Boardwalk Empire

I'd been looking forward to seeing this very much, not just because some of the filming was done in my favourite barbershop in New York, but also for the fact that it's Scorsese's first attempt at a television series. Firstly, for those who are unaware of Martin Scorsese's new HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire' here's a quick overview:
It is a factual based series set in the 1920's at the very start of the prohibition in the United states. Most of the series is set in Atlantic city, where Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the town's treasurer, juggles his political life with being a gangster. Nucky plans to keep Atlantic City 'wet as a mermaid's twat' (Nucky's words not mine)and so he and his brother (Shea Wigham), the town's sheriff, along with local thugs and other corrupt politicians, set out to make Nucky Thomspson the man to go to for illegal liquor in Atlantic City. He does business with the big shots like Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) and with those who are just starting to branch off like Al Capone (Our very own Stephen Graham). On hearing that name however, we all know who he is and that he won't stay small for long. 
If that overview is not enough to persuade you to go ahead and watch this series then hopefully my review will do the trick. But those who weren't persuaded...what the fuck?... Anyway, i watched the first three episodes yesterday and so far it is looking very promising. It is just what i expected from a collaboration between one the world's most prestigious directors and the writer of The Sopranos.
For me, a television series has a few targets it has to hit in order for it to be successful, like The Sopranos or The Wire. In particular it has to have memorable characters with certain traits throughout, and obviously great performances from the actors playing these characters. Boardwalk Empire is not short of great character performances at all. Steve Buscemi's portrayal of the corrupt treasurer, Nucky Thompson, is particularly worthy of mention, and so to are Steven Graham's attempt at the infamous Al Capone, and Michael Stuhlberg's chillingly calm performance as Arnold Rothstein. Buscemi manages to juggle between two traits very well indeed: One being a man of the community and the other being a more dark, corrupt and sinister figure; Yet he still has that comic edge to his performance that you'll find in Fargo, for example. Furthermore, Steven Graham's performance as Al Capone is another highlight of the series so far. He's psychotic, unpredictable and heartless, which makes him all the more memorable as a character.
Another factor that adds to the experience involved in watching Boardwalk Empire is the set and the props.  The Suits are amazing and so to are the haircuts, and they are successful in convincing the viewer that it is 1920's America. One thing that caught my eye especially was the blue Rolls Royce which Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt) drives Nucky around in. It truly is a beautiful car, and a nice touch to the overall attempt at making the series as real as possible. Five Stars so far.