Al Swearengen And The Lightning Strike Theory

[brandondrury]

So I've gotten into this Deadwood show. I seem to be a sucker for over-the-top brutally uncensored HBO productions. (Band of Brothers, Sopranos, Rome, Carnival, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and now Deadwood). It seems that utilizing realistic dialogue they repel all the retards who can't handle reality and let them retreat back to watching Friends or whatever.

Now that I think about, these are the only TV shows I've probably watched in the past 3 years. My list makes it sound like I watch a lot of TV, but that DEFINITELY isn't the case.

#1 – Al Swearengen played by Ian McShane is the greatest bad guy of all time. PERIOD. He's more badass than Darth Vader. He's WAY more likable than Tony Montana. He's the greatest bad guy in the history of video. In the very first episode he sends out a hitman to slaughter a 7 year old girl to avoid implicating him a crime. All the while he did it with enough personality to make it somehow hilarious....and disgusting.

#2 – The actor who plays Al Swearengen is flat out perfect. Al Pacino couldn't play the part as well. Robert Deniro couldn't nail it so well either. He's flat out bad ass at this role. MAYBE a younger Jack Nicholson could have done it....okay...probably.

Just for the hell of it, I looked the dude up on IMDB. Of course, I see that he gets a tiny little role here and tiny little role there. Then it hit home. He was the Dad in “Hot Rod” (A dipship, low budget, but somehow lovable comedy by the modern SNL crew). For some reason that hurt. That hurt really bad. This dude is one of the most talented actors I can recall playing a complex character with an outstanding level of charisma and he's reduced to being the dumbass dad on stupid SNL spinoffs.....all the while Nicholas Cage makes $30 million a film.

#3 – So, number #3 goes like this. If you want any mega success in the entertainment industry (movie business, music business, etc) you may want to strap a lightning rod to your back because you ain't gonna be as talented as Ian McShane or whatever the hell his name is.

Brandon

[TonyB]

I agree! When this series was out I was living in Rapid City South Dakota, just 20 minutes from Deadwood. All those characters were real and about half the time the HBO writers used realistic facts.

The real Al Swearengen died penniless alongside some railroad tracks. He owned a brothel and that bar; it was very popular in the late 1800's. The bar where Wild Bill Hickcock was shot and killed is still there.

But you're right, I think Ian McShane played Al Swearengen then the real Al Swearengen could have played.

[hwhalen]

I own the complete series on DVD.

Fantastic!!!

[fortyseven]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Al Swearengen played by Ian McShane is the greatest bad guy of all time. PERIOD. He's more badass than Darth Vader. He's WAY more likable than Tony Montana. He's the greatest bad guy in the history of video. In the very first episode he sends out a hitman to slaughter a 7 year old girl to avoid implicating him a crime. All the while he did it with enough personality to make it somehow hilarious....and disgusting.

definitely the meanest baddest cocksukka in tv history (although he does calm down a bit by season 3).

[jagcmos]

I would hate to have the job of trying to edit this show for broadcast television.
Then again, all you have to do is hold the bleep generator down for the whole time his character is on.

[TonyB]

Yeah there's been a lot of debate what kind of foul language they used. Calamity Jane was known to have a foul mouth, but not known what actual words she used back in the day.
The word "damn" was considered heresy back then!

[jclampitt]

Amazing show, it still pisses me off that they didn't get to do a fourth season. My favorite scene throughout the whole show is the one where al swearengen is just talking to a box with a dudes head in it for like ten minutes, it was great.

[fortyseven]

my best is his monologues whilst getting a blowjob. hehehehe

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by fortyseven

my best is his monologues whilst getting a blowjob. hehehehe

You took the words right out of my mouth (okay, people, no pun intended!).

Probably the best-ever monologues every performed! (pun intended)!

[jdbunda]

Anybody watch McShane in "Kings"? I watched a few episodes, but lost interest (he was good though).