Boardwalk Empire

Even though it has been on for two seasons now on HBO we have just started watching Boardwalk Empire in our house. This is another show destined to be a classic for the folks from HBO.

Starring Steve Buscemi show opens with the passing of Prohobition. Buscemi plays Nucky Thompson the treasurer of Atlantic City. Nucky also is a mobster, who runs the town and gets a piece of every action that takes place in the town.

Buscemi may be the most noticable actor you will find. His face, seemingly elastic, shows expression like your dog shows expression, easily and often. This series when it was first released was of course compared to HBO's other mob series The Sopranos. Buscemi of course had a role in The Sopranos, until at least he met his maker at the hand of his Cousin Tony.

Boardwalk Empire is different however. Set at the beginning of Prohibition there is an element of history in this show. We have sets that reflect the time, characters, clothes and the whole world of 1920.

As Nucky Thompson Buscemi is a fantastic character. A gangster very willing to have someone taken out, he also has a tender spot for women in distress. He is a study in contradictions. When his protege left college to enroll in the Army during World War I he was bothered, when he returns and then runs an operation that endangers one of he is very upset. As the feds close in on the shooting that took place and Nucky has to kick him out of town Nucky's brother who happens to be the Sheriff tells him if it had been him he would not have been given the latitude Jimmy received. Nucky silently assents to the truth of this statement.

This show sparkles and shines. Having watched just three episodes I am sure I am in for many new twists and turns but one thing I have no doubt is that this show will be among the best on television as long as it is on. This show is to be rated five stars. Buscemi, second and third fiddle no more, easily proves he can carry the weight of stardom on his elastic man features.