Michael Shannon Movies Blog

  The second half of season one really ratchets up the violence and our investment in the characters, not least Shannon’s Agent Van Arlen. The twelve episodes form a neat arc that could exist as a stand alone mini series if nothing else was to follow. All of the plots reach a resolution of sorts, and although some futures are left uncertain, everyone got some redemption or development at least. In the first episode a booze shipment is hijacked and that action resonates throughout the series, as revenge is meted out and consequences felt. I don’t know if a second series was commissioned as the first ended, as the stories aren’t left hanging, but we are intrigued to see where the characters end up next. The main focus of the show is the relationships between Nucky and Margaret who have an on and off and then on again romance. We also get his henchman Jimmy who has mummy and daddy issues as well as PTSD from his time in the trenches. The characters are all placed in a wid...

  My memory of Boardwalk Empire was that Shannon had a bit part to begin with that was expanded upon later, once he had established himself. The truth is he gets fourth billing in the titles and appears in the first episode, and is missing only in the fourth in this first tranche. If you have not seen the show you really should. I watched it all when first broadcast and I still enjoyed this first part of a planned full re-watch. I’d forgotten that Martin Scorsese directed the first episode and there are plenty of name directors appearing throughout the run including some who worked on ‘The Sopranos’. The show opens in Atlantic City in 1930 with the Volstead Act, which brings in prohibition, due to begin the next day. The main focus of the series is Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (Steve Buscemi) whom we first meet addressing a meeting of the Temperance League. He talks about the evils of booze before having a swig from his hip flask in the car park and heading off to a big party. ...