As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of Martin Scorsese’s gangster epics, I must say that his foray into television with “Boardwalk Empire” was nothing short of a masterstroke. While it may lack some of his signature narrative devices, such as voiceovers or recurring actors, the pilot episode more than makes up for it with its stunning visual storytelling and immersive atmosphere.
Martin Scorsese is predominantly recognized for his work as a film director, and he has excelled significantly in this field. During the course of his professional journey, the filmmaker has garnered an impressive 10 nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director (one more than Steven Spielberg), positioning him as the most-nominated living director by the Academy, and second only to William Wyler in terms of total nominations. Additionally, no less than 10 of his films have been recognized with a nomination for Best Picture.
Martin Scorsese’s collection of awards includes several Emmys, one of which is for Exceptional Directing in a Drama Series. He received this honor following his exceptional work on the pilot episode of “Boardwalk Empire,” an achievement that made it the highest-rated premiere for an HBO show since the initial airing of “Deadwood” in March 2004.
After Scorsese stopped directing episodes for the show, its creator Terrence Winter, who was also a writer on “The Sopranos”, admitted that other directors continued to preserve the style and ambiance set by the renowned filmmaker Scorsese.
Boardwalk Empire’s Pilot Introduces Viewers to the Dawn of the Prohibition Era
The story unfolds as the Prohibition era begins, with Atlantic City treasurer Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi) found to be in cahoots with several mob leaders, including Big Jim Colosimo from Chicago and Arnold Rothstein from New York. While the general public views the new law banning alcohol as a negative development, criminals welcome it, anticipating the profitable prospects of bootlegging. Additionally, we meet younger versions of some well-known mob figures; at this point, Al Capone is merely Colosimo’s chauffeur, while Charles “Lucky” Luciano serves as Rothstein’s henchman.
Just like any other Martin Scorsese film based on real-life incidents, the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire doesn’t merely retell the events as they happened. Instead, the director adds depth and complexity to the original material, creating captivating fictional side stories.
Example: Nucky orders a violent solution for an abusive husband, later attempting to win over his wife. Rothstein, meanwhile, emerges as a complicated character. He promises to purchase liquor from Nucky but excessively spends at the casino (knowing Nucky’s gambling prowess), thereby creating a debt instead.
Although the show occasionally bends historical truth, it offers a captivating exploration of larger-than-life gangster personalities and paints a vibrant picture of a significant era in American history. Just a heads up, the dramatic ending might be distressing for some viewers, but if needed, you can close your eyes. In this scene, Colosimo is fatally wounded by a gunshot to the back of the head while enjoying classical music. The perpetrator? His trusted lieutenant: Johnny Torrio.
How Scorsese Ended Up Directing the Episode
I had the pleasure of being part of a project where Martin Scorsese lent his directorial skills, marking his return to television direction since an episode for Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories in 1986. As it turns out, Scorsese was already connected with the show prior to my involvement.
As a movie critic penning my thoughts for Esquire, I’d share that following the culmination of my masterwork, The Sopranos, HBO executives presented me with the intriguing tome, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City. My task was to unearth a compelling narrative from its pages for another enticing series. This book chronicles the rich, complex history of Atlantic City, tracing its origins back to the swamp years, making the prospect of adapting such expansive material daunting.
In his own words, Winter reveals that upon reaching the section of the story set during the Prohibition Era, it struck him as an ideal topic for study. Consequently, he decided to seek out Scorsese.
I found myself in a familiar dilemma before meeting my role model – what should I wear? [laughs] To avoid appearing either too early or too late, or overly eager, I arrived at his house twenty minutes ahead of time and took a stroll around the block.
I’d never crossed paths with the legendary Martin Scorsese prior to our collaboration, but evidently, he made quite an impact on me. Our paths aligned for our joint ventures in films like “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Vinyl”.
Returning to the topic of Boardwalk Empire, it’s mentioned that Martin Scorsese was initially intended to serve as an executive producer, but upon reviewing his script for the pilot episode, he decided to get more actively involved.
He phoned me, expressing excitement about the script he’d read. He thought it was fantastic and wanted to direct it. I was so surprised I nearly tumbled out of my seat. He inquired about the next steps. I suggested that if he contacted HBO’s president and shared his thoughts, we could progress swiftly. Just a few minutes later, I received a text from Richard Plepler, the CEO of HBO, filled with exclamation marks.
Due to his reputation as a successful filmmaker, Martin Scorsese received a substantial financial backing for kick-starting the project. Given its high cost, this is evident. The debut episode’s budget was estimated at an impressive $18 million, placing it among the most expensive TV episodes ever made. Moreover, Scorsese played a significant role in other production decisions. For instance, he advocated for Steve Buscemi to play the main character, effectively closing the door on any other potential actors.
How Boardwalk Empire’s Pilot Compares to Scorsese’s Other Works
Martin Scorsese, known for his seven gangster films, was an ideal choice to kickstart a series about Prohibition-era mobsters, given his expertise in the genre. Yet, there are noticeable absences of some of his signature elements in this episode. For instance, instead of the frequent voiceovers or narration that Scorsese uses to make his stories more engaging and straightforward, this time around, the audience is left to figure things out on their own as Nucky doesn’t provide any explanations. In Scorsese’s films, the main character often shares the tale of greed and power through their perspective, making it easier for viewers to understand. However, in this instance, that narrative technique is absent.
As a movie enthusiast, Scorsese doesn’t add his signature style to the story through innovative editing techniques or striking visuals such as long tracking shots or freeze frames. Moreover, there’s no familiar face gracing the screen – actors like Robert DeNiro, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Harvey Keitel, who are often part of Scorsese’s regular cast. It seems that none of them were interested in taking on a TV role for this particular production.
In Martin Scorsese’s world, I find myself never running out of the familiar flavors that I crave. Ethics and wealth often intertwine, as characters in the opening chapter seem to be driven by the desire to climb the ladder, disregarding minor legal infractions along the way. The artistic use of violence is also evident, with a Scorsese-style twist: an offender is threatened with being “laid to rest with the fishes,” and his lifeless body eventually floats up in a fisherman’s net.
Above all, the episode showcases Scorsese’s signature cinematic style. By day, Atlantic City appears enchanting and romantic under Scorsese’s guidance, but at night, it transforms into a shadowy hub of criminal activity. scarcely on television is a location used so seamlessly within a series, from the shots of the Boardwalk to the costumes, every detail is carefully crafted, making viewers eager for another Scorsese-directed production. Here’s hoping we’ll see more of it soon.
Boardwalk Empire
is available to stream in the US on Max
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2024-09-07 20:32