Luck (2004)
"This is our JFK" - director Peter
Wellington on the 1972 hockey series between Canada
and the Soviets.
"Luck" is one of those films that
often feels typical, often feels extraordinary and
eventually ends on a premise so unbelievable, contrived
and forced that one has to admonish the film.
For a major part of the time, it's
hard not to like the film, especially when it has
such a love for its 70's time setting, such a joy
in its storytelling and such an engaging lead. Luke
Kirby, who is in nearly every frame here, is simply
wonderful to watch. Kirby is so engaging that there
is no doubt he will eventually land the lead in a
big Hollywood film and become a big star. He's natural
and pleasant looking in front of the camera but also
really knows how to bring heart and soul to his character.
This film needs him to be someone you care about and
Kirby only fails that ideal when the script fails
him late in the game.
I was fortunate to see this Canadian
film at the SXSW
2004 Film Festival where filmmaker Peter Wellington
was able to set it up somewhat for the American audience.
You see, a series of hockey games took place between
the Canadians and the Soviets in 1972 and this became
a national event very important to Canadians. It's
important for the film's audience to know that too,
especially if they are not Canadian, so this verbal
set-up helped me to understand the context of the
film much more. Perhaps some title cards will be in
order if it ever opens in America.
If I describe the film, it will
seems quite typical. Kirby plays Shane here, an aspiring
writer who has a crush on a neighbor (Sarah Polley
- the only familiar name in the film) but he is unable
to tell her. Yawn. Shane wants to be a writer. Yawn.
Shane eventually begins to gamble and looses a bunch
of money to the casino and then a loan shark. Yawn.
To help make money he and his friends have a genius
idea, they become bookies to cover sporting events
including the ongoing hockey series with the Soviets.
Big Yawn. Shane's friends include and asshole (yawn),
a wimp (yawn), and a foreigner (yawn).
All of this would be quite worthless
if it weren't for Kirby's winning demeanor and the
films love of the 70's setting it depicts. The rock
score here is just fantastic with several cool instrumentals
immersed in that 70's feeling accenting the scenes.
The finale of the film is underscored by Black Sabbath's
classic "War Pigs" giving the film much juice. Hell,
even the faux 70's pop songs here are quite nice.
Wellington is obviously on a budget but he is quite
adept at using music, sets and locals to heighten
the feel and the verisimilitude of his film. Polley's
house is simply beautiful in its simplicity yet it
seems utterly realistic.
At about 4/5 of the way through
the movie, all of this turns to shit. It's obvious
Wellington thinks he's really cool. He wrote the script
here and he's obviously been influenced by 90's cinematic
storytelling like millions of other young men. He
doesn't suckle at anyone's teat, but he wants oh so
desperately to show us that he is hip and cool and
edgy and eventually it fails him. All reality gets
thrown out the window when Shane rejects Polley's
Margaret in a way that he simply would never do in
real life and the film becomes not about love or luck
but about how one man would rather spit in the eye
of fate than to have either one. Shane is eventually
meant to be strong and bold but instead he simply
becomes unrealistic. The way Wellington ties up the
film with a convenient death is also quite horrible
and contrived. The film goes into the toilet.
It's too bad to because, thanks
to Kirby, for the 80 minutes prior its been quite
charming and likeable.
Note:
Producers include Atom Egoyan
Filmed in Ontario.
The film has played a few film festival
but I don't think it's been released in its native
Canada as of yet.
Viewed at SXSW in March of 2004
at the Paramount Theater.
