Episode 1x01: Boardwalk Empire

[swankyfunk]

How did everyone like the first episode? Did it live up to your expectations? What were your favorite things about it? How awesome was [insert Awesome Thing Here]?

Discuss and feel free to mingle! This comm has gained a couple of new members in the last few hours, so come on and let's get this thing rolling.

Also, spoilers ahoy!

Comments

[chimbleysweep]

This is probably fairly silly to rave about in comparison to all the other wonderful things but I am so pleased to see something set in the 1920s actually recognize the huge difference between 1920 and the later part of the decade. Movies and television tend to make every year look like 1927 or later and they miss out on how unique and amazing the tangled aesthetics were of the early part of the decade. Nothing jarred me out of the period, really, and that's rare and awesome.

And the music THE MUSIC. OH THE MUSIC. I was hoping they would place some emphasis on music and not a single choice let me down.

(Not to mention the opening title sequence. Gorgeous.)

[swankyfunk]

Definitely not silly to rave about! It's really satisfying to know that the utmost care was taken to recreate the era correctly. I'm pretty sure that in addition to Scorsese and Winters, that the set designers, costumers, and the whole crew were obsessed with getting everything right. You can just sit back and take it all in without anachronisms distracting you.

I hope a soundtrack will be released because I will be alllll over that.

[swankyfunk]

For me, Steve Buscemi + 1920s = Best Idea in the History of Ideas.

Okay, maybe a bit of a hyperbole, but I've always wanted to see him in this kind of role. Have you seen Billy Bathgate? He had a small, dialogue-less role in that as a hitman for Dutch Schultz, and I think that was the first time I'd seen him in a natty suit and fedora. And I thought, he needs to wear that stuff more often. It's finally come true!

[hairbrush]

I'm a huge Scorsese fan, fascinated by the 1920s & my history major/poli sci minor should tell you why I tuned in.. and from the GORGEOUS opening title sequence (quickly one of my favorites next to "Six Feet Under," "Dexter" and "United States of Tara,") I was not let down.

The camera work was BEAUTIFUL, the music was to die for and it was pure Scorsese without feeling like it was drowning in him and unable to be picked up by anyone else. I loved how they slipped in well-known mobsters in unpredictable ways and I loved how they didn't shy away from things just because they're Uncomfortable Subjects.

I'm so excited for next week!

[swankyfunk]

I love the 1920s, too. I wish I'd studied it more in school, but I've steadily filled my shelves with books on the era. Mmm, Prohibition.

I've read concerns about how the different directors might muddle up the overall feeling. I think Scorsese is a careful enough director to lay down the groundwork, as it were, so that the other directors can build upon it.

Basically taking this verbatim out of my personal post.

[hatfullofstars]

I've read in a few places that, despite being written by Winter and directed by Scorsese, the pilot was actually the weakest episode out of the ones that reviewers were sent for consideration. I can believe that. But it did do a thorough job, setting things up. It can only get better.

The faces Nucky made. Man can rock the inner torment.

Gotta tell ya, I can't see myself becoming a big Lucy fan. Or any kind of fan at all. I think they're setting up for a Lucy vs. Margaret catfight. Kind of angry that the sex scene ended up being so comical. Just accept the fact that Steve Buscemi is sexy, for fuck's sake. No pun intended. Let him play a sex scene without it ending in a ridiculous fashion.

And Nucky's poor, beleaguered butler. He's got it tough but the man soldiers on.

I think Stuhlbarg, Piazza, and Graham are going to be the standouts in this. Stuhlbarg as Rothstein gives me chills, and he and Piazza's Luciano have amazing chemistry. I'm so used to thinking of Stephen Graham as Tommy from Snatch but I think he's doing

Re: Basically taking this verbatim out of my personal post.

[felaries65]

I think Stuhlbarg, Piazza, and Graham are going to be the standouts in this.

Is this the same Stuhlbarg from the Coen Bros. film, "A SERIOUS MAN"? Because he's interesting.

Re: Basically taking this verbatim out of my personal post.

[hatfullofstars]

Yeah, according to IMDb, that's him.

[magicalsibylle]

[swankyfunk]

I think according to reviews, Margaret will be the one to watch. Really interested to how her relationship with Nucky pans out.

[hatfullofstars]

I read this post in Bitch Magazine's online blog and thought of your comment about the female characters, or lack thereof.

[magicalsibylle]