Boardwalk Empire - Pilot (2010)

I have been waiting for this show for over a year, since I first heard it was in the works. It's rare that having such high expectations with something, are they not only fulfilled, but even better than I could have expected.

The Show:

This show is compiled of the best of the best of film and t.v. Martin Scorsese (the genius of all mobster films), Terrence Winter (the genius of mobster t.v. - The Sopranos), Mark Wahlberg (kind of random, but I think after Entourage we know he can produce good results). It's on HBO, naturally and is already being praised by critics everywhere. The show focuses on a man named Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi. He pretty much rules Atlantic City: from making trades in the gangster world to being known as the sensitive and down to earth politician. This show, which is based on a true story goes back to the world of mobsters and how they came to be. In the pilot we are introduced to two up and comers - Al Capone, played by Stephen Graham, and Jimmy Darmody, played by Michael Pitt, before they gained all the money and power that we know they soon will. The focal point and majority of the show's plots will be focused around the prohibition, which we can assume hit places like Atlantic City, New York and Chicago the hardest. The pilot begins with the night before prohibition begins in 1920. While the rest of the world is dumping out their whiskey and gin, Nucky Thompson is already making plans to make sure no ones liquor cabinets are dry - but at an extremely high profit increase.

Review:

This show in every single sense is perfection. It's The Sopranos all over again. Everything from the dialogue to the cinematography are as skillful as it gets. It's hard to find a show where everything is just perfect. Even Mad Men, which comes close to being flawless, still has a couple of off moments. The casting is fantastic. I've always loved Steve Buscemi in everything from Fargo to The Sopranos. I find him captivating, and sweet but still always a complete badass and all around great actor. The producers make sure to take advantage of the freedom that they get with having the show on HBO. They don't skimp on anything, from the nudity, language to the graphic violence. In a world where good and evil are opposites and are conveyed through film as black and white ideals, you have to really be able to let your guard down with gangster movies and shows. You know the main character is doing horrible things, but you still like him and want good things for him. That goes for every gangster from Michael Corleone to Tony Soprano. There are going to be moments where you're thinking, "gosh, why did they have to do that? Did he really have to kill that guy?", but he's still the main character and you still like him. It's a twisted world where cops are the bad guys, and you love it.

Rating:

I highly, highly recommend you get on board with this show. If you appreciate good t.v., then there's nothing else you should be watching instead. If you don't get HBO, then watch it on your computer. Just watch it!

24 (2001-2010)

Everyone has heard of 24. I had a feeling I would like it and put it off for a long time, letting my preconceived thoughts on it build up until I had a lot of expectations.

The Show:

24 is on Fox and has won a good number of Emmys over the years. The show is about a man named Jack Bauer who in the beginning works for the Counter Terrorism unit in Los Angeles. This show is the epitome of suspense. What's most unique about it is the time frame: each season has 24 episodes. Each episode happens in real time, so basically one season equals one day and each episode equals an hour. In between each season a lot of time passes, sometimes 4 years or more. Jack Bauer is a ruthless man who will do anything to protect certain people, whether it means hurting those around him or not. Over time he will go under cover and do a lot of illegal things to get information or things from the terrorists, resulting in him being in trouble most of the time. The plots always has to do with the President being in jeopardy, so whoever plays the president is always one of the main characters and a big part of the season. By season 7, regardless of all that he's done for his country, he is still being put in front of a grand jury to explain his actions and facing a large amount of jail time. I think that's the biggest part of the show is Jack's struggle with right a wrong.

Review:

The show has a pattern for me. I really didn't like season 1, loved season 2 and 3, couldn't even finish season 4, was amazed by season 5, couldn't even finish season 6 and once again amazed by season 7 (haven't seen the last season 8 yet). The show is very well done. It has a very specific style to it. The acting is always excellent and has to be with this kind of show where the characters are put through a lot throughout the course of the season. I had never seen Kiefer Sutherland in anything except the Lost Boys, so I wasn't sure how I would like him in this, but I absolutely stand behind him being on of television's best actors. Always does a great job and was very challenged in this kind of role. The same goes for the rest of the cast, some regulars, some only in a couple episodes. When a season is good, it's really good. Keeps you on your toes. There's always complex story lines, which I appreciate and a lot of government, FBI, CTU, field ops. lingo that you kind of have to figure out on your own. But if you stick with it and follow the story, it's very good. The show has a predictable pattern in some ways, but the details within those are anything but. For example. It always starts off with Jack being told about and asked to join in a new case involving some kind of nuclear explosion or toxic gas. He joins in with the FBI or CTU and works with them, until he has to break some rules to get something and now is being chased by them with a warrant for his arrest all the mean while trying to stop the bad guys (stressful, right?). As the season unfolds, several of the main characters will be revealed as bad guys who were in on it the entire time. About half way through the season one story will end just before another related one presents itself, starting the viscous cycle once again.

Rating:

I love this show and have rarely heard anything bad about it. It does have it's weak seasons, but the good seasons are extremely worth it.

White Collar (2009-present)

I'm trying out some new shows right now, trying to find that perfect one that you stay up all night for because you can't stop watching. Unfortunately I have not had any luck in recent viewings. I'll start with White Collar.

The Show:

This is a crime drama on the USA network starring Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson (Standford Blatch on SATC) and Tiffani Thiessan (Valerie Malone on BH 90210). It seems like every day they are coming up with new crime shows similar to the likes of CSI, Law and Order, etc. They all have their own little unique thing about them. Take Bones for example: focuses on non other than bones and how much you can learn from them which is then mixed in with finding who did it on the FBI side. Well White Collar's unique twist is that Neal Caffery is an ex-con who was infamous for art fraud and theft who, instead of serving 4 years in prison is now working for the FBI to help them find others like him with his brilliant knowledge of this particular field in the FBI.

Review:

I'm not going to lie... what attracted me the show... quite literally was being attracted to Matt Bomer. I can't say that I would have stuck around this long if he wasn't so damn nice to look at. So i'll give the show that big thumbs up. But that doesn't suffice for it's lacking in other areas. The show is not great. Plain and simple. Pros? It is complex. Hard plots to follow each episode, which I respect and appreciate. It's in New York, which obviously makes any show/movie that much better. It has nice touches of humor that are actually kind of funny and not annoying. Cons? I've always personally never been a fan of the one episode per plot kind of shows like Law and Order or CSI. I like a show that has a big plot that spans out for a season/series. That's why we watch movies and shows, is to find out what happens next! So why should we come back for another episode if it's a whole new story? Well the show has to be really good to keep us coming back. Good actors, location, funny, nice ambiance. Apart from the gorgeous lead, nothing about the show is really good enough to make me want to keep coming back each time without being bored for the majority. One of the biggest problems I have with the show might sound really petty, but after a while becomes really obvious. They make him out to be kind of an American James Bond: suave, dresses well, charming, good looking, very good at catching 'the bad guys' though he is one himself, and extremely intelligent. And yet he hasn't kissed or slept with a single woman the entire series so far! Very unrealistic for the pattern of these kinds of characters we have become accustomed to. And just for the record, they let us know constantly that he not gay (though he is in real life) because his character flirts and makes comments about woman constantly.

Rating:

This show is entertaining. Don't expect to be blown away or be sucked into it too much. If you have nothing else to watch, it's worth a shot.