Lucky You (2007)

Set in the high stakes world of Las Vegas gamblers, a professional gambler (Eric Bana) is struggling to raise the $10,000 entry fee to the world's most prestigious poker competition. But his personal demons prevent him from leading a fuller life which includes the young woman (Drew Barrymore) who may be his salvation. Directed by Curtis Hanson (L.A CONFIDENTIAL). As THE CINCINNATI KID proved, it's possible to use the game of poker as both a metaphor and as an intense subject in itself in cinema. Not so here. Hanson's film, while entirely watchable, is on the flabby side. Bana's character isn't particularly likable or sympathetic. It doesn't help that Bana isn't able to hold the screen as a leading man either. He's quite good when he's not the focus of the film as in TROY or THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL but here (and in THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE) when he's front and center, he's a cipher. Drew Barrymore tries as Bana's romantic interest but it's an uninteresting part, that of the "girl". Robert Duvall lends his pesence (and not much else) as Bana's estranged father and poker nemesis bu Debra Messing manages to formulate a character in the brief screen time allotted her. Hanson populates the film with real, professional poker players either playing themselves (like poker legend Doyle Brunson) or playing characters (like Jennifer Harman) in an attempt to lend authenticity but it hardly seems worth it. With Robert Downey Jr, Michael Shannon, Jean Smart and Charlie Martin Smith.