Boardwalk Empire

I started watching the critically acclaimed television series, Boardwalk Empire this week and it is absolutely brilliant. Not every body's cup of tea I am sure but I have always been fascinated by gangster movies and shows. I am convinced it will never be shown in Singapore based on the censor laws but lucky for me it can be downloaded . The show warnings include, adult content, adult language, graphic violence, nudity and sexual content.

Written and produced by Terence Winter who also brought us my other big favourite, The Sopranos. Two seasons has been made so far with season three starting in the fall. Directed by one of the movie giants, Mr Martin Scorcese the show has been nominated for 18 Emmy awards and to date have won 8 including Outstanding Directing.

Created by HBO, the show kicks off on the night that American Prohibition comes into law in 1920 and centres around real life character Enoch L Johnson, a political figure who rose to prominence and controlled Atlantic City during the prohibition years.

The lead actor is one of my top five favourites, Steve Buscemi and he is absolutely brilliant. His not a "mainstream" actor and often does unconventional roles in movies like Millers Crossing, Barton Fink, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, The Sopranos and his best performance before this one in Fargo. He also writes and directs and has featured in many of the Coen Brothers movies over the years.

His portrayal of "Nucky" Thompson is right up there with some of the best. The show is critically acclaimed for its visual style and basis of real life historical figures. The music score is also top notch and the plot does not disappoint. The show is explicit and not for the sensitive and fainthearted. A very interesting look into life during this era and how society dealt with and reacted to prohibition.

Definitely my alltime number one and can not wait to watch the rest of season 1 and 2.

Check out the trailer.