Raquelle Eric Banana the weathered Las Vegan?
September 29th 2008 02:30
Lucky You is a film by acclaimed Director Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, 8 Mile, Wonder Boys) starring Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and the ever-inspiring Robert Duvall . It’s no 'wonder' given the star-power backing this film it falls flat on its face with its pretentious, over-indulging and very forgetful exploration of the world of poker and its hotshots. In a word or two – the story follows the son of the world’s best poker player, as he tries to win a tournament in Vegas, but is fighting a losing battle with his personal problems. Sound good? Well that’s what I thought too...
I have to say, as an Australian, I was giddy during the opening credits to see my favourite "Poida" (go on, watch 'Full Frontal') take centre stage as the film's protagonist "Huck Cheever" (yes, I know what kinda name is that - really??!!) and the opening scene didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t until the film progressed in its lethargic trail through Huck’s ‘woe is me’ existence. Who really cares about a Las Vegan gambler who pissed at his daddy and needs the moo-ha to repay his debtors?
Yes, they did right casting the brooding and somewhat ‘sexy’ Bana, opposite sweeter than life Drew Barrymore, who plays “Billie Offer” (there’s a joke here, surely?) – a small town girl with a big heart (aren’t they all?) who’s set to mend all that is wrong in Huck’s life – but I smell a rat, and, yes, it could actually be concealed in Bana’s mop of a hairdo (the film was set in 2003, right? Not 1983!). While the film meanders through their initial smart-alec encounter, we start to see Huck as a bit of a fallen angel, hard on his luck, and ever so sexy. But then- hang-on – he does the unspeakable and actually steals from his ‘one night-stand’ - the toffee sweet Billie. His feeble excuse - ‘I only borrowed it’ – was there ever a line uttered on film with any more fruitlessness?
As can be expected and shame shame shame writers, Billie forgives Huck’s misgivings, leaving the audience in pangs of disgust. Redeem, redeem yourself you bastard! We’re all chanting, but no – the next blow is Huck about to throw Billie off the golf cart (don’t get me started on that scene) for not lying for him....hmmm yes, he aint smelling of roses at this point....!
So Billie, smart as a whip, gets outta there quick smart. But hang on – she’s back – watching him fight against his hard-ass dad at the World Tournament. Wow, she really is sweet aint she? Who is this girl? Oh, yep, she's fictional alright...
Finally we see Huck up against his dad – the man who left him mum for no darn good reason – ahh ‘woe is me’ again I hear you say Huck. While Duvall pulls off the charismatic and hard-hitting Daddy like it were old-school, Bana doesn’t seem to keep up. In almost every scene with Duvall Bana seems to have that ‘I smell a dirty dirty rat’ on his face (so it aint just me, then). It was almost as if plasticine could have stood in for Bana THAT would have been a little more interesting to watch!
Competition time seems like watching a turtle race (hey – I thought poker was full of hotshot thrill seekers and over the top personalities?!) Not in Hanson’s world...Turtles throwing cards around a table, now there’s a tagline! When Huck honourably throws in the towel to resign to his father’s egotistical pursuit to win the tournament (“I could see it was your time” he says), you can almost hear the audience gag.
The cinematography doesn’t redeem Lucky You. The camera seems to sit in suspended animation. Albeit predictable the visual of Huck running like a madman across a golf course to win $10,000 is somewhat entertaining. Sets would have to be realistically as boring as could be, with over lit poker tables, and the score, ahhh the score. If I hear that twangy twang twangy imitation of classic cowboy flicks in cheesy films like these again....
While Lucky You enjoys an excellent cast and a somewhat redeeming Bana in his second title role, it’s actually not worth a chip or two of anyone’s time. I think poker enthusiasts were gagging too.
So yes, as you can conjure up, especially if you’ve seen a Hollywood film before...the guy gets the girl and it all ends on a kiss – ahhh how sweet, some may say...How BORING!!!
I have to say, as an Australian, I was giddy during the opening credits to see my favourite "Poida" (go on, watch 'Full Frontal') take centre stage as the film's protagonist "Huck Cheever" (yes, I know what kinda name is that - really??!!) and the opening scene didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t until the film progressed in its lethargic trail through Huck’s ‘woe is me’ existence. Who really cares about a Las Vegan gambler who pissed at his daddy and needs the moo-ha to repay his debtors?
Yes, they did right casting the brooding and somewhat ‘sexy’ Bana, opposite sweeter than life Drew Barrymore, who plays “Billie Offer” (there’s a joke here, surely?) – a small town girl with a big heart (aren’t they all?) who’s set to mend all that is wrong in Huck’s life – but I smell a rat, and, yes, it could actually be concealed in Bana’s mop of a hairdo (the film was set in 2003, right? Not 1983!). While the film meanders through their initial smart-alec encounter, we start to see Huck as a bit of a fallen angel, hard on his luck, and ever so sexy. But then- hang-on – he does the unspeakable and actually steals from his ‘one night-stand’ - the toffee sweet Billie. His feeble excuse - ‘I only borrowed it’ – was there ever a line uttered on film with any more fruitlessness?
As can be expected and shame shame shame writers, Billie forgives Huck’s misgivings, leaving the audience in pangs of disgust. Redeem, redeem yourself you bastard! We’re all chanting, but no – the next blow is Huck about to throw Billie off the golf cart (don’t get me started on that scene) for not lying for him....hmmm yes, he aint smelling of roses at this point....!
So Billie, smart as a whip, gets outta there quick smart. But hang on – she’s back – watching him fight against his hard-ass dad at the World Tournament. Wow, she really is sweet aint she? Who is this girl? Oh, yep, she's fictional alright...
Finally we see Huck up against his dad – the man who left him mum for no darn good reason – ahh ‘woe is me’ again I hear you say Huck. While Duvall pulls off the charismatic and hard-hitting Daddy like it were old-school, Bana doesn’t seem to keep up. In almost every scene with Duvall Bana seems to have that ‘I smell a dirty dirty rat’ on his face (so it aint just me, then). It was almost as if plasticine could have stood in for Bana THAT would have been a little more interesting to watch!
Competition time seems like watching a turtle race (hey – I thought poker was full of hotshot thrill seekers and over the top personalities?!) Not in Hanson’s world...Turtles throwing cards around a table, now there’s a tagline! When Huck honourably throws in the towel to resign to his father’s egotistical pursuit to win the tournament (“I could see it was your time” he says), you can almost hear the audience gag.
The cinematography doesn’t redeem Lucky You. The camera seems to sit in suspended animation. Albeit predictable the visual of Huck running like a madman across a golf course to win $10,000 is somewhat entertaining. Sets would have to be realistically as boring as could be, with over lit poker tables, and the score, ahhh the score. If I hear that twangy twang twangy imitation of classic cowboy flicks in cheesy films like these again....
While Lucky You enjoys an excellent cast and a somewhat redeeming Bana in his second title role, it’s actually not worth a chip or two of anyone’s time. I think poker enthusiasts were gagging too.
So yes, as you can conjure up, especially if you’ve seen a Hollywood film before...the guy gets the girl and it all ends on a kiss – ahhh how sweet, some may say...How BORING!!!
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