Boardwalk Empire is now five or six episodes into its first season on HBO, and while the show is interesting, one thing keeps staring me in the face…the casting is awful. The story, in and of itself, is not exactly up to snuff either, with characters acting in ways that are not explained in exposition or subtext, but the inner machinations of Probation Era Atlantic City is just too close to my second home (AC) to not watch.
When it comes to miscasting, I think there are three major gaffs. First, Nucky Thompson, as played by Steve Buscemi, is woefully miscast. Next, we have the dual casting of mother-son Gretchen Mol and Michael Pitt. Finally, we have a slew of familiar faces in the background.
Let’s start with good ole Nucky/Buscemi. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I became an instant fan of Steve Buscemi when I first saw him in the Quentin Tarantino masterpiece, Reservoir Dogs. Buscemi, in Reservoir Dogs, played Mr. Pink, a scrawny, over-aggressive dickhead of a criminal. He was special in that role because he was so unique. With his bug eyes, slight frame, and sharp tongue, Buscemi shone in that role against more traditional (and famous) actors like Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth.
In an environment a bit closer to Boardwalk Empire, Buscemi was an unexpected but exciting choice as Tony Soprano’s convict cousin Tony in the Sopranos. There, Buscemi, as the messed up cousin, got to play off of his wiry frame and cagey look.
Somehow, though, even with my love of Buscemi, he just falls flat as Nucky Thompson, head of AC’s organized crime (and Treasurer of the city). He is too recognizable at this point in his career as the wisecracking fuckup. Buscemi is just too unique, so in the period piece, he feels out of place. It is literally like watching Tony (the cousin) from the Sopranos transported back in time, with an added touch of power and control (but no shortage of personality flaws). So, while Buscemi might have been an original choice and possibly even a driving force to getting production okayed, in the end, I feel he distracts more than he adds.
Talking of distractions, these next two actors are way too distracting due to the miscasting, even though I find them both individually to be exciting actors. Gretchen Mol was born in 1972, i.e, around 38 years old. Prior to Boardwalk Empire, her most recent TV role was in Life on Mars, where, in my opinion, she was an excellent female lead. She has the classic beauty necessary for a period piece and the acting chops to carry the role. But why is she distracting on Boardwalk Empire? Because she is playing mother to Michael Pitt, an actor born in 1981, i.e., 9 years after Ms. Mol.
Now, actors are actors, so playing a different age is fine. BUT this is outrageous, especially since Gretchen Mol looks so young for her age. Mol could easily pass as the wife of Pitt, who ironically plays old in his role as a war vet. The two look so close in age that when Mol visit’s Pitt’s baby’s mama in the show, it looks like two sisters chatting. I suppose as one saving grace, a recent subplot involved a character who boned Mol and then bragged that he was banging Pitt’s wife, only to learn that it is his mother. So, maybe it is somewhat intentional. Regardless, on screen, it just doesn’t work. It’s like watching two siblings, not a mother-child relationship.
Finally, there is the supporting cast, who seem to have been culled almost exclusively from other HBO series. One of Nucky’s clan is a screw (prison guard) from the HBO series, Oz. The head of Pitt’s crew in Chicago is from the Sopranos. Nucky’s brother is not from another HBO show (that I can recall) but he has a look that is too distinct, having seen him in other roles.
I suppose this all amounts to one thing: the casting of Boardwalk Empire distracts from the period piece show. There’s nothing to be done now. The show is still decent. Its just a surprise.
Then again, if you heard the California beach style opening number, which is completely in discord with the rest of the program, you can see that whoever was running the show was not overly concerned that the right tone be set.
Until next time, make mine poker!