Thursday, January 24, 2013

Boardwalk Empire

Boardwalk EmpireSeason 3 of this HBO show is remarkable for two elements: Steve Buscemi’s Nucky trying to salvage his empire, livelihood, and family, and Bobby Cannavale’s Gyp Rosetti’s anxiety inducing exploits.

I’ve rarely experienced such feelings of uneasiness, concern, anxiety, and fear from just watching an actor’s performance.  From the moment Cannavale appears on screen in the first episode to the season finale, you know he’s someone to fear, someone whose violence can’t be contained.  Hats off to Mr. Cannavale for his bravura (and for the courage to go full frontal!!).

The only disappointing note of this season was the fact that Margaret’s betrayal of Nucky, in her signing away his fortune to the church, was never dealt with.  The season starts with the two of them virtually separated and with considerable tension in their relationship, and we all know where that tension stems from, but the topic is never breached.

It was disappointing because that was season 2’s cliffhanger, which means that we were left wondering how Nucky would react, and we only see the aftermath of that reaction in the follow up season.

Aside from that, Boardwalk Empire continues to amaze with its technical impeccability, its incredible acting, and its great writing.

Grade – Season 3: 8

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