Luck

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

No Disrespect but you disagree about pacing but then you talk about the characters and stories still being "fleshed out" after 110 minutes. Point given.

Yes I did talk about the characters, directly after asking you for an example of the pacing of the show being bad. Which you have yet to sight? I was pointing out in terms of the characters, I find more than 1 character interesting is all. We can agree to disagree.

I'm actually getting into the character development now, but I don't get the Dustin Hoffman character and his interplay with Farina. He seems to spend the entire time he's on screen gazing into space with a "thousand-mile" stare. I don't get his part of the story.

Will probably stay with it for a few more episodes; I hear it gets better. The pace and sound in the third episode were much improved.


Ocala Mike

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by mclem0822

Yes I did talk about the characters, directly after asking you for an example of the pacing of the show being bad. Which you have yet to sight? I was pointing out in terms of the characters, I find more than 1 character interesting is all. We can agree to disagree.

You missed the point. We are now over 160 minutes into the show and nothing has really happened. Has there been anything dramatic or suspenseful? Any storyline that has developed?

It is a matter of opinion and if you Like the show, then great. I don't think it has been very good thus far but I am holding out hope for improvement.

[-BT-]

i literally can't understand 90% of the things that come out of nick nolte's mouth....it's horrible

-bt-

[tector]

I don't really have any problem with the show, other than the Hoffman storyline. The rest is fine.

Hoffman was a tremendous actor in his day--a day which included the likes of Deniro, Pacino, Nicholson and Hackman, all of whom were incredible in their prime. But none of them have done much of anything of note in 15 to 20 years. Hoffman is flat-out embarrassing in this role.

I have no problem understanding Nolte's dialogue, to the extent I think it is meant to be understood, so I don't know what you you guys are talking about. Turn on the closed captioning if you have an issue (that's what I had to do for my wife for the UK version of Life on Mars).

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by tector

Turn on the closed captioning if you have an issue .

finally did this for episode 3. CC doesn't even understand what Escalante is saying, though it did clear up the grunts and wheezes that spill out of Nolte's character's mouth - which I now find out - apparently masquerade as dialogue.

Really trying to find one redeeming quality of this - Can't agree more that the Hoffman character is about as peculiar, unimaginative, and boring as anything I've ever seen him play. The interplay w/ Farina is cumbersome, awkward, and thoroughly uninteresting.

Apparently whoever this "Mike" character is, he is going to save this show after week 4. I hope so, because the current roster/script is abysmal.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by tector

I don't really have any problem with the show, other than the Hoffman storyline. The rest is fine.

Hoffman was a tremendous actor in his day--a day which included the likes of Deniro, Pacino, Nicholson and Hackman, all of whom were incredible in their prime. But none of them have done much of anything of note in 15 to 20 years. Hoffman is flat-out embarrassing in this role.

I have no problem understanding Nolte's dialogue, to the extent I think it is meant to be understood, so I don't know what you you guys are talking about. Turn on the closed captioning if you have an issue (that's what I had to do for my wife for the UK version of Life on Mars).

While I don't like the Hoffman character/storyline (as of yet), I think you are being a bit harsh. There is nothing wrong with his acting. I do think that the problem is that since we are all racing fans, we are having a serious disconnect with Hoffman and his character because it really hasn't had anything to do with racing up until this point. Obviously I have enjoyed all the other storylines/scenes that revolve around the track.

It does look like it's slowly starting to come together and should continue to get better. The other thing that struck me is how good Gary Stevens has been.

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

While I don't like the Hoffman character/storyline (as of yet), I think you are being a bit harsh. There is nothing wrong with his acting. I do think that the problem is that since we are all racing fans, we are having a serious disconnect with Hoffman and his character because it really hasn't had anything to do with racing up until this point. Obviously I have enjoyed all the other storylines/scenes that revolve around the track.

It does look like it's slowly starting to come together and should continue to get better. The other thing that struck me is how good Gary Stevens has been.

To me Hoffman's been fine. Maybe I am wrong, but my sense is that the Ace character has a bit of a temper that may still be revealed. Right now he's reflecting, he putting the pieces in place with this deal, and seems like he has a score to settle in the coming shows. I wanna see how this will play out. I think Gary Stevens has been very good, I thought he had some chops when I saw Seabiscuit, but he's been even better here in my opinion.

[richard]

Yup, Ace is very upset he's a felon. He is very slowly adjusting to life on the outside. Note his subtle attraction to the female TRF rep that gave him her card

[mclem0822]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

You missed the point. We are now over 160 minutes into the show and nothing has really happened. Has there been anything dramatic or suspenseful? Any storyline that has developed?

It is a matter of opinion and if you Like the show, then great. I don't think it has been very good thus far but I am holding out hope for improvement.

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.

[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.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

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.

It's not easy to make this type of show for modern horse racing.

Two of the bettors (the degen who plays poker and the guy in the wheel chair) are belivable and remind me of people I know from the track.

They really have to reach in a lot of areas to get the drama...where incredible true story drama and charchters would have been there in a late 1800's time period.

I still have enjoyed the first 3 episodes though.

Well since they have another season there is no reason why the cast has to stay the same.

Just a suggestion...

Get rid of the poker degenerate and his friends. Pair him with a 20-something college dropout that is obsessed with crop duster's horse. Turns out she has some dark secrets...think human centipede type hang-up.

[docicu3]

"Ace" and the grandson that is responsible for him doing 3 years of hard time has got to be a bigger part of episodes to come, I am not sure we have met the grandson as of yet but he may be 1 of the four that won the Pick 6 winners which would make things far interesting?

The board room scene in episode 3 ,with Hoffman, where he lays out the ceiling for the purchase of the slots deal at Santa Anita seems like a page from " The Untouchables" minus the baseball bat, but there is time yet to see "Ace's" temper when provoked. Loyalty, rare as it is, seems to be a big theme in this show.

If the grandson turns out to be still flawed, like card playing Jerry, without contrition for grandfather's sacrifices we could have some real fireworks soon.

I like the show and think HBO has many angles of interest to play yet.