Home Box Office (HBO) premiered its new series, "Boardwalk Empire," on Sun., Sept. 19. The show centers on 1920s Prohibition-era Atlantic City, N.J. and the crime and corruption that ran rampant as mobsters, politicians, and federal agents tried to reign in the flow of illegal alcohol. The series was created by Emmy-award winning "The Sopranos" writer Terence Winter and executive produced by cinema legend Martin Scorsese, who also directed the pilot episode. Judging from the show's premiere, I would say viewers are in for an interesting ride over the next few weeks. Although there were a few flaws with the pilot, Scorsese, Winter and the rest of the production team got the show off to a decent start.
Actor Steve Buscemi plays what can be considered the main role of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, Atlantic City's treasurer and noted politician. Although he puts on a good show of support for Prohibition and preaches in favor of the law, he is secretly trying to establish the illegal flow of liquor into the city. Needless to say, he stands to make an enormous amount of money by selling it illegally. He has his brother Eli (Shea Whigham) installed as the city sheriff for protection and enforcement and even has the town's many other ward bosses and politicians involved in his schemes.
Thompson also acts as a mentor to the younger character of Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), a World War I veteran who has just returned home to his wife and son. Jimmy has come back a changed man. Before the war, he was a student at Princeton and had the whole world at his fingertips. Now, he is forced to start over and work his way through the criminal ranks to make a name for himself. At one point during the pilot, Nucky suggests to Jimmy that he go back to college. Jimmy shoots down the idea, stating that the war transformed him into a killer. Judging by what transpires during the episode, Jimmy might become just as much a threat to Nucky as a friend.
The pilot focused on drawing the battle lines between the main characters. Nucky becomes involved with real-life gangsters Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), "Lucky" Luciano (Vincent Piazza), Johnny Torrio, Big Jim" Colosimo and a young Al Capone (Stephen Graham). Of course, those battle lines were a little blurred during the episode. It got a tad bit confusing at certain points as to who was actually working with whom. However, that's usually the case with mob-inspired television and films and it's usually done to keep the audience guessing. The alliances and grudges that were formed between the characters in the opening episode laid the groundwork for the upcoming weeks.
Another sub-plot that was focused on in the pilot was the relationship between Nucky and a young woman named Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald). She comes to him for help in finding her husband a job. Instead, Nucky gives her $1,000 and sends her on her way. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops because Nucky appears to care for her very much. The final piece of the puzzle was the inclusion of Agent Nelson van Alden (Michael Shannon). A deeply religious man, van Alden is tasked with bringing down organized crime in Atlantic City. Given how self-righteous van Alden is, I would like to see his morality really tested in future episodes. The old saying "Everybody has a price" might well apply to him.
Overall the production value of the series is top-notch. It really has a 1920s feel with the set design and the jazz music that were used in the pilot. The production department even built a replica boardwalk for the series, complete with all the storefronts and buildings. Although Scorsese is not slated to direct anymore episodes this season, he got it started on the right foot. Hopefully, the rest of the directors will be up to the task. The premiere was a good setup for what is to come. Buscemi gave a strong opening performance as Nucky, and it was evident that he has a lot of inner turmoil that has yet to come to the surface. I believe that he is torn between doing what is right (as evidenced by his relationship with Margaret) and doing what it takes to make money (killing who gets in his way). He could be a 1920s-style Tony Soprano, minus the visits to the psychiatrist. One of the standout lines from the premiere was when Jimmy tells Nucky, "You can't be half a gangster." That one line packs a lot of moral dilemma for both of them. The desire to see what decisions they end up making will keep me invested in the show.
