I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Touches You

Absolutely Fantastic

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I have only now watched 'Boss'. I saw both seasons seamlessly and I must confess it is one of the best series aired - ever!Kelsey's acting is superlative, a 'nec plus ultra' of performance!The episodes' Directors show an unexpected cohesion of vision and the bar is set very high!A plus for the astounding close-ups with Mayor Kane's facial expressions, mosaic of gestures, edited without flaws.The starting credits grab the attention immediately - the graphic over-imposed on the city's views and the music are a rare treat!The screenplay - I apologize for my ignorance, if it did not get an Emmy - then I pity those in charge of assessment in 2011 and 2012, for their lack of judgment!The co-stars - Ms. Robertson is doing the role of her life, she is really 'on high horses' - Romanian expression meaning 'in the limelight, huge accomplishment'.Now, after watching both seasons in two weeks, I am in a dilemma - should the show have been continued?One part of me vocally supports this alternative, as the show did mesmerize us and lure the viewers into deep addiction - we wanted the dose to be administered, again and again...Let us take a step back and preview - the Mayor's illness was already a little bit too overstated, by mid of 2nd season, at least this is how it appeared, enhanced by psychedelic music. How long would the Boss of Chicago still be holding the reins/ropes as a true puppeteer master? I assume there was not a concrete storyline to be considered for the 3rd season, without jeopardizing (dilluting) the essence of the perfume's quintessence, up to a barely identifiable scent...On the other hand, even if it is heart-breaking, it might be better to opt out in some cases (i.e. this one) when the show/act/praise/prestige is still very high, than to consider the alternative - as I stated in the beginning, the bar was set very high, so anything less of stellar could have been a risk...All in all, sometimes yearning is preferable over redundancy...Finally, if anybody cares about my opinion, now is the time to do a sequel, say a 3rd season, in which - after 4 years, Kane is in the rolling chair, as his predecessor (now gone) and by accident - say, a combination of injections administered - revives him miraculously, rendering him functional 100% (after a swift recovery process). Now, he runs for Governor, against the in-office Zajac, while he grooms Ian for Mayorship - as the youngest Mayor ever. The existing Mayor (TBD) and Gil Bellows as Vaccaro (remarcable cameo-like appearance in S2) would play a significant role in the triangle Meredith - Tom - Vaccaro.Maybe I should come up with the backbone (the story)?

Locked in a room for a few days with nothing to keep me entertained except Netflix. Stumbled upon this gem because I'm a huge Kelsey Grammar fan and the show just sounded awesome. The first two episodes, I felt like I needed Ritalin to keep up with all the story lines and characters being introduced.By episode five, Boss had restored my faith in television.By the end of season one, I was ready to declare Boss as one of my favorite shows of all-time. The show is expertly acted and superbly directed with a rotating roster of big name directors that weave together the stories surrounding Chicago Mayor and political boss Tom Kane. Played by Kelsey Grammar, Tom Kane is a coldly logical if sociopathic mayor who engages in the darkest of politics for the greater good of his city. Surrounding him is a cast of other political figures, employees, journalists, businessmen, crime figures and family members. Painted against a modern back drama, Boss plays like a modern opera as the stories of many people weave together to form the reality of modern politics.While Boss can be highly complex, the masterful performance of Grammar carries the show and is so engrossing that its difficult to stop watching once you start. The weaving story lines of different characters, their motivations and how they work to screw one another is one of the most engrossing experiences I've had with a television show. In the end, despite Mayor Kane coming across as the epitome of evil, you come to realize through the corruption or ignorance of the other characters that Kane is working towards the greater good.If you're a fan of Kelsey Grammar or you enjoy dark political stories, this is a can't miss show. The first few episodes are difficult to get into but are carried by Grammar's performance. However once you get into this show, it becomes highly addicting.

Boss starts off with more promise than the similarly themed House of Cards in many respects. First of all, unlike the popular Netflix show, it's not about Democrats, nor is it about how slick and likable these manipulative people are. It's about a city government, to begin with, which is a better microcosm to work from, and it's a Conservative one (they want to privatize and outsource education jobs, we see hopeless shortages in subsidized medicine, etc.), which is much more in tune with the zeitgeist of the country right now. There is no fanfare or bravado to the slickness of Mayor and Mrs. Kane's double-dealing, nor anyone else's. We see clearly what is lost and gained in an uninflected way, while their personal demons subconsciously steer them into further jadedness or desperation, how the vaguest feeling of power or wealth slipping away will light a fire under them to redouble their efforts.On the other hand, it is a Starz show, which means characters have to all be sleeping with somebody and having marathon sex extensively during episodes. The show admirably shoots for an HBO-grade Wire-esque credibility and realism, but it can also feel like a vexation to watch when extensive sex scenes between the same characters is constant and many other scenes also constantly fall into sexual impulse. This is erotic, yes, but once we've established two characters' desire for one another, let's wait till their relationship changes before showing them in the sack again. Otherwise, it's the exact same sex scene. It doesn't develop the story and it has increasingly less value as exposition.Grammar is a reliably powerful actor. He plays a character that is readymade to be enthralling. Above all, he is a King Lear, a Charles Foster Kane, a giant force to be reckoned with. But particularly, and vitally, characters who have to live with a deep secret are a cake walk with a bow on it for actors. It's subtext that writes and performs itself. We, and he, learn this dismal, distressing news in the first scene, the first shot, the first long, unbroken, ever-tightening shot on his commanding face, effectively setting the show off with a bang.Though it was the brainchild of Iranian writer-producer Farhad Safinia, Gus Van Sant's direction sets the tone for the show with his gentle touch, which deftly balances naturalism with the deep subjectivity of extreme slow-motion and macro close-ups, effectively holding the mundane up to a microscope while the hard-boiled chatter of real life marches on. So, even at its worst, Boss beams with brains and nerve, and a cynical comprehension of politics as a mere waiting room for plutocratic privatization by way of disenfrachising the people and using the language of favors to sweet democracy up in a tornado of money.

Tried watching this twice. Full episode both times but it seemed ridiculous. Maybe because I live in Chicago and follow politics and read about Chicago history it made the show seem silly. My girlfriend and I both laughed out loud at 2 serious scenes. I did love the way they filmed the city though.I'm not expecting every drama to be a true view of how things work here but it was over the top. Too bad though it will be missed for the jobs. I know Mario Van Peeples is involved and that is probably part of its problem, he just seems to make a lot of crap.. I hope it can find its niche on DVD for people that like it. Starz will continue to improve I hope.