Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

A disappointing end to an excellent series...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 7, 2015

With a shortened, eight-episode fifth and final season, Boardwalk Empire limps and lurches to what increasingly becomes an inevitable destination, and does so with such heavy-handedness and distrust for its audience that it loses much of the power it once commanded. There's no shortage of memorable scenes and poetic deaths, but most of the justice and moral comeuppance it dispenses comes at the expense of subtlety, surprise and sincerity. The season not only continues to detach the series from history, it offers little rhyme or reason for its headlong plunge into melodrama, other than the writers own fondness for their characters. Worse, there appears to be a underlying confusion between what Nucky and his rivals should reap and what the show has sown. The miscalculation being that sentiment rather than tragedy, symmetry rather than unpredictability, and award-baiting performance over believable, sharply penned arcs will somehow salvage a diminished drama from a collision with obscurity. Even in its prime, Boardwalk Empire was already largely overlooked, and its final season isn't going to earn the show any of the attention it once so richly deserved.

The fifth season jumps forward six years, to 1931. In stark contrast with the Roaring '20s, the country is in the throes of the Great Depression, and with the end of Prohibition in sight, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) begins looking to legitimize himself by forging alliances with liquor producers. Joining Buscemi are Kelly Macdonald as Margaret, Nucky's estranged wife; Michael Shannon as former Federal Agent Nelson Van Alden; Shea Whigham as Nucky's brother Eli, underground after killing a federal agent; Michael Kenneth Williams as Nucky's ex-ally Chalky White; Gretchen Mol as Gillian, ever battling her demons; Stephen Graham as gangster Al Capone; Vincent Piazza as gangster Lucky Luciano; Paul Sparks as gangster Mickey Doyle; and Jeffrey Wright as Valentin Narcisse, Chalky's nemesis; Anatol Yusef as gangster Meyer Lansky; Ben Rosenfield as Eli's son, Willie Thompson, now a young prosecutor on the rise; Patricia Arquette as Nucky's ally, Sally Wheet, now based in Cuba; and Michael Zegen as gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.

Boardwalk Empire's fifth season fancies itself The Godfather Trilogy, with a climactic, multi-episode kill list, flashbacks aplenty, and other over-cooked elements that mire the final eight episodes in slow, methodical mediocrity. There isn't much spark left in the series, and it often plays as if the showrunners aren't quite sure of what to do with the nest of vipers they've nurtured all these years. It doesn't help that Nucky's fate is so obvious in its parallels to past sins that it, and really the entire series finale, arrives with a sniffle rather than a roar. When the chips fall, everyone is just about where you'd guess they'd be -- in prison, in the ground, on the run -- and patience-testing developments that are meant to shock and awe do anything but. The entire season registers as a chore; a reluctant march toward the credits that isn't as inspired or intriguing as previous seasons, or as impactful, jaw-dropping or... bottom line: satisfying. And what little hope I hung onto throughout the first seven episodes did nothing but cough, drop and bleed out as the finale clawed at the air.

Silver lining? It's not a complete loss. Having invested in four seasons, there's a welcome sense of closure here that, if nothing else, answers every reasonable question and only leaves a few loose plot threads. It's also wonderfully cast, masterfully performed (as always) and beautifully shot, with achingly authentic music, production design and costuming. The scripts may falter, but the rest of the series does not. And yet so many pieces fall into place that it begs a serious question: what went wrong in the writer's room? Season Five doesn't mesh with the seasons that have come before; even the tone and pacing struck me as out of sorts, although I have to admit that could have easily been colored by my mounting disappointment. Final seasons often have trouble connecting with fans precisely because of their finality; as expectations rise, enjoyment plummets. But that's not what's happening here. Most of the season's deaths and farewells come late in its eight-episode run, with numerous issues already out in force. By the time Nucky, his handful of friends and his legion of enemies start pulling triggers and digging graves, the series is at a low point from which it never recovers. Will it anger longtime viewers? Hardly. That would require an emotional reaction. As more and more emotions were demanded, I found myself growing tired and strangely apathetic, happily divorced from a series that was once one of my great television loves.

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season features eight episodes spread across three BD-50 discs:

• Golden Days for Boys and Girls: Nucky is awash in memories from pier-boy days growing up in 1884 Atlantic City, when the young Nucky caught the eye of the Commodore. In 1931 Cuba, Nucky joins Sally Wheet and, with a U.S. Senator in tow, forges ties with Bacardi Rum in hopes of Prohibition's repeal in the U.S. Working on Wall Street, Margaret finds herself in the hot seat when her boss, facing an internal investigation, decides his own future. Down but never out, Chalky seizes an opportunity to extricate himself from a difficult situation. In New York, Lucky Luciano sets in motion a bold plan that reverberates all the way to Nucky in Cuba.
• The Good Listener: Back from Cuba after a dangerous encounter, Nucky pays a visit to the now-retired Johnny Torrio, who agrees to broker a meeting with the new "Boss of Bosses," Salvatore Maranzano. In Chicago, Eli and Van Alden are tasked by Mike D'Angelo, Al Capone's new right-hand man, to recoup money lost during a federal raid by Eliot Ness. Fresh out of law school, Willie Thompson has a job interview. Rebuffed by a group of would-be financiers, Nucky dines with Tonino Sandrelli before sending a message to Lansky and Luciano. In 1884, a young Nucky deals with the death of his sister, Susan, while his father has a standoff with the Commodore.
• What Jesus Said: Chalky heads in a new direction after assessing his latest partnership. In New York, Margaret finds herself in a quandary as a result of her association with Arnold Rothstein. Nucky hosts a prospective "big fish" partner from Boston. Luciano and Siegel meet with Narcisse in Harlem, promising business as usual, but encounter resistance. In 1884, young Nucky is privy to the passion of a hotel guest, and flirts with a young girl.
• Cuanto: Facing a shared dilemma, Nucky and Margaret find common ground in Atlantic City. Luciano encounters an old adversary while meeting with Capone in Chicago. Sally Wheet makes a payment in Cuba amidst concerns of a grass-roots uprising. In 1884, young Nucky shows young Eli how the other half lives, and takes another step up the Commodore's ladder.
• King of Norway: Chalky returns to Atlantic City with vengeance on his mind. Concerned about the ongoing threat from Luciano, Nucky arranges a meeting with Maranzano in New York. In Chicago, Eli's reunion with June takes an unexpected turn after a dinner party hosted by Van Alden and Sigrid. Capone looks to relocate his operation out of Chicago; Margaret completes a deal with Carolyn Rothstein; Nucky gets bad news from Cuba. In 1897, young Nucky looks to win over Mabel's father while asking for expanded responsibilities as deputy sheriff.
• Devil You Know: In Harlem, Chalky encounters Narcisse in hopes of setting Daughter Maitland free. Federal agents enlist Eli and Van Alden to help take down the Capone organization. Pained by a recent loss, Nucky turns to the bottle, and the company of a pair of barflies. In 1897, young Nucky vents his frustration to Mabel after endorsing Jim Neary, and roots out a young thief with Eli's help.
• Friendless Child: At war with Luciano, Nucky looks to hold onto his assets in Atlantic City. Willie and Eli become involved in Nucky's war. Maranzano meets his fate. Nucky reads Gillian's letter from the hospital. In 1897, Mabel and Nucky argue about a young runaway from Trenton, while Nucky does a discreet favor for the Commodore.
• Eldorado: After a shakeup, Nucky looks to relocate to Manhattan from Atlantic City. Margaret impresses Nucky and a grain-company stockholder; Luciano tends to unfinished business while establishing a mob commission; Nucky visits Gillian at the hospital. In 1897, Nucky copes with a family crisis, while making a deal with the Commodore that will settle his future.

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Boardwalk Empire's fifth Blu-ray release features another strong 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation, albeit one that exhibits a bit more crush and ringing than previous seasons. The uptick isn't exactly distracting, but it is noticeable, particularly in terms of the edge halos that haunt the gangsters' dark frames during starkly lit scenes. Otherwise, all is as it should be. Colors are muted but lovely, bolstered by lush interior hues, intentionally minimized primaries, visceral reds, and accurately saturated skintones, as well as satisfying black levels and consistent contrast. Detail is as impressive as ever too, with razor sharp definition, crisp fine textures, and revealing close-ups. Darkness and shadows tend to wreak a fair amount of havoc on clarity, but it traces back to the series' photography, not a glaring encoding flaw. There also isn't any significant macroblocking, banding or aliasing to contend with, though the aforementioned crush does get a tad blocky from time to time (if your attention is fixed on the issue that is). Ultimately, The Complete Fifth Season is a faithful representation of its source sure to please fans of the show.

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Like the fine DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks that have accompanied previous seasons, The Complete Fifth Season's lossless mix offers a killer six-channel experience. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible and masterfully prioritized, no matter how explosive or jarring shootouts and executions become or how aggressively gunfire spits and growls. LFE output boasts presence and power, adding weight, intensity and dramatic heft to every assault, death, chase or interrogation. Rear speaker activity is just as terrific, delivering a fully immersive, altogether involving soundfield built on precise directionality, smooth pans, and enveloping period music. HBO's lossless track is easily the highlight of the set.

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries: Four cast and crew audio commentaries are available: "Golden Days for Boys and Girls" with executive producer/writer Howard Korder, executive producer/director Tim Van Patten, and Steve Buscemi (Nucky Thompson); "Cuanto" with creator/executive producer/writer Terrence Winter, Korder, Buscemi and Vincent Piazza (Lucky Luciano); "Friendless Child" with director Allen Coulter, Michael Zegen (Bennie Siegel) and Ben Rosenfield (William Thompson); and "Eldorado," the series finale, with Winter, Korder, Van Patten and Buscemi.
• Scouting the Boardwak (HD, 15 minutes): Eight location-scouting featurettes. Nothing particularly special.

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I'm sure there will be a few fans that are entranced by Boardwalk Empire's fifth and final season. Not me. I was disheartened almost from the start; a nagging dread that soon gave way to disappointment and eventually dismay. Exhausting melodrama, endless flashbacks (that shed little insight of note), stocky scripting and a debilitating predictability detract from the otherwise outstanding performances and magnificent production design, while the series finale elicits little more than a groan with an ending you'll spot from a mile away. Boardwalk Empire deserved better. Ah well. HBO's Blu-ray release is at least a solid set, with a strong video presentation, first class DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a decent collection of extras, including four commentaries.