Luck

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Tim Goodman: In Defense Of Difficult Shows
Why HBO's 'Luck' and other series demand patience, effort.

Subcultures are not instantaneously familiar for the obvious reason. For people who haven’t been to the horse track, bet on the ponies or been around that environment, Luck will seem like a foreign world. But hell, trying to figure out the land-rights issue and why Lord and Lady Grantham were going to lose Downton Abbey wasn’t super understandable either.

If investing your time in unfamiliar subjects is too hard for you, if it’s too much of a commitment, then by all means watch network television instead. And stop whining, so the rest of the people who want to be challenged can focus.

I know that.

The article is borderline insulting. You can't compare this show to The Wire with a straight face. That show was intriguing from episode 1. It didn't rely on known actors and borderline self-indulgent casting like the annoying asian poker player that was in Big Trouble in Little China.

The content is lacking on the show. The characters are lacking. To compare it to one of the best series in the past 30 years is laughable.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I know that.

The article is borderline insulting. You can't compare this show to The Wire with a straight face. That show was intriguing from episode 1. It didn't rely on known actors and borderline self-indulgent casting like the annoying asian poker player that was in Big Trouble in Little China.

The content is lacking on the show. The characters are lacking. To compare it to one of the best series in the past 30 years is laughable.

Coach I have not seen The Wire, from all accounts I have heard it was outstanding. I have a problem with in general comparing one show to another. Each of these series should stand on their own. It's a matter of opinion, some like it, some don't but each of these shows should be judged on it's own merits.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I know that.

The article is borderline insulting. You can't compare this show to The Wire with a straight face. That show was intriguing from episode 1. It didn't rely on known actors and borderline self-indulgent casting like the annoying asian poker player that was in Big Trouble in Little China.

The content is lacking on the show. The characters are lacking. To compare it to one of the best series in the past 30 years is laughable.

That review is a joke - there was nothing difficult about following The Wire and I didn't need close captioning to decipher the dialogue either.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

That review is a joke - there was noting difficult about following The Wire and I didn't need close captioning to decipher the dialogue either.

I agree with the deciphering, unless they are going to introduce that the Nolte character had a stroke there is no reason to make it so painfull on the viewer. I'm not bothered by difficulty understanding the Ortiz diologue but the Nolte character makes me want to turn off the show.

Also The Wire had 13 episodes for season 1 and the same number for season 2.

We're getting 19 shows with Luck. You can have slow pacing when the characters are fascinating. These characters suck.

[GenuineRisk]

Subcultures are not instantaneously familiar for the obvious reason. For people who haven’t been to the horse track, bet on the ponies or been around that environment, Luck will seem like a foreign world. But hell, trying to figure out the land-rights issue and why Lord and Lady Grantham were going to lose Downton Abbey wasn’t super understandable either.

Actually, no, that was explained pretty quickly. Downton Abbey is not a complicated show.

But Luck is also a better show than Downton Abbey (which I also like).

Good article; thanks for posting it. Excellent point about the difference between TV designed to keep you amused in between commercials and TV that is actually about the show.

[richard]

A useful synopsis of Luck through episode 3...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luck_(TV_series)

[tector]

Sorry, Hoffman is bad here--and he's been weak for years. There is no one here who is a greater admirer of his best work--Midnight Cowboy, Lenny, Marathon Man, The Graduate, Straw Dogs and several others. But that is ancient history. I think the last thing I saw him in that I'd watch again was American Buffalo, and that is no great shakes.

PS: If you want to the greatest portrayal of real world criminality I've ever seen on screen, check out one of his more obscure films, Straight Time (1978). It's not a great film, but he is great in it.

[Indian Charlie]

Wag the Dog was solid.

[tector]

Same timeframe, mid-90s I think. After that....

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Wag the Dog was solid.

Great film! He was very funny in that, in my opinion.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by tector

Same timeframe, mid-90s I think. After that....

2008 "Lance Chance Harvey"

[tector]

Originally Posted by mclem0822

2008 "Lance Chance Harvey"

Pass me that blunt.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by tector

Pass me that blunt.

Chow

[Scav]

On PTI just now, during there commercial cut ins, Kornheiser just said "at the risk of sounding very very stupid, Luck might be the greatest show ever made"

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by Scav

On PTI just now, during there commercial cut ins, Kornheiser just said "at the risk of sounding very very stupid, Luck might be the greatest show ever made"

I think the show is very good, but I am not ready to go there lol! It is great it was mentioned on PTI though.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by mclem0822

Maybe I am nuts, but in my opinion we saw a pretty big happening at the end of the very first show. The P6 hit. The fallout of which for these characters is still unfolding, which to me has been very interesting. But it is a matter of opinion, and I hope it gets better for you.

Okay, in over 160 minutes, the biggest happening was a group of stereotype degenerates hit a pick 6. And the fallout?

- one of them gets nearly beaten to death by two run down prostitutes/grifters over some insurance scam that never turned out. (not sure but i think that is why they beat him up)

- one of them loses a couple of hands of cards and wins a nice pot against a cliche chinese restaruant owner/poker player

- one of them wants to claim a horse but loses in a shake but then goes back and buys the horse at 4x the claim.

- one is grumpy and rides on his mechanized wheel chair with his loot in a pillow case.


Call me a snob, but i don't find any of this very interesting. Certainly no knock on anyone that does. And i appreciate the sentiment- i hope it gets better as well.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Also The Wire had 13 episodes for season 1 and the same number for season 2.

We're getting 19 shows with Luck. You can have slow pacing when the characters are fascinating. These characters suck.

Hit it right on the head. Well said.

[goodcopy]

Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman are the most most "watchable" characters on a so far terrible written dis-jointed mini series that has some signs of life as of episode 3.
Nick Nolte is incomprehensible,the 4 Grinders that won the pick 6 are completely unbelievable,Gary Stevens either never had or loss all ability to act(could you believe the seen where he contemplates a thought by scratching his chin for 3 1/2 minutes).
The best seen so far is where Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman are grilling the young "no it all" and Dennis makes him shake his hand .
The Julio character may be the closest to the real thing except the fact he never bedded a foxy veterinarian.
How about the seen where two stakes potential 2 year olds with different trainers are working from the gate in a 3 furlong match race.
There is just to much inaccurate stuff and the writers need to either write a interesting story about racing be it true or not or go ahead and make a documentary with complete accuracy and no poetic licence because they are trying to do both and failing in the most part