St-Georges

A great movie, great actors. Sometimes we can have all in our hands and in a moment all dissapear.

10/10
gracielitamolina@ - first review
11.7.2006 - age: 26-35

Canada may have been as awkward as a pre-pubescent teen in 1972, but at least we knew we were unbeatable at hockey. And then the Russians came. Instead of the expected cake walk, the Summit Series began with an embarrassing rout in Montreal that echoed loudly at subsequent stops across the country. No one dreamed we’d be handed our asses, headed back to the USSR down by a game and thoroughly outclassed. This is the atmosphere that forms the backdrop for Peter Wellington’s new film about love, destiny and the elusive quality that binds the two. Luck centres around Shane Bradley (Luke Kirby) an attractive 28-year-old layabout with a dead-end job and an inability to connect with Margaret (Sarah Polley), the archetypal girl of his dreams. When Margaret flies to England to try and rekindle things with an ex-boyfriend, Shane concludes that he’s inherently unlucky and decides to challenge fate head-on. Some buddy-inspired gambling ensues. But what starts out as a bit of light fun soon degenerates into a big money game with giddy highs and sickening lows. Desperate to settle a mounting debt that implicates both his parents and a local mobster, Shane decides to open an illegal bookkeeping operation with his pals. Before long the greatest hockey series of all time becomes a personal matter of life and death. And Shane’s betting on Russia. There’s a lot to recommend in Wellington’s second feature film. Like in his big-screen début, Joe’s So Mean to Josephine, Wellington gets a solid performance out of the winsome Canadian zombie killer Sarah Polley. But although ably assisted by Polley, and as unlikely as it may seem, it is Luck’s straight ahead Canadianness and strong buddy cast that forms the spine of this picture. Unlike many home-grown projects that get snagged by a prickly sense of earnestness, Wellington’s film is so completely and unabashedly Canadian that it doesn’t allow you to be anything but charmed. This, perhaps, has something to do with the time period. The picture of 1970s English Canada with its stubbie beer bottles and bold facial hair hearkens back to an endearing and uniquely Canadian culture that hasn’t been seen in Toronto for some time (although it’s apparently still going strong in East coast trailer parks) Into this setting (accented with some rare archival Summit Series video) steps a talented ensemble cast. In order to build the buddy dynamic required of this supposedly life-long group of friends, Wellington had the actors show up for a full week of rehearsals long before the cameras were rolling. Most had never met each other before and, as instructed, spent the time hanging out, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. Oh Canada. After enjoying some success on the festival circuit (it recently picked up top honours at Austin’s South by Southwest Film Festival) Luck opens in limited Canadian cities this Friday. With a bit of, uh, luck, it should go on to find the wider audience it deserves..

9/10
jasonrwhiting@ - 3 reviews
5.4.2004 - age: 26-35

I did see luck and it was the best movie ever...

9/10
blackstar@ - first review
30.3.2004 - age: 13-17

This is a great film in the tradition of Hard 8 and Fargo. Great performances, great direction, great script. Definitely one not to miss. It was a big winner at the 2004 SXSW film fest, which is one of the best festivals out there.

8/10
mightyshrimp@ - first review
27.3.2004

This is truly a GREAT Canadian film that makes you cry, laugh and sigh (sigh! )

9/10
lynchmob450@ - 34 reviews
27.3.2004

Note: The user reviews posted on this page are personal opinions of our visitors. We are not responsible for their content.