The bally-hoo surrounding Boardwalk Empire can't hide that this HBO stinker - well - stinks. HBO, the cable giant that is usually so good at historically-driven mini series, falls flat with this over-blown and over-done gangster mish-mash - all thanks to its director - Martin Scorsese.
His gangster treatment lacks the fire-in-the-belly that's needed for sustained action and character development, despite the ginned-up dialog and melodramatic violence. Boardwalk Empire is a feature film that is scaled down for the small screen, and Mr. Scorsese's big screen reputation just doesn't translate well in the smaller medium.
Don't get me wrong - I love Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt - but if I miss an episode I don't care. And that's the real problem - Buscemi's role is the only well-developed of the cast - all the others smack of cardboard characters – including Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Stephen Graham, and Michael Kenneth Williams. They woodenly deliver their lines and send meaningful glances that go nowhere and it's frustrating to see Michael Pitt of Indie fame boxed into Scorsese's narrow viewfinder. The exceptions are Gretchen Mol as Jimmy's mother, Gillian and Jack Huston as Jimmy's sharp-shooting pal Richard, who both manage to command attention when on screen.
His gangster treatment lacks the fire-in-the-belly that's needed for sustained action and character development, despite the ginned-up dialog and melodramatic violence. Boardwalk Empire is a feature film that is scaled down for the small screen, and Mr. Scorsese's big screen reputation just doesn't translate well in the smaller medium.
Don't get me wrong - I love Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt - but if I miss an episode I don't care. And that's the real problem - Buscemi's role is the only well-developed of the cast - all the others smack of cardboard characters – including Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Stephen Graham, and Michael Kenneth Williams. They woodenly deliver their lines and send meaningful glances that go nowhere and it's frustrating to see Michael Pitt of Indie fame boxed into Scorsese's narrow viewfinder. The exceptions are Gretchen Mol as Jimmy's mother, Gillian and Jack Huston as Jimmy's sharp-shooting pal Richard, who both manage to command attention when on screen.