Lucky You -- new Poker-centred film (though a romantic comedy)

[Darren Dirt]

A new film starring Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana, "Lucky You", apparently will have the most authentic poker scenes ever (arguably topping Rounders).

Check out this IMDB thread; at the linked post (mine) there are some screen grabs from the official website listing poker pros who do cameos, as well as some pro testimonials re. the WSOP authenticity.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338216/board/nest/53193119?d=62240841#62973562

[Mr. Analog]

I don't want reality! I demand fantasy! I want to see Bond facing off against a new, deadly foe winning the affection of double-agent Busty La-Rue and ending the game with some witty banter about having an ace in the hole or somesuch

[Darren Dirt]

Yeah, Bond's straight "flush" might have been an ironic punny foreshadowing reference to how the queer french badguy (LeChiffre) would be reacting to seeing Bond naked just before torturing him?

[Darren Dirt]

New documentary I just head about...

"No Limit" (see http://www.nolimitmovie.com/synopsis.html )


PS: 07May2007 is the "final" release date for "Lucky You")

[HandsomeDevil]

Yeah, No Limit looks pretty good.

Here's a podcast with the filmmaker discussing it with the guys from Ante Up

[Darren Dirt]

PS: 07May2007 is the "final" release date for "Lucky You")

any1 interested in seeing this a week Friday when it comes out? (Crazy idea: planning ahead, with this group )

I'll bet those who respond will say "Spiderman 3 -- enough said" but the way I figure it, Spidey will enjoy guaranteed theatrical success for many weeks, so both can be part of the RW crowd's movie-going plans. But perhaps I'm wrong...

[Bixby]

can't....

....Friday is Poker night. 

[Darren Dirt]

Is that every Friday night? Home hosted game, or somewhere regular?

[Bixby]

Is that every Friday night? Home hosted game, or somewhere regular?

I host an Annual Poker series at my place. (PFH 2007 - Poker For Hacks). 16 players on two tables. The Series runs from January to October and the eight top ranked players meet at a final table game in November. We play "most" Friday nights.

In the summer when camping season is in full swing, we will switch to Thursday nights.

[Darren Dirt]

dammit. *sigh*

The pundits say "Lucky" is dramatically inert, lacking insight into neither the world of cards nor relationships, and they're not sure what to make of Drew Barrymore, who doesn't have much to do with her role. At 41 percent Tomatometer, "Lucky" is cursed.

- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/news/comments/?entryid=418217
- http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/luckyyou?q=lucky%20you

"introduces us to a fascinating world and then turns away from it in favor of a drearily generic romance. It's like taking a kid to the zoo and only looking at sparrows... As long as we're at the poker table with Huck - or meeting the various gambling aficionados that surround him - "Lucky You" holds us in thrall. Yet much of the movie is spent on Huck's unlikely romance..."

Looks like they were striving to please "romance" AND "poker" fans -- and instead failed to impress both?



funny review here:

There's one big problem with a movie about something as specialized as poker: To do it right, you'd alienate a huge percentage of the audience by using authentic game terminology and slang.  In order to dumb it down for mainstream viewers, you need to explain every bit of game terminology and slang, and the only way to do so (without being obvious, or having your characters sound absolutely retarded) is to introduce someone completely unfamiliar with the game, let alone the ins and outs of its specifics.  And you know what else we need?  Something to get the dames interested in.  Hey, let's have a female love interest who doesn't know a thing about poker, yet doesn't have a problem hanging around a guy obsessed with playing!  Because that seems realistic...

then again...
"At its best it's refreshingly offhanded. It's a hit-and-miss movie that's worth seeing for the hits."
"A well-acted character piece."
worth a rental at least, sounds like. :-\


at least critics for LY weren't as divided as for ATHFCMFFT (!) -- as the review from Film Threat sez: "You either get it or you don't." (one reviewer reveals he's definitely in the "don't" camp by saying: "There's also an evil scientist whose lair is rapidly going condo, a pair of angular blobs from somewhere beyond Pluto, a diaper-wearing arachnid DJ and two square-edged space creatures straight out of a primitive video game. Did I mention Time Lincoln?" )

[Bixby]

Darren:

How often do you play? Many people on this site in your group? My wife and I both play. We both play for fun and enjoy the social aspect of the game. That is mostly why we play home games and avoid the Casinos.

Ever make it to Regina? There is a seat at one of our games should you make it this way.

[Darren Dirt]

Darren:

How often do you play? Many people on this site in your group? My wife and I both play. We both play for fun and enjoy the social aspect of the game. That is mostly why we play home games and avoid the Casinos.

Ever make it to Regina? There is a seat at one of our games should you make it this way.

Hi Bixby,

how often: online (the site varies every few months, when I get bored and/or my $50 bankroll has deteriorated ) -- I try to play multiple times per week, unless I'm busy with other stuff.

Since I mainly play online (never "live" yet, except home games) I guess the "group" question is moot. (Every few months one of the RW folks has a home game, usually 4-6 people total manage to make it -- other than that I've never played "live".)

I also enjoy the social aspect; about once a week I find that perfect limit holdem table on certain sites where 1 or 2 folks are friendly and chat as we play and sometimes the conversation distracts me from paying too close attention to my cards (strangely, I almost always do better in those cases )

Edmonton is a bit far from Regina, and I don't have any reason to visit, so I prolly won't ever take you up on the offer, but thanks just the same.