i think agent van alden is far more menacing than chalky.
Honestly, I can't stand Van Alden as a character and I will eagerly await the day he meets some fate that removes him from the show. I just find him WAY over-written and not remotely interesting as a villain/foil. He's like a caricature for "repressed psycho," right down to his self-flaggelation.
he doesn't seem more so a caricature than joe pesci in casino and goodfella roles to me
what i don't buy is steve buscemi in both seductive & threatening modes. his delivery doesn't change when he is being tough guy or when he is in bed with one of his girls.
I don't think they're comparable at all, not the least of which Joe Pesci is about 1000 times more entertaining an actor than some guy who looks (and acts) like Frankenstein.
Re: Knucky's bro - I think it's well cast, it's a good story line, but I've gotten my fill of the "jealous, overlooked brother" narrative.
I think Van Alden is a literary figure like the priest Arthur Dimmesdale in the Scarlet Letter or the monk in the Da Vinci Code. Completely twisted, yet I think that's part of his appeal.
How great is Van Alden's boss though? Sort of inept, clearly wary of Van Alden, nonetheless running things from afar. A really dead-on boss character I think.
So any thoughts on the finale?
Dug up this review of the show from my favorite newspaper; it shares the general consenus in here re: Van Alden as over-the-top villain, as well as attempts to explain why this show will never be the Sopranos:
That's pretty amazing. I had no idea the show was so effects heavy. Obviously for the long shots they would use computers because that old landscape doesn't exist anymore. But they were basically using affects on almost every outside shot.
Anybody know what the deal was with the maid knowing who Margaret really is?
Margaret hired a PI to track down her Irish relatives, who now live in Brooklyn.
She left them on bad terms so she got the maid to call them and ask for her, to find out what they would say.
When her relative said she was dead, Margaret broke down, realizing that her family consider her to be dead, arent looking for her, dont want contact.
The maid doesnt realize any of this though, I dont think.
After drinking with the servants and seeing Nuckys reaction Margaret decided to keep her distance, and just go all out for herself and nucky, I think thats what the last scene between her and the maid was saying.
Anyone get the feeling that Jimmy's wife is getting too close to Richard?
I really want to know how Van Alden got away with killing that agent. He did it in front of like 20 people. How did he explain it to his bosses and get away with everything.
I would assume since he committed the murder in front of blacks he felt somewhat safe because none of them would be willing to testify in court against a white man for murder, especially one that was a federal agent.
im wondering how soon after the baby is born that van alden is gonna kill her and bring home to the child to his wife. he doesn't seem like the type to leave his wife and stay with nucky's ex.
gillian is hot and creepy as hell at the same time. the way she kisses her son and various things she has said.
im wondering how soon after the baby is born that van alden is gonna kill her and bring home to the child to his wife. he doesn't seem like the type to leave his wife and stay with nucky's ex.
.
peep the end of episode 3: he's actually sort of in love with her in a weird way IMO.
he may kill her out of some religious rage (a la Sepso), but he doesn't actually want her dead I don't think.
Anyone get the feeling that Jimmy's wife is getting too close to Richard?
.
yes that's definitely happening.
Its a combination of her tender fascination/pity/admiration for Richard and her feeling alienated by Jimmy/jealous of Jimmy's mom's relationship with Jimmy.
Episode 4 they show her looking at that pic of Jimmy and his mom basically in a husband-and-wife type photograph. It's clear Jimmy's mom's relationship with Jimmy is, er, abnormal. Ely says so in Episode 4 after the Commodore's stroke: "it's not normal; it was never normal." or something like that.
Can someone explain the freaky dudes in the woods and what they were getting at with Richard?
Well they came across him trying to commit suicide, so the conversation is going to be a little odd. But I read it as sort of talking him down off the ledge, in a round a bout kinda fashion.
Richard is jealous of Jimmy cause he has everything he wants, whilst he has 'nothing'. Well these guys had even less, but were happy enough what they do have. With subtle metaphors about that and companionship, loyalty etc.
I thought the last episode was a little slow, but you're right it is very well made. Their attention to detail really puts it on an higher level. And subtle little tension building tricks, like focusing on the light flashing or the child kicking the chair leg, are not things you get in your average tv show.
I really do think that Steve Buschemi's physical appearance gets in the way of the story.
If he were merely an average-looking-dude-but really-old, or a decent-looking-but-overweight dude -- with a lot of money and power --, you could think "okay this young woman has made certain sacrifices for her well-being and that of her family, and besides he's a decent guy and is compassionate and isn't *that* ugly....." And this is precisely what the writers were going for.
But given how uncommonly gross Buschemi is, when I see them together in any intimate way I have one of two thoughts, neither one of them conducive to the believability of the show: 1. "I just don't buy this at all." or 2 "OMG she is trapped by some horrible monster in a depraved sexual slavery situation a la Buffalo Bill....."
I guess what I'm saying is that Buschemi is a good actor but is WAY too ugly for this role.
Comments
he doesn't seem more so a caricature than joe pesci in casino and goodfella roles to me
what i don't buy is steve buscemi in both seductive & threatening modes. his delivery doesn't change when he is being tough guy or when he is in bed with one of his girls.
I don't think they're comparable at all, not the least of which Joe Pesci is about 1000 times more entertaining an actor than some guy who looks (and acts) like Frankenstein.
Re: Knucky's bro - I think it's well cast, it's a good story line, but I've gotten my fill of the "jealous, overlooked brother" narrative.
So any thoughts on the finale?
Dug up this review of the show from my favorite newspaper; it shares the general consenus in here re: Van Alden as over-the-top villain, as well as attempts to explain why this show will never be the Sopranos:
http://www.forward.com/articles/131481/
Boardwalk Empire VFX Breakdowns of Season 1 from Brainstorm Digital on Vimeo.
awesome.
the boat thing was weird. why not just find an old boat?
pretty stoked
Margaret hired a PI to track down her Irish relatives, who now live in Brooklyn.
She left them on bad terms so she got the maid to call them and ask for her, to find out what they would say.
When her relative said she was dead, Margaret broke down, realizing that her family consider her to be dead, arent looking for her, dont want contact.
The maid doesnt realize any of this though, I dont think.
After drinking with the servants and seeing Nuckys reaction Margaret decided to keep her distance, and just go all out for herself and nucky, I think thats what the last scene between her and the maid was saying.
I wanna see some Wre-level discussion up in here!
Finally watched the first eps of Season 2 on Demand.
This show is still awesome.
I really want to know how Van Alden got away with killing that agent. He did it in front of like 20 people. How did he explain it to his bosses and get away with everything.
gillian is hot and creepy as hell at the same time. the way she kisses her son and various things she has said.
peep the end of episode 3: he's actually sort of in love with her in a weird way IMO.
he may kill her out of some religious rage (a la Sepso), but he doesn't actually want her dead I don't think.
yes that's definitely happening.
Its a combination of her tender fascination/pity/admiration for Richard and her feeling alienated by Jimmy/jealous of Jimmy's mom's relationship with Jimmy.
Episode 4 they show her looking at that pic of Jimmy and his mom basically in a husband-and-wife type photograph. It's clear Jimmy's mom's relationship with Jimmy is, er, abnormal. Ely says so in Episode 4 after the Commodore's stroke: "it's not normal; it was never normal." or something like that.
:hard_as_fuck:
Can someone explain the freaky dudes in the woods and what they were getting at with Richard?
Richard is jealous of Jimmy cause he has everything he wants, whilst he has 'nothing'. Well these guys had even less, but were happy enough what they do have. With subtle metaphors about that and companionship, loyalty etc.
b/w
season 2 has been really good thus far. michael kenneth williams is killing it. i like nucky's new irish driver duder. and i want more philly stuff.
The shot of homegirl in labor to Van Alden in the hospital hallway, then to him entering the burn victim's room. What a great sequence.
And the music/sound design, amazing as always.
i thought the sequence of Van Alden calling his wife back home from the phone booth was clever, since it looked like a catholic confession.
It helps build the case for her wanting the younger Irish guy tho...
Plus, it is Halloween... Don't you like to be horrified this time of year?
If he were merely an average-looking-dude-but really-old, or a decent-looking-but-overweight dude -- with a lot of money and power --, you could think "okay this young woman has made certain sacrifices for her well-being and that of her family, and besides he's a decent guy and is compassionate and isn't *that* ugly....." And this is precisely what the writers were going for.
But given how uncommonly gross Buschemi is, when I see them together in any intimate way I have one of two thoughts, neither one of them conducive to the believability of the show: 1. "I just don't buy this at all." or 2 "OMG she is trapped by some horrible monster in a depraved sexual slavery situation a la Buffalo Bill....."
I guess what I'm saying is that Buschemi is a good actor but is WAY too ugly for this role.