Luck

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.

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).

Luck is the kind of grand sociological series that creator David Milch and to a lesser extent HBO as a network are known for. It presents a cross-section of one out-of-the-way spot in the dying world of horse racing. That sense of death and decay pervades the entire narrative, which stars an assortment of broken-down men headed up by Dustin Hoffman and extending to the quartet of hard-luck gamblers that are perhaps the soul of the show. And yet there's a sense of hope that occasionally shines through and makes it all not just bearable but beautiful.

This all makes it sound arty and kind of dull, and indeed the series has a very deliberate pace that might turn some viewers off, although that's an essential part of its style. But even without the overdose of sex and violence you can get from other HBO series, Luck provides some exhilarating sequences, most notably the brilliantly-shot horse races. Add that to great writing and acting and you have a show that satisfies on every level.

Well, up until the end, that is. Luck is doomed to be a one-season wonder, cancelled not because of low ratings but because of a series of horse deaths on set. It still works as a whole, but with only nine episodes, it's hard not to wonder what could have been. Still, what we have is a gem of a series, and well worth checking out for any fan of high-quality drama.

To appreciate this show you must study it. It's obtuse. You need to ask questions and answer them with guesses until you finally get confirmation (if you ever do). It's an investment.

Is it worth the trouble? I watched (and re-watched some) episodes to to be sure I wasn't missing the subtext of LUCK. The Nick Nolte character turns out way too enigmatic to care about. The juicy "Rosie" character turns out frustratingly lovable. Frustrating because you learn to love her while the plot pushes her outward from the center of the plot.

Dustin Hoffman does his best work posing still for intensely brilliant camera shots. He doesn't act much. That surprised me. You feel the director is building up tension for a wild explosion that will eventually occur. I'll admit, it's fascinating, but vexing at the same time.

Now that we know the series is canceled, there is no hope the suspense will be relieved and resolved. The characters will remain obscure. One exception is Marcus, played by Kevin Dunn. This disabled gambler is a reincarnation of Andy Sipowicz (the acerbic cop from NYPD Blue) with all the vinegar and cynical wit, but a genuine human heart. This is the one character we will not forget (those of us who studied this ill-fated series).

Sorry this bold artsy gamble didn't pay off. It was a deal gone bad.

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.