Luck

Luck was an epic show. In only 9 episodes, it weaved together numerous, insanely complex story lines which many people probably had trouble following. But what started as a 'too dense for anything but pretense' project soon turned into an amazingly broad show whose characters included mafia, rounders, trainers, jockeys, agents, horse owners, and many others - to create an incredibly smart show which, in my opinion, sought to expose the world of horse racing to the many who are uninformed, or simply would not normally care. The characters and writing were top notch, and this definitely should have been allowed more time to flesh out.

Hopefully another network won't be as scared of PETA and will pick it up.

Minor? actor Richard Kind (as Joey Rathburn) in shorter scenes with just a few stuttering lines hits massive grand slams, basically stealing the entire series from giants Hoffman and Nolte. Everybody is excellent but Kind wins the 'race' by 20 to 30 links.

LUCK is fast and stylish. Michael Mann is exec. producer of LUCK and director of the first episode. Mann is the writer/director of "Heat" and LUCK has the same pace and style.

There is plenty of insider chatter here. The kind of dialogue that is second nature to the people associated with horse racing but that leaves the rest of us a bit dizzy. LUCK is the clash of very different characters and it gives Mann as much contrast as the cinematography that has become his signature. Washed up gamblers, hungry employee's, wealthy owners and the people one step from financial ruin or rejuvenation are painted in different colors of neon or grays as success and/or slime in all its forms contrast with the strength, beauty and earthiness of the central characters: Horses, fodder for the justification of so much excitement and sadness.

LUCK is a convergence of who's who at Santa Anita. I'm grateful that so many deserving thespians wanted in on this project. I'm sure they know much about their peers but their on-screen "history" with each other is believable. Can the script justify the talent? So far, yes. The writing seems to have as much good teeth as its all-star cast - pay attention and hold on.

This premier reminds me of "Mad Men" on AMC, a channel I ALSO got for free for the first 3 (enjoyable) episodes. I did not bite on AMC but LUCK is making a good argument for HBO.

I'm certain the language will soak in with the rest of the story but I have the inside on "bug", as the agent calls the young Jockey. "Bug" is a moniker used for substitute jockey's. Any rookie that replaces an expected rider is noted on a racing program with an asterisk and an asterisk looks like a bug (the definition is courtesy of David Milch).

I am devastated. "Luck" has been dropped by HBO. It was an exquisite moment - beautifully crafted and executed. I loved the balance between the struggles of the mighty mobsters on one side of the track and the struggles of the clowns on the other. In the middle, the mysterious world of horses translated to the spectator by two seasoned trainers, and the demanding life of jockeys (who knew they suffered like runway models?)and the go-between, the manager.

I remember the first episode. (I'll try just about anything once.) I saw the wronged chief returning from exile, the unworthy king's fear of the wronged chief's return, and I heard it all in iambic pentameter. I do believe, it's the first time in a very long time, I actually smiled at the TV set.

The cinematography was art - if anybody reads this who actually has a say in the show: I'd like a large still of Dustin Hoffman in shadow with the curtain of drying bandages. Or the clowns feeding their horse a carrot for the first time. Or Nick Nolte with his dog by his side waxing philosophical. The list is actually longer than space permits - wrap up flashing. I truly hope that another channel steps up to the plate and rescues this fine show. Everybody involved in this project deserves the highest praise and the opportunity to finish the telling of this tale. Imagine the Scottish Tragedy abandoned at the end of Act I. That's what happened here.

There is an undeniably large amount of jargon used in the pilot episode, however with a little bit of careful listening the meaning of almost all of it can be easily 'sussed' out. The pilot stands out in my opinion for the creative use of camera angles which allow the viewer to immerse into the horse race. The editorial work is also quite slick. The performances of Nick Nolte and Dustin Hoffman are quite good and I am excited to see Patrick J Adams in the coming episode.

I terms of story-telling and plot lines, the last few minutes of the pilot do help clear up some of the prevailing confusion regarding the direction of the story. All in all the pilot is a solid effort and achieves its goal of setting up the stage for a potentially gripping series.