things with headshots. Can’t wait what The Walking Dead brings us.
What i don’t get is why didn’t Nucky take out Jimmy? He pulled something that will only bring trouble for him and the operation.
Also, Rothstein. Holy shit that dude looks menacing as fuck. Can’t believe it’s the same guy from A Serious Man.
Maybe it’s just me, because I was less than blown away.
Among other things, it felt the complete opposite of what we’ve come to expect from HBO series like The Sopranos or The Wire. Those shows thrust you into their world, and its stories, and forced you to pay attention to learn the names, relationships, and motivations over the course of the first few episodes. Boardwalk Empire’s first episode was just one long set of introductions, spelling everything out in letters ten feet high (I fear that, by the end of the third episode, Nucky will have run out of storefront windows to peer into for his next bit of foreshadowing).
The show may also find itself hamstrung by history: it would appear that we’re seeing the story of a guy most of us have never heard of, in confrontation with historical figures whose futures go on for years or decades after this. I have no idea what happened to Nucky Johnson, but I do know that Lucky Luciano was going strong in WWII. That’s not a terminal problem, of course, but it does rather stack the deck in such a way that the story will need more ingenious telling than we’ve seen so far.
Certainly, I’ll stick with it-- great cast, looks fine, interesting period. But I will be (pleasantly) surprised if it turns out be the kind of “appointment” TV that previous HBO series have been for me.
The thing about Sopranos and The Wire is that the genius of them, and the major themes they tackled, weren’t immediately apparent from episode 1. I recall the first episode of The Sopranos also being very on the nose and obvious, only to get more subtle and sly later on.
My only real problem with the episode is that it didn’t really give Michael Shannon’s character any real depth.
I like how the guy that feels like a cross of early Christopher Moltisanti’s worst traits with the whole douchekabob of Jackie Aprile Jr just happens to be Lucky freaking Luciano.
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| What i don’t get is why didn’t Nucky take out Jimmy? He pulled something that will only bring trouble for him and the operation. |
I’m guessing Nucky’s long stare at the incubator after being asked whether he has children is the answer here. Not that Jimmy’s related to him, but think Tony/Christopher or Walt/Jesse.
I think eventually we get to see a bit more of Michael Shannon’s life, so I think “it’s a godly pursuit” is good enough setup for now. And I gotta say, I always enjoyed Gregory Antonacci’s presence as Butchie in the last days of the Sopranos, I hope he sticks around for a while.
Arnold Rothstein is a very interesting figure and Stuhlbarg is great as him, I hope the series lets him shine. So far, so good.
I think the first parts were damn clunky. “It’s nearly prohibition where ALCOHOL WILL BE OUTLAWED STARTING TOMORROW, here we are ALL GOING TO BE RICH OFF IT. HERE MEET MY BROTHER THE LAWMAN. OH AND HERE’S THE MAYOR IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING HOW I’LL GET AWAY WITH IT”
I understand they need to introduce the world, I just wish it wasn’t so overt with it. That said, once that’s out of the way I loved it.
I loved how Nucky thought he was above it all, even when he fucked ("Could you not say that? It’s annoying."
until Jimmy told him that he can’t live halfway. He’s a really interesting character and Steve Buscemi’s really bringing it. I’m curious what he was thinking when he stopped at the palm-reading storefront.
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| Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post “Martin Scorsese was involved in the project even before creator Terence Winter. He directed the pilot and established the look of the show, which other directors later emulated to make the show feel seamless. He is also one of the executive producers of the show. Winter stated that Scorsese weighs on the casting decisions, watches all the cuts and dailies. Up until the shooting of the show’s first season, Scorsese and Winter would meet every Sunday afternoon to review what went on during the week where Scorsese would have comments and suggestions. Martin Scorsese is expected to continue to be creatively involved in the ongoing production and if the series continues—with proper scheduling—he would like to direct more episodes.” |
Cool!
A small detail I really liked: all the deer. Those things are everywhere around here as soon as you get into an area with even a little bit of woods.
Seeing Buscemi as a leading man like this is phenomenal. And his burst of violence at the gambling hall with Schroeder was a really great unhinged and dangerous moment.
Michael Stuhlbarg as Rothstein is a character I definitely want to see a lot more of.
really liked it. I thought Capone’s introduction was a bit clumsey though. Sort of an “Ah Ha” moment.
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| Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post really liked it. I thought Capone’s introduction was a bit clumsey though. Sort of an “Ah Ha” moment. |
It was a little too “expositiony-y.”
“Hey everyone, it’s Prohabition! And we’re going to run the town because people still want BOOZE! Isn’t that right my brother the Sherrif and Mr. Mayor?”
But it’s the pilot. I’m willing to bet that kind of stuff won’t take place now that things are established. I certainly hope not, anyway.
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| Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post really liked it. I thought Capone’s introduction was a bit clumsey though. Sort of an “Ah Ha” moment. |
I actually like how it didn’t make a huge deal of it. The lead up maybe, but afterward it was just “I’m Al Capone.” Boom. Done. No big HE’S GOING TO BE THE UNDERWORLD KINGPIN!!!
Really impressive. I almost feel like it’s not fair to compare other shows to something like this. With the money and talent involved, it feels like it’ll be a mini-movie every week.
Loved Michael Pitt channeling Leonardo DiCaprio…or maybe that’s just the way I saw it.
Can someone please change the fucking thread title?
I’m too excited from being able to watch a new Scorsese to think about this critically.
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| Originally Posted by Parker View Post It was a little too “expositiony-y.” “Hey everyone, it’s Prohabition! And we’re going to run the town because people still want BOOZE! Isn’t that right my brother the Sherrif and Mr. Mayor?” But it’s the pilot. I’m willing to bet that kind of stuff won’t take place now that things are established. I certainly hope not, anyway. |
See I didn’t mind all that stuff it was just the way they introduced Capone.
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| Originally Posted by Mr_Cellophane View Post I actually like how it didn’t make a huge deal of it. The lead up maybe, but afterward it was just “I’m Al Capone.” Boom. Done. No big HE’S GOING TO BE THE UNDERWORLD KINGPIN!!! |
Yeah but anyone watching this knows who Al Capone is. A simpler “hey Al” or something like that as if they already knew eachother would have been better I think.
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| Originally Posted by Paul755 View Post Yeah but anyone watching this knows who Al Capone is. A simpler “hey Al” or something like that as if they already knew eachother would have been better I think. |
How so? If the guy justsaid his name was Al how would the audience know it was Capone?