Luck

This movie is about swearing, smoking, drinking and gambling -- and, only incidentally, the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series. Even if you enjoy those pursuits, I can't imagine you liking it.

Maybe it's just me, but sitting around watching a bunch of losers keep losing seemed like a waste of time. The only character of interest was played by Sarah Polley. In fact, the only reason I gave this movie any stars was because of the presence of Sarah Polley. Unfortunately, she only appeared in a few too-short scenes. Any film with Sarah Polley automatically gets three extra stars from me. Three plus zero equals . . .

The script is ludicrous and might be better titled "Deus ex Machina Madness" for the number of irritating, out-of-the-blue, bizarre plot twists.

The longer I watched "Luck" the more I wondered, "What were these people thinking?" The director/writer, the producers, the funding agencies? Even Sarah -- what convinced her to waste her talent in what I found to be a very unsatisfying, almost shallow movie?

And I'm even Canadian, for chrissake! I love the legend of the 1972 series. What a waste.

I saw this movie only once on the island of Phuket in Thailand. It was on an English movie channel ... no one i know remembers hearing of the movie except a friend who was also in Thailand at the time. Hope to locate it online somewhere

I saw this movie at a screening in Austin during the South by Southwest Film Festival. I have to say that, though I saw many amazing movies, this was my true favorite. The audience was completely caught up in the movie, with collective gasps and laughter in all the right places.

The movie is very well written, and the acting superb. I could not find any one flaw that stood out. It's not quite as "glossy" as a large-studio movie, but that actually works to the movie's advantage.

Luke Kirby is wonderful in his role as Shane, and Sarah Polley is great as the best friend/girl that he wants.

The movie offers great one-liners, incredibly emotional moments, and a perfect ending. I don't know if this will ever be released widely, but if you get a chance to see it I strongly encourage it.

A love story, a cautionary tale of gambling, a comedy about growing up and taking responsibility. Luck is all of these and the mix is entertaining but, ultimately, not fulfilling. Guy gets a kiss from a female 'friend' that jumpstarts him into a gambling streak where he wins and loses a small fortune in a manner of days. His friends and roommates are even more immature than he and they all get in deep. Although its well written overall, there was much unrealized potential for more comedy. Acting was believable and up to par. This Canadian produced effort is certainly well above typical Hollywood comedy standards and worth searching out. The harness racing and goofball gambling buddies situations were pretty much how I remember them from the time period I was going through a similar (equally unsuccessful) maturing process.

first caught snippets while flipping channels, each time watched a little more, knew i had to catch it from the start, and was just blown away when i did.

i loved the pacing, the development, the structure (especially how it starts as the Gamblers Anon meeting speech, which then catches up to itself mid-story). i loved the casting, the 4 buddies -- this is definitely "a guys movie" -- women were very secondary in the characters' lives -- that's why Shane doesn't have a clue what to do when he likes a girl. and the nerdy guy who keeps making the buzz-kill comments -- i love the way he was written into their crew. it always seemed like there was one of those guys around. and i love how the guys tell him to shut up & go away, but he keeps hanging around.

and Jed Rees! who is similarly great in Men With Brooms and the Chris Issac show -- i'm lovin' this guy more every time i see him. and he really goes for it in this one. he's got a Nicholson or Spader-like half-craziness in his characterizations -- but not sinister axe-murderer Jack, more self-destructive crazy, Canadian-crazy, half unhinged, but the worst thing he'll do is attack a table -- a Canadian crazy-Jack. love it. mesmerizing crazy eyes & face.

maybe it's cuz i lived thru that time, but it was all so real -- the first crummy house, typing in the kitchen, the ratty couch and TV, oh, and the stubbies!! props to the props peeps! and Shane's shyness around the girl. and all the twists at the end when Shane keeps losing it to this addiction of gambling, which i don't know much about, but this sure took me into that world -- how this non-gambling guy can fall so deep so quick.

and how the story is set around the '72 series -- i thought that was just great. somebody needed to do it. a real-world Shakespearian drama, and weaving all these different personalities into it.

it appears really low-budget/indi, but Real Well Done low-budget -- the way it should be.