Luck

[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 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

Yes, from the looks of the previews they will be developing a relationship in the coming weeks. It's great to see Joan Allen here, I think she's a great actress whom we have not seen much of as of late for whatever reason. She was great in The Contender from 2000, and this may be one some do not remember. She was in a picture in 2005 called The Upside of Anger that was terrific. Kevin Costner was also good in that film. Hopefully this will be a good role for Joan Allen on Luck, she's very talented.

[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.

So Luck has an indirect comparison to War and Peace.

And now the show gets the label it was screaming for from the beginning:


Pretentious

[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.

[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.