47 replies to this topic

[hardy har]

I had no idea this series even existed until about 20 minutes ago. Apparently, it starts sometime in April.

Plot Synopsis from the official site on Starz:

Miami Beach, 1959.

As Ike Evans rings in the New Year at his luxurious Miramar Playa Hotel, Havana falls to Castro’s rebels. It’s a turbulent time in Miami, but it’s THE place to be. The Kennedys, the mob and the CIA all hold court here. And Ike, he’s the star of his hotel.

But everything comes at a price.

To finance his dream, he sold his soul to mob boss Ben “The Butcher” Diamond. Ike’s wife Vera, a former showgirl, and his three kids think he’s an honorable man, but he can’t break his pact with the devil. His life is a façade.

In fact, nothing at the Miramar Playa is what it seems. By day, it’s diving clowns and cha-cha lessons. By night, escorts have secret liaisons with husbands in the family cabanas, while Miami’s seedier residents and the law drift together to hear legendary singers, musicians and comics.

As Ike’s world threatens to implode, he fights for his family, and the Miramar Playa, in Magic City.

Starring:

Jeffery Dean Morgan
Olga Kurylenko
Danny Huston
Steven Strait
Christian Cooke
Jessica Marais
Kelly Lynch
Yul Vazquez
Dominik Garcia-Lorido
Elena Satine
Alex Rocco
Matt Ross
Michael Rispoli
Taylor Blackwell

TRAILER.

Edited by hardy har, Mar 1, 2012 @ 7:57 PM.

[Chancellor]

I think I'm going to like this. Glamorous Miami filled with all types of shady characters.

[Chancellor]

Season 1 hasn't even premiered yet and it's already been renewed for season 2. Go figure!

[yarnover]

Intriguing. But yes, the Mad Men comparisons will come fast and furious.

The presence of Danny Huston in this also has piqued my interest.

[ybrik]

So did anyone watch the sneak preview tonight?

It seems pretty good. I'll need to watch it again mainly because I was still a little shocked from the Spartacus season finale.

Not really getting the Mad Men feel or comparisons.

Last thought Jessica Marais is ridiculously hot.

[Vinny Vidi Vici]

I like it. I just got done reading American Tabloid so I was stoked for some Kennedy-Castro-Miami-Mob era anything. The guy that plays Ike is one of those actors I know I've seen before but I can't place him. He's good.

I missed the first few minutes so I'm still a little fuzzy on exactly who did what to whom. Who are all the floaters? Where are they floating? Who did it to them, the smarmy bastard that was sunning himself while the naked woman was swimming? (Oh and by the way, this was a beautiful show to look at just for the women and the cars alone, jeezus).

[ybrik]

Ike is played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan who is in a ton of different things. Hell I would be more amazed if someone had never seen him, off hand I know he was on Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural, the movie The Losers, and Watchmen.

The identity of the other floaters are unknown but I think they are trying to show that this lake/river/ocean is a dumping ground for the mob in Miami. They may have all been done by the smarmy guy, Ben Diamond, not sure just the union leader was definitely done by him.

Yes the show is amazing looking. The women are all gorgeous. After the preview they did a featurette on the cars and wow those are some awesome cars.

[Freckles101]

Visually, this show is super, super gorgeous. Both in terms of the actors and actresses (especially Steven Strait, oh man), as well as the costumes, locations, and just the general atmosphere. I'm really liking it so far.

I don't really think this has that much in common with Mad Men other than it's a period show, but then again I'm not exactly a fan of that show and I actually enjoyed this a lot more. It was really nice to see that in contrast to Don Draper on Mad Men, Ike is really in love with his wife, and doesn't seem to be a womanizer or cheater. Of course that could change, but for now it is a really refreshing touch and something I loved seeing.

[WindSprints]

I liked it enough to want to watch a few more episodes to see how it plays out. I agree, its visually pretty to watch. For anyone interested you can watch 3 episodes via Facebook.

I don't really think this has that much in common with Mad Men other than it's a period show

I agree with you, I don't think its anything like Mad Men. I love Mad Men but I don't see why every show set around the same time has to be compared or automatically considered to be similar.

[Paratroper]

There were a couple of weak points in each episode, like

Spoiler

just about anything with the 'Butcher', especially the scorpion and frog story, which has been done to death, and the cheating spouse, whose fate is SO obvious

, but it's shot beautifully, and much of the story is intriguing enough that I watched all the available episodes. Sadly, I'll have to wait a loooong time for a new one.

[Turkish]

I've been a big fan of Jessica Marais since her days on Legend of the Seeker and Packed to the Rafters. I figured it was only a matter of time before she got more American exposure. I'll definitely check out a couple of episodes for her alone but I can't stand Jeffrey Dean Morgan so I'm hoping he doesn't annoy me in this as much as he usually does.

[lzcutter]

Who was the the couple that got strong armed in their hotel room. She was blonde, he ended up with a gun in his mouth. Was that one of the union guys?

[swansong]

Who was the the couple that got strong armed in their hotel room. She was blonde, he ended up with a gun in his mouth. Was that one of the union guys?

The guy was Mike, the union guy (or lawyer for the union I'm not sure), who the main guy Ike? wanted have call the union off. The blond was one girl who works at the hotel and sleeps with the clents.

[CalicoGinger13]

I'm a fan of Jessica Marais too. I'm just a little sad that her main purpose in the show seems to be getting her tits out.

[avaleigh]

I just watched the first three episodes on demand but it seems like they haven't officially aired yet so I guess they'd still be considered spoilers? I'll tag any plot-related stuff just in case.

I like the show but it hasn't blown me away or anything. Agreed that it isn't anything like Mad Men a part from the time period being similar. At the moment I think I'm just watching to see if it'll take another few episodes to start making the story compelling. I like the overall look and the cast, but the story hasn't wowed me just yet.

I noticed a lot a familiar faces and had a lot of HITG moments so that was fun. I spotted "Rueben the Cuban" from The Sopranos, Judah from Weeds, and Alby from Big Love in addition to several others.

Oh, and did the music remind anyone else of The Godfather when

Spoiler

they make that Union guy place the phone call and then take him away in the car?

I love Danny Huston so I was a little disappointed with the way his character came across to me. Telling the frog and the scorpion story like most viewers wouldn't have heard it before? I realize the character is supposed to be a big bad guy you don't fuck with but for me he basically came across as a childish and temperamental prick when I think he was supposed to come across as sophisticated, dangerous, ruthless, impressive, etc. A more subtle approach with that character in future would be appreciated.

As far as the subplots--

Spoiler

So the one son is attracted to his stepmom, the other is into the housekeeping daughter of their father's friend/co-worker, and the daughter hates the stepmom.

I can't say that I'm super intrigued by any of these particular subplots and subplots are a lot of what separate the shows that I love vs. the shows that occasionally keep up with.

Edited by avaleigh, Apr 1, 2012 @ 11:21 AM.

[patriotickid]

Nothing in the show surprised me so I guess that's it's main fault. It's very buy the book in how you would want to see a story about gambling/hotels set in Miami in the 50s.


Seeing that the Ike character isn't a hound is the most surprising is kinda sad and the most unexpected character dynamic.

I think it could have been more effective if the series actually settled around events like the pageant production or the Cuban Revolution. So far, nothing feels like these characters or stories have to be in a certain time which is good yet bad when they do nudge in a reference like the music on tv then nothing.

Edited by patriotickid, Apr 1, 2012 @ 3:41 PM.

[reggiejax]

I like it. I just got done reading American Tabloid so I was stoked for some Kennedy-Castro-Miami-Mob era anything. The guy that plays Ike is one of those actors I know I've seen before but I can't place him. He's good.

American Tabloid is my favorite novel. Ever since I first read it in 1995, I have been awaiting a film version. As it stands, I may have to wait forever. So maybe Magic City will have to do until someone gets it together to bring James Ellroy's classic to life. I haven't seen the show yet, but it appears to have all the ingredients that would keep an American Tabloid fan happy. Gangsters, Kennedy's, anti-Castro Cubans, Miami. Throw in a couple of G-Men and an oversized French Canadian goon and baby, you got a stew going.

By the way, the actor playing Ike, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, would make a great Pete Bondurant if American Tabloid ever gets made. Until then, I will look forward to giving Magic City its day in court.

Edited by reggiejax, Apr 1, 2012 @ 4:17 PM.

[theschnauzers]

My family moved to Miami the year the series is set, and I started school that very same year. The re-creation of the Fountainbleau (which is the actual hotel that is the setting) and the Wolfson family (which is the actual family that owned the hotel) seems spot on.

As to the union, the mob, and the glamor (Frank Sinatra) is also spot on. The scene in the park is in fact South Beach, and the current restoration was back to this same period. The restaurant used for the breakfast meeting was Pumpernick's back then, so the re-creation of the interiors, and the costumes and the cars is all spot on. Even the Jim Crow aspect. And even the weather.

And yes, Fidel's Cuban revolution played out exactly as depicted in the premiere.

One of the other actors one may recognize -- Christian Cooke (the "good" son) was in Trinity and Demons And given his nude scenes in both, I'll be surprised if he doesn't catch up with Steven Strait in this first season.

In real life, the story doesn't really get going until the Mob and Batista's followers flee Cuba in the months following the revolution, and the pilot episode is only 24 hours. I'm into this series more to see if they can capture the image and tone of that period right, as I was just old enough to remember the Miami Beach of that day.

[brothertonbanks]

I was not impressed with the first episode. It sounded like a good idea, but the lighting seemed off. Everything was happening in slow motion. I don't like the dad from Supernatural. There were some surprises in the cast, Leland Orser and the guy that played Moe Green in a Godfather movie and got shot through the eye. I guess it's just too influenced by Madmen, or maybe it's just a different Miami than I'm used to seeing. Did people ever really wear those kind of dark suits in Florida? I'm probably not going to bother with any more of it.

Edited by brothertonbanks, Apr 4, 2012 @ 11:10 PM.

[SeriouslyBored]

Loved the opening credits. Loved the show. Sucker for anything about retro interior decoration. Little miffed with all the people moving around, talking and placing themselves in the frame. Could we get the rid of those and focus on what really matters, the interior decoration? Will be giving it another chance, but if those people are still there ruining the shots might give up.

Now seriously. The opening credits are really great. The decor is great. The rest is derivative. Nothing was introduced to make us believe that this show has anything more to add to mob genre or Mad Men's depiction of the 60's.

Congratulations to hardy har for the brilliant thread title.

[yarnover]

Watched the first 2 episodes. I found this beautiful to look at but really, really boring.

I like Danny Huston a lot, but here I found his performance grating. The Butcher is not a character; he's a caricature.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has a certain charming screen presence, but the writing doesn't give him much to do.

I did like Olga Kurylenko and her character, Vera. She's the one character who seems to actually be striving, which has potential to be interesting.

Overall, though, there wasn't enough narrative tension to make me interested in seeing where these characters will be 6 more episodes down the road.

The opening credits are really great.

Yes. I really did love the opening credits sequence, especially the music.

Edited by yarnover, Apr 6, 2012 @ 10:53 PM.

[noregrets]

Meh. Long on atmosphere, short on story.

[RowingPains]

I thought the writing was kind of bland and the performances were not making up for it, it's like a cast of stock characters with no surprises or depth. That scorpion and frog story was also beyond cliche.

[Chancellor]

Watched all 3 episodes of this online and boy was I not impressed. I'll agree that it looks good but looks will not be a good substitute for a good plot. A show this gorgeous and a setting this glamorous should be flying high on action and suspense from the very first episode. Instead, it was a slow soap opera with no plot. And Danny Huston was laughable instead of menacing, and menacing is what I think he's supposed to be. By the way, how did this go from being a 10-episode first season to an 8-episode first season? I thought for sure I heard that the first season will consist of 10 episodes.

Edited by Chancellor, Apr 7, 2012 @ 8:53 AM.

[noregrets]

Second episode was no better than the first.

[SteveWright]

I thought the third episode was just okay. I'm going to give this a full season. Most new shows take a while to get their footing. Spartacus took about 4 or 5 episodes before it became ridiculously good.

[ElectricBoogalo]

Man, did they get permission to rip off the music from the Godfather movies?

Jeffrey Dean Morgan seems to die in the few things I've seen him in so hopefully being one of the main characters will keep him alive.

Visually this is a nice show to watch but the plot is only so so. I mean, how long before someone finds those nude snapshots? Ahh, the good old days before Internet sex tapes.

Edited by ElectricBoogalo, Apr 23, 2012 @ 9:43 PM.

[mellen]

Found this show just yesterday on "On Demand"....So far I LOVE IT! It definitely has a Mad Men feel to it, but I did, in fact, feel 'vested' in the characters after 3 episodes. Now I can't wait for the fourth. I don't even know what night it is on!

And:

Seeing that the Ike character isn't a hound is the most surprising is kinda sad and the most unexpected character dynamic.

is quite refreshing.

[RL1]

I think this show is much slower than Luck.

[LakeGal]

I hate when shows kill dogs. So far I have only watched the 2 episodes and they killed a dog in each episode. I am not liking this.

Other than the dog killing I am enjoying the show. I love the look and feel of it.