When Fargo was released 20 years ago, its subsequent success would have seemed unlikely, even impossible. The Coen brothers’ three previous films had all failed at the box office, despite receiving glowing reviews. On its surface the film would seem too dark and too violent to ever attract audiences, another flop in the making. But …
Over the weekend, John Oliver begged big international brands and sponsors like Coca-Cola, McDonalds, and Visa to force Sepp Blatter to resign. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert announced the band leader, New Orleans legend Jon Batiste. Plus, Jen Kirkman got raw on life and face-eating with Conan, Seth Meyers had some good Jeb Bush jokes and talked well with Alan Cumming, and lots more.
40. Empire Records Directed by: Allan Moyle Ah, the coming-of-age story. There was no sub-genre more hijacked for a quick buck in the 1990’s. In between the good ones (“Dazed and Confused,” “Boyz in the Hood”), the cheesy ones (“She’s All That,” “She Drives Me Crazy”), and the under-appreciated ones (“The Man in the Moon,” …
I was a bit hesitant to start watching the series finale for Boardwalk Empire. I didn’t even have it in me to watch it until a few days after it aired. Why was I so hesitant? Probably for a number of reasons. A part of me wasn’t ready to say goodbye to a series I …
“Too late” was the operative phrase for Boardwalk Empire’s final hour. Too late for salvation, too late for romance, too late for redemption, and ultimately, too late for survival.
Three seasons ago Enoch “Nucky” Thompson met his former protege, Jimmy Darmody, in a dusty field and told him that he wasn’t seeking redemption. And then he shot him in the head. Twice. Things have changed.
Two of Boardwalk Empire’s most longstanding veterans waved the long goodbye tonight in one of the hardest, heaviest, and most integral episodes the series has ever delivered.
As Boardwalk Empire rounds the curve toward its curtain call, we’re given an episode that moves things along nicely while calling several characters to account for their actions.
With “Cuanto” we mark the halfway point of the final season, and its first major death. As fans of Boardwalk will attest, though, the only real surprise was that it took as long as it did. If you were running the numbers in Vegas, or Atlantic City for that matter, the odds would come up quick that there will likely be a lot more to come. If only Arnold Rothstein was still around to roll the dice on that one.
“What Jesus Said” opens with Chalky and his loose cannon partner breaking into the house of the latter’s former employer. In what is easily the low point of the episode, Chalky’s plot consists of balancing precariously between his edgy accomplice, Milton, and the a mother and daughter whom they have taken hostage. Although on paper, the idea might sound engaging, it plays out in a mostly uninspired manner due to the fact that Chalky isn’t given a whole lot to do. These scenes, which take up roughly 1/3 of the main plots explored this week, consist widely of three other characters who we are given little emotional investment in.
There are revelations aplenty as we catch up with a few more members of the cast after the crash, and in the beginnings of the Great Depression. Gillian is seen early on under surprising circumstances; in not a prison, but a mental institution. Her initial sequence, in which she dozes comfortably in a steam bath while discussing frivolities is rapidly dissipated when one of her fellow patients loses control over a radio program, and riles up the other patients in kind.
There is an air of finality to even this first episode of Boardwalk Empire’s final season. From the opening scene to the final moments, “Golden Days for Boys & Girls” has the distinct feeling of a ticking clock. Ironically while the episode takes its sweet time, from skipping out on several of the shows most notable characters to adding in a recurring flashbacks of the childhood of the Thompsons, it only further solidifies the fact that this is the end. Like the last ruminating drink of a dying man, the simplest of things only matter more with the end in sight.
So far this season, being a new viewer of Boardwalk Empire has not been a hindrance. While there are undoubtedly depths to character motivations and emotional shadings that have gone unremarked upon over the past five weeks, on the whole the storylines have been fairly clear. This changes with “The North Star”, with a solid chunk of the episode dedicated to characters those of us who jumped in at season four barely know. This is the risk of jumping in mid-series, one this critic believes is worth taking, but which becomes difficult to deal with none the less.
Boardwalk Empire, Season 4, Episode 4, “All In” Written by David Matthews Directed by Ed Bianchi Airs Sundays at 9pm EST on HBO Kate is new to Boardwalk Empire this season and her reviews will approach the acclaimed series from the newbie’s perspective. This week, on Boardwalk Empire: Nucky plays poker, Willie fails chemistry, and …
Today’s film is the 1996 short Black Kites. The film is written and directed by Jo Andres, and stars Steve Buscemi, who also produces. Buscemi has had a long and illustrious career, with a filmography ranging from the Coen Brothers’ Fargo to Michael Bay’s The Island. He has recently transitioned to television with HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, …
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Written by Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley Directed by Don Scardino USA, 2013 A high concept comedy of the kind Will Ferrell has most been associated with in the last decade, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone assembles an appealing cast for its familiar story and character beats, here applied to …
Monsters, Inc. Directed by Pete Docter Written by Andrew Stanton and Daniel Gerson Starring Billy Crystal, John Goodman, James Coburn, Steve Buscemi Here’s a question that has nagged at me for the last few years: what, really, is the difference between a film made by Pixar Animation Studios and a film made by DreamWorks Animation? …
Boardwalk Empire Season3.12 ‘Margate Sands’ Written by: Terence Winter and Howard Korder Directed by: Tim van Patten Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO This was the show when I thought the talking would stop. Boardwalk Empire, always a little dialogue heavy, had moved itself into prime position for an episode where plotting was kept to …
Boardwalk Empire Episode 3.09 ‘A Milkmaid’s Lot’ Written by: Rolin Jones Directed by: Ed Bianchi Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO Three episodes out and we’re building for the season finale. This is always a difficult time for a series fan. The writers have to keep the big plot twists both secret, but also completely …
Boardwalk Empire Episode 3.08 “The Pony” Written by: Terence Winter & Howard Korder Directed by: Tim Van Patten Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on HBO Nucky has his mojo back. Nelson Van Alden has his mojo back. After a quiet beginning to the series, what else do we need to up the pace? When Gyp Rosetti …
Sushi Girl Directed by Kern Saxton Written by Kern Saxton and Destin Pfaff USA, 2012 Remember that iconic opening scene in Reservoir Dogs, when Steve Buscemi’s Mr. Pink has a scenery-chewing whinge about the audacity and impudence of tipping? Well, imagine if instead of coffee and breakfast on the table there was a fully naked …
Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 6: “Ging Gang Goolie” Written by Steve Kornacki Directed by Ed Bianchi Airs Sunday 9.00pm EST on Sunday Ever since the sad departure of showgirl Lucy Danziger from the show in Season 2, leaving her baby girl to the tender care of Nelson Van Alden (which is a bit like …
Boardwalk Empire, Season 3, Episode 5: “You’d Be Surprised” Written by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider Directed by Tim Van Patten Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on HBO An auspiciously titled episode: we begin with the customary sex scene and discover that Gyp Rosetti is a man of very specific needs. The fact that Rosetti …