Lucky You

Curtis Hanson has managed to make a fascinating story out of something that could have been quite tedious, especially to those who do not understand the rules of Texas Hold ‘Em, the particular brand of poker that has been sweeping the world and which is showcased here. What fascinates Hanson, he says, is that the skill required for success in poker, deception, is the very skill that destroys relationships.. 

THE film works on several levels. On the one hand it is about gambling, compulsiveness and competitiveness, and there are some very funny scenes involving guys who will wager a bet on absolutely anything. Then there is the more philosophical level, in which issues of integrity, authenticity, winning and losing are tackled as are the dynamics between a father and son. And just to help matters along, there is a sweet romance.

Poker championships have become a worldwide phenomenon, with millions of people watching the game on TV, so Hanson was determined to make everything as authentic as possible. The re-creation of Las Vegas casino interiors is meticulous, whilst exterior settings are focussed less on the glitz but more on the real life town of seedy diners and areas where people like Billie and Huck actually live. When the poker games are played, the tension created is quite remarkable. I found myself hanging on each turn of the card. The camera work is used to great effect, always giving us the player’s view of the first two cards, and encouraging us to think along with Huck When big tournaments are played, the commentary makes it incredibly nail-biting, and with the only sounds being the shuffling and flipping of cards, the clacking of chips and the applause of the audience we feel as if we’re there. Silence is prudently chosen when necessary, and at other times driving bluesy songs from singers such as Springsteen and Dylan are employed..

Hanson chose some of the world’s top players to play themselves in the tournament scenes. Bana and Duvall had to be taught to play the game like pros and they rise admirably to the occasion. Bana captures the contradictory nature of Huck, with his opportunistic edge, his gift of persuasion (established well in the opening scene), his steely nerve and his loneliness. He cooks up a good bit of on-screen chemistry with Barrymore who really is an irresistibly cute and feisty romantic lead. Duvall is masterful as L.C.

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