Luck

[VladimirIlyich]

New HBO series directed by Michael Mann.

 

Luck (TV Series 2011) - IMDb

 

Was going to give up on it after the first couple of episodes but its starting to grow on me.

The actual Horse Racing choreography is very unreal but the characters and their relationships are improving as the series develops.

 

Hoffman and Farina steal the show but the sub plots are quite interesting too.

 

See what you think.

[Kevin D]

Underwhelmed by the pilot, but obviously will keep watching.

 

How does this thread work? Will those of us who don't have Sky Atlantic and watch it whenever have to use spoilers? Or do people only enter the thread when they've seen the most recent episode?

[Iantn]

Underwhelmed by the pilot, but obviously will keep watching.

 

How does this thread work? Will those of us who don't have Sky Atlantic and watch it whenever have to use spoilers? Or do people only enter the thread when they've seen the most recent episode?

 

Safer to use nsfw tags, I reckon.

[VladimirIlyich]

Underwhelmed by the pilot, but obviously will keep watching.

 

How does this thread work? Will those of us who don't have Sky Atlantic and watch it whenever have to use spoilers? Or do people only enter the thread when they've seen the most recent episode?

 

Yeah,the plot is not too strong I'd say its more of a character study at the moment.I've seen the first 5 episodes at the moment.

 

I've stayed vague when speaking about it so as not to give anything away.

NSFW tags are the way to go but dont read the thread on Forum Runner on your iphone or ipad because they dont work.

[Charles Penrose]

I've tried to watch the first episode three times and never got past the opening twenty minutes. I've found the racing/betting speak a little difficult to follow if I'm honest, which was my concern at the outset.

[VladimirIlyich]

Charles,give the first few episodes a go before writing it off. It has got better.

 

I havent really noticed a lot of racing terminology myself.

 

The biggest problem is the accent of the Peruvian trainer played by an actor born in Brooklyn!

[Guest LFD]

I tried to watch the first episode, but couldn't get into it.

 

Might try and watch it again - only because Hoffman is in it and he doesn't really do shit films, so this programme must be quite good.

[VladimirIlyich]

I tried to watch the first episode, but couldn't get into it.

 

Might try and watch it again - only because Hoffman is in it and he doesn't really do shit films, so this programme must be quite good.

 

Hoffman and Farina are very good and quite humorous together,im certain they are parodying themselves in this series,maybe even a touch of role reversal.

There is a role of a broken down jockey,drinks heavily and is always getting injured,which is played by a real top professional jockey named Gary Stevens.

I was going to bin it off after 2 episodes,mainly because of the poor race choreography but ive got a bit more into it after 5 episodes.

[lifetime fan]

I've the first few episodes sky +'d.

 

Box sets have turned me into a spiolt brat and I need to be able to watch more than one episode at a time.

 

Anyone have any idea on how many episodes are in the first series?

[s(k)aturation]

Meanwhile in Australia, we wait for the episodes to arrive by boat and can't join in this thread for at least 3-6 months, by which time we'll be 3-6 months behind and still can't join in this thread.

 

Might have to have a word to my technological pirate friend.

[VladimirIlyich]

I've the first few episodes sky +'d.

 

Box sets have turned me into a spiolt brat and I need to be able to watch more than one episode at a time.

 

Anyone have any idea on how many episodes are in the first series?

 

9 Episodes in the series according to imdb.

 

The theme tune is quite catchy too.

[Barzini]

Watched 3 episodes so far and can't understand much of what's going on.

 

Have another 2 recorded and will watch them before deciding to stick with it or bin it off.

[lifetime fan]

Cheers VI, I try and save them up and then watch them so I can tie it in with watching the last episode 'live'.

[VladimirIlyich]

I dont think this series is for everybody and its not a Wire type series but I dont believe you need to know a lot about Horse Racing to understand it.

 

Its very much about the characters that surround and frequent the racecourse,its very different to UK Horse Racing as a Racecourse is only used on race days is a different entity to owners,trainers and jockeys whereas in the US,or maybe just this series as I'm not familiar with US Racing,the racecourse is a focal point for everything about the racing.

 

I dont know if you are allowed to bet off course in California but its legal to bet at racecourses and in casinos but not as openly as we can in the UK. This opens up the industry to the criminal fraternity and ways of illegally making money which in turn makes things more interesting for TV and Movie makers.Loan Sharks and Gangsters et al.

 

Its important to realise that you cannot equate the UK way of gambling to the US way when watching Horse Racing or gambling in general.

[Scott_M]

Got it +'d. Not watched it yet. Heard mixed reviews. Will wait till I have a few saved up before starting it.

[RedKnight]

Seen two episodes and I think I might actually hate it.

[aws]

Still to make my mind up. Really hard to follow everything without the sub-titles on though.

[Carradona]

I'm probably going to fuck it off because I hate every single character in it. I also struggle to understand what most of them are saying.

[VladimirIlyich]

I'm probably going to fuck it off because I hate every single character in it. I also struggle to understand what most of them are saying.

 

Racist!

 

Seriously though,you have a point with both Hoffman and the trainer.

The Irish girl,Kerry Condon,is obviously putting on a heavy accent despite being Irish by birth.

[Trumo]

HBO are cancelling it after a third horse had to be put down.

 

BBC News - HBO cancels Dustin Hoffman drama Luck after horse death

 

HBO cancels Dustin Hoffman drama Luck after horse death

 

US network HBO has cancelled its lavish TV horse-racing drama Luck after a third animal was injured and put down during production.

 

The series, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, was filming its second season when the incident happened.

 

In a statement, HBO said it was "with heartbreak" that it was ceasing "all future production" on Luck.

 

Produced by Michael Mann and David Milch, the series looks at the seedy side of life in US horse-racing.

 

It sees Oscar-winner Hoffman play a crime kingpin scheming to gain control of a racetrack and introduce casino gambling.

 

It debuted in the US in January and will see its first season finale broadcast on 25 March.

 

It is currently being shown in the UK on the Sky Atlantic channel.

 

'Impossible to guarantee'

 

The decision to cancel the entire series came one day after filming was suspended pending an investigation into the horse's death.

 

"It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series 'Luck'," HBO said in its statement.

 

"While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision."

 

On Tuesday the American Humane Association (AHA) issued the suspension order, pending a "thorough and comprehensive investigation".

 

HBO said the horse was being led to a stable by a groom when it reared and fell back, suffering a head injury.

 

The animal was put down at the track in suburban Arcadia, California, where Luck was filming.

 

Although the AHA - which oversees Hollywood productions - noted the accident did not occur during filming or racing, it issued the demand "that all production involving horses shut down".

 

On Tuesday, California Horse Racing Board vet Dr Gary Beck said he had just examined the horse as part of routine health and safety procedures before it was to race later in the day.

 

"The horse was on her way back to the stall when she reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground," Dr Beck said in a statement.

 

A second vet determined that euthanasia was appropriate, he added.

 

'Deeply saddened'

 

Dr Rick Arthur, medical director of the state racing board, said such injuries occurred in stable areas every year and were more common than thought.

 

During filming of the first series in 2010 and 2011, two horses were hurt during racing scenes and were subsequently put down.

 

The AHA called for a production halt at the Santa Anita Racetrack after the second horse's death, and racing resumed in February after new protocols were put in place.

 

The first two horse deaths drew criticism from animal rights group Peta, which said the safety guidelines were "clearly inadequate" as they failed to prevent the deaths.

 

On Tuesday, Peta vice-president Kathy Guillermo said: "Three horses have now died and all the evidence we have gathered points to sloppy oversight, the use of unfit, injured horses, and disregard for the treatment of thoroughbreds."

[Guest davelfc]

HBO are cancelling it after a third horse had to be put down.

Wel that and of course the news that too much red meat is bad for you :whistle:

[aws]

The horses couldn't understand what anyone was saying, got confused, fell over and broke their legs.

[sh#t waffle]

Pfftt...if they were willing to think outside the box a little there really isn't any need to cancel the whole show.

 

[dennis tooth]

Not into wrestling sorry, wrestling is baby stuff holmes.

[VladimirIlyich]

Pfftt...if they were willing to think outside the box a little there really isn't any need to cancel the whole show.

 

 

I hadnt realised Charles Bronson had done pantomine.