Boardwalk
Empire: The Complete Fourth Season (2013/HBO
Blu-ray set)
Picture:
A- Sound: B+ Extras: B+ Episodes: B+
Back
for its fourth season on HBO, comes the Martin Scorsese-produced
Boardwalk Empire, which is one of the best television programs
to hit airwaves in recent history. Boldly going where no Gangster
epic has gone before, the show continues to be incredible in terms of
acting and production value - giving us characters to root for (and
hate) and violence that can be dark and grisly at the drop of a hat.
Starring
Steve Buscemi as Enoch Nucky Thompson (based on the historical
Enoch L. Johnson), who was a political figure who rose to prominence
and controlled Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition
period of the 1920s and early 1930s. Boardwalk Empire also
stars Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Jack Huston,
Jeffery Wright, Patricia Arquette, and Stephen Graham as gangster Al
Capone.
Season
4 picks up eight months after the end of Season 3, in
February 1924 which was the year jazz really came into being, with
fictional dancers/singers as well as the ubiquitous Charleston dance.
Having barely survived an overthrow by Gyp Rossetti last season,
Nucky Thompson is laying low at the end of the Boardwalk as this
season begins. Eventually, he butts heads with Mayor Bader, battles
with his brother Eli about the fate of Eli's college-aged son Willie,
and sets his sights on lucrative drug and real-estate opportunities
in Florida. Most of the drama in this season's twelve episodes takes
place in Atlantic City, and musical showpieces are set in the Onyx
Club (modeled after the Cotton Club), run by Chalky White, but events
also take place in Florida and Chicago.
Unlike
in any performance he has ever taken before this role, Buscemi is a
powerful and relentless figure to whom has no problem executing
anyone who dares oppose him. The incredible series was created by
Terence Winter and based on the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth,
High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson Johnson.
Episodes
on this release are as follows: New York Sour, Resignation, Acres
of Diamonds, All In, Erlkönig, The North Star, William Wilson, The
Old Ship of Zion, Marriage and Hunting, White Horse Pike, Havre de
Grace, and Farewell Daddy Blues.
HBO
is always top notch with incredible sound and transfers and this set
is no exception. Presented in 1080p high definition preserving the
original aspect ratio of 1.78:1, the transfer is pretty sharp and
flawless with little nose. The powerful, lossless DTS-HD Master Audio
5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) track amps up the tommy gun fire and heightens
the action. Additional audio tracks on the disc are in French and
Spanish DTS.
Special
Features on this release include:
Audio
Commentaries - Six commentaries with the cast and crew including
creator Terence Winter, Steve Buscemi, Michael Kenneth Williams,
Gretchen Mol and more.
Boardwalk
Chronicle (BD Exclusive) - An interactive, in-feature guide which
offers character and location info as well as historical facts that
are woven into each episode.
Scouting
the Boardwalk (BD Exclusive) - Learn how the locations manager of
Boardwalk Empire finds the unique buildings and neighborhoods that
bring the 1920s to life in each episode.
PaleyFest:
Made in NY Boardwalk Empire Panel (BD Exclusive) - A Q&A with
creator/executive producer/writer Terence Winter, executive
producer/writer Howard Korder and cast members of Boardwalk Empire
after a screening of episode five, "Erlkönig" - courtesy
of The Paley Center for Media.
The
Onyx Club: A Step Back In Time - An exclusive behind-the-scenes look
at the creation of, and historical inspiration for, the massive new
set in Season 4.
Becoming
Harrow - Actor Jack Huston details the origins, story arc, and
evolution of fan-favorite character Richard Harrow.
New
Characters - Meet the new faces of season four: Dr. Valentin
Narcisse, Roy Phillips, Agent Knox, Sally Wheet, Frank and Ralph
Capone and Daughter Maitland.
Season
3: Revisited - Get reacquainted with Season 3 of Boardwalk Empire
with this recap featuring creator/executive producer/writer Terence
Winter.
If
you haven't seen this show yet and are a fan of Crime/Drama genre
then this is an absolute MUST. Recommended.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv
