Review: Lucky
DVD: Lucky (2017)
Knowing that Lucky was released just after Harry Dean Stanton’s death makes it all the more poignant. Seeing his hang-dawg face and big puppy eyes, this couldn’t be a more fitting farewell. Unsympathetic, yet mystical, Lucky does a jerky old man walk through life, repeat and fade, scared of death, and coming to terms with its inevitability. It’s an atheist’s swansong.
Stanton’s acting has always appeared to be effortless, having major supporting roles (Repo Man, Pretty In Pink, Alien) and only two leads, Lucky and wonderful Paris, Texas. He never had the leading man looks, but had the pathos. I think his hang-dawg look let him down.
David Lynch, Tom Skerrit and James Darren also star, as quirky men who interact with Lucky as he goes about his day. Some yoga, a lot of fags, quiz shows on TV and the endless walking away from death. He knows it’s coming after him, he’s just one step ahead.
Nothing much happens in this film, but it keeps you glued to the screen with the superb acting and the need to know what is going to happen to him. Lucky walks past what seems to be a giant yellow tyre and yells ‘Cunts’! (no spoilers, but its explained beautifully), he tells tales of his youth when a crooked sight on a gun ends with him killing a bird instead of scaring it and he is still filled with regret at this loss.
A fitting and unsentimental end to Stanton’s career, and his final smile into camera is almost like he knew.
Review by Tina (co-host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Umbrella Entertainment.