Lucky Numbers (2000)

John Travolta plays Russ Richards, a small-town weatherman who is such a local celebrity that he even has his own table at the local Denny's. He obviously sees himself as a big deal about town, and he's got the spending habits to prove it, including payments on a big house and a fancy Jaguar. His unstable life is further complicated by the fling he's having with the station's lotto girl (Lisa Kudrow), who is also having an affair with the married station manager (Ed O'Neill). On the verge of bankruptcy, Russ asks the advice of his good friend and strip club owner Gig (Tim Roth), who cooks up a plan to fix the lottery. The hardest part of the whole scheme turns out to be finding a trustworthy person to cash in the ticket. This is a mean-spirited comedy, which is to be expected from writer Adam Resnick (Cabin Boy, TV's Get a Life), but not from director Nora Ephron (You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle). Then again, maybe she always has patronized the characters in her movies. Clearly, the casting needed to tap into the oddball surrealism of someone like Chris Elliott, whereas Travolta is just playing a dumb, self-deluded guy, and Kudrow, in her most unlikable role yet, is playing not just a ditz but a ditsy sociopath. The movie is not a total waste, thanks mostly to some stunning supporting performances by Tim Roth, Ed O'Neill, and especially Bill Pullman as the lazy cop. Overall, a mixed bag. --Andy Spletzer Amazon.com

Fun movie!

This movie is smart, fun, and funny. I'd never heard of it before catching it on TV a few months ago, but I couldn't change the channel! It's got great lines with great delivery. Smart, fun, and funny. I just don't know how else to describe it. Travolta is excellent from the start, and Bill Pullman, though he only arrives halfway through the movie, is hilarious. Tim Roth and Lisa Kudrow are also very funny in their roles. The dialogue is easy to follow, but sometimes the humor is quick and subtle, so pay attention! Here are a couple of my favorite lines, but believe me there are a bunch:

Jerry the bookie: I mean Jesus Christ himself can't rig the state lottery...unless, unless Jesus had a buddy down at the TV station.

Crystal: And I want that ticket back. And I want Dick Simmons dead, you hear me!?
Gig: Fine, fine.
Crystal: And I want his head cut off so I can hang it from my rear view mirror!
Gig: Now that's just your anger talking. February 24, 2008

A very dull and poorly defined movie

We watched about half before losing interest and going to bed. No laughs and very generic characters that are boring, unrelatable, and pathetic. Poorly defined, a total waste of time. January 17, 2008

Great Movie!!!!!!!!!!

This is a great John Travolta comedy that was probably inspired by a true story in Pittsburgh Pennsyvania back in 1980,when a local popular television celebrity "Nick Perry" was allegedly involved in a televised lottery fix and had to serve prison time.Anyway,it's an interesting must see movie !!!!! September 15, 2005

This is Just Another One That Most People Don't get

I don't know why this movie didn't do better, and why some reviews are ONE STAR reviews. It is certainly much better than ONE STAR. Nevertheless, I found this to be up with GET SHORTY, very dialogue driven movie, which I personally love.

Very funny moments, characters and story. Tim Roth, Michael Rapaport, Ed O'Neil, Bill Pullman and Michael Moore all add great funny performances. I generally don't like Travolta, but both this and GET SHORTY is the exception.

This, like 29th Street is an underrated movie that I think people had too high expectations and therefore the possible disaapointment. I laughed almost through the entire movie. What people will do for money! September 13, 2005

From The Desk of John

Dear Quentin,

How are things going, man? I heard about the new film with Uma. Sounds great.

Did you see my newest film "Lucky Numbers"? I play Russ Richards, the local celebrity weatherman in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Russ has adoring fans, his own table and omelet at Denny's, and a snowmobile dealership. Due to uncommonly warm weather, his dealership is about to go under, crumbling his entire financial empire. Out of desperation, he pays a visit to Gig (Tim Roth), the owner of the local strip club. Gig suggests that Russ and his `friend' Crystal (Lisa Kudrow) rig the state lottery. Crystal works at the same station and pulls the numbers out for the lottery. Crystal is all for the idea. She has also been dating Dick Simmons (Ed O'Neil), the station manager and he has been neglecting her. Her share of the winnings will help her break free. Everything, of course, gets complicated.

Funny, huh? It has it's moments.

Quentin, you know that I like to work with people I know. It makes me feel comfortable. Acting is hard, man. I need comfort to help me create my characters. Nora Ephron directed the film. She and I worked together on "Michael", which was pretty successful, so I was hoping lightning would strike twice.

I really enjoyed reading the screenplay. Basically it combines elements of dark comedy and farce. People act weird, some people die, people are mean to one another. But they also act really silly. I haven't done a lot of farce but I laughed when I read the screenplay. My track record with comedy is spotty, but if someone has the $20 million and a decent script, I'm game.

Lisa and I are great together. She plays someone that is very different from her well-known persona on `Friends'. Crystal is very different from Phoebe. Crystal has an edge, a determination that makes her very interesting. Crystal has a few moments that also make her seem real, a very important factor in a farce. If the character doesn't have at least a tiny grounding in reality, the farce doesn't work. Lisa gets this and makes it work. I get it, too, and made it work during the scene in the Denny's... In the scene in the snow mobile dealership... In the scene at the television studio when they reveal that someone was killed... In the... Well, I know I made it work somewhere. I'm no film historian, but it works.

The supporting characters are top notch. Michael Moore plays Crystal's dimwitted cousin. He is very funny. Tim Roth is good, but doesn't have a lot of laughs. But that's OK. He's primarily a dramatic actor anyway. Actors should play to their strengths. Michael Rappaport plays a local thug. He's all over the place. Hell, most of the supporting cast is all over the place. That's OK, because this is a farce, right?

I know reviewers will pick up on the fact that everyone in the film is greedy, unlikable and they really don't like each other. There isn't really anyone to care about. That's OK. These characters are based on real people. They don't need to be likable. They need to be funny. They are funny. Aren't they? Sometimes? Yes. They have some funny moments.

Nora is a great director. She has a good hand at comedy, especially farce. Every farce I have ever seen has too many laughs. You're laughing when another joke happens. You can't keep track of it all. Thankfully, Nora has slowed everything down... Quite... A... Bit. Her pacing is glacial. But I like that. I have the ability to laugh at the jokes.

Quentin, I'm just not sure. I've had a string of dogs lately. I'm not a good actor. I'm a movie star. I am a persona that draws people into the movies. They shouldn't expect my performance to be subtle or even well-modulated. If I'm playing a local celebrity weatherman, I'm going to play it for all the smarminess I can. I'm going to mug and grin at every character that recognizes me. I'm going to wear the local fame on my sleeve and when things start to go wrong, I'm going to shake, rub my head, run around in circles, really frustrated. I can play characters. But lately, people haven't been coming to the films. "Battlefield Earth" was a disaster, but to save face, I told some news people that I thought it was good and will make a sequel. I am a powerful star, a member of the $20 million dollar club. I can't go back to the under $10 million club. I just can't.

Quentin, you are the king of creating comeback vehicles. Can you start thinking of another comeback vehicle for me? I know you can. I think that I may need another comeback in a year or two. Start watching the old videos, OK, pal? For me, Quentin?

Thanks, buddy.
John
April 13, 2005

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