No Luck for HBO's "Luck"

[John Doherty]

I wanted to like this show, with Deadwood's David Milch & Dustin
Hoffman involved. If you haven't seen it, it's about the racetrack,
and gangsters involved in the periphery.

You'd think such a show would appeal to this demographic, but the lack
of interest here was typical of the show's reception in general. I
watched the first one, and while well put together, I didn't bother to
watch another. It was slow paced, with no "holy crap!" moments.

So the death of a third horse gave HBO a reason to mercy kill it:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-03-14/horse-hbo-cancels-luck/53538330/1

[Dick Hertz]

Post by John Doherty
I wanted to like this show, with Deadwood's David Milch & Dustin
Hoffman involved. If you haven't seen it, it's about the racetrack,
and gangsters involved in the periphery.
You'd think such a show would appeal to this demographic, but the lack
of interest here was typical of the show's reception in general. I
watched the first one, and while well put together, I didn't bother to
watch another. It was slow paced, with no "holy crap!" moments.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-03-14/horse-hbo-cancels-luck/53538330/1

I wanted to like it too, since Dennis Farina, one of my fave actors and a
native Chicagoan, plays a supporting role.....not to mention Michael Mann
and Dustin Hoffman being involved. But you're right, the show just didn't
provide much incentive to keep watching. The horse racing theme is
polarizing, either it interests the viewer or it doesn't. I personally
thought it was more distracting than adding to the plot.

I'm spending more time on HBOGO, watching Game of Thrones and getting ready
for the new season in 2 weeks.

[j***@johndoherty.com]

Post by Dick Hertz

Post by John Doherty
I wanted to like this show, with Deadwood's David Milch & Dustin
Hoffman involved. If you haven't seen it, it's about the racetrack,
and gangsters involved in the periphery.
You'd think such a show would appeal to this demographic, but the lack
of interest here was typical of the show's reception in general. I
watched the first one, and while well put together, I didn't bother to
watch another. It was slow paced, with no "holy crap!" moments.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-03-14/horse-hbo-cancels-luck/53538330/1

I wanted to like it too, since Dennis Farina, one of my fave actors and a
native Chicagoan, plays a supporting role.....not to mention Michael Mann
and Dustin Hoffman being involved. But you're right, the show just didn't
provide much incentive to keep watching. The horse racing theme is
polarizing, either it interests the viewer or it doesn't. I personally
thought it was more distracting than adding to the plot.
I'm spending more time on HBOGO, watching Game of Thrones and getting ready
for the new season in 2 weeks.

"Game of Thrones" is terrific. Anyone reading this who thinks "I don't like fantasy epics" should just watch the first hour or two and see if it changes our mind about that notion.

The capsule review is that it's "The Sopranos in Middle Earth", but it's also Lord of the Rings for big kids;-)

That is, Tolkien set the template for this sort of story: monolithic Evil vs. pretty much monolithic Good. Though members of the Good side can prove untrue, and fall to darkness, Orcs aren't going to "get religion" and become good anytime soon.

GoT, by contrast, gives you a world that's a bit closer to the real one we know, with 50 shades of grey in personal actions. & there's a lot less magic to rely on-- just a bit floating about the edges of this world. There's a whole lot more violence, sex, greed, lust and who holds the "divine right" of kings seems to be determined more by who is more brutal and conniving than who has the Lord on his side.

Apparently, author George R.R. Martin (and what a name that is-- his real one, I think -- the intersection of the Beatles & Tolkien) based this series on the historical "War of the Roses" in medieval England.

After seeing the first season, I burned through the books-- (5 of them so far of a planned 7) in short order, though they average about 900 pages.

Anyway, don't miss this great show, which starts anew on 4/1. & check out the first season if you have not yet.

[poldy]

In article

Post by j***@johndoherty.com

Post by Dick Hertz

Post by John Doherty
I wanted to like this show, with Deadwood's David Milch & Dustin
Hoffman involved. If you haven't seen it, it's about the racetrack,
and gangsters involved in the periphery.
You'd think such a show would appeal to this demographic, but the lack
of interest here was typical of the show's reception in general. I
watched the first one, and while well put together, I didn't bother to
watch another. It was slow paced, with no "holy crap!" moments.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-03-14/horse-hbo-cancels-luck/535
38330/1

I wanted to like it too, since Dennis Farina, one of my fave actors and a
native Chicagoan, plays a supporting role.....not to mention Michael Mann
and Dustin Hoffman being involved. But you're right, the show just didn't
provide much incentive to keep watching. The horse racing theme is
polarizing, either it interests the viewer or it doesn't. I personally
thought it was more distracting than adding to the plot.
I'm spending more time on HBOGO, watching Game of Thrones and getting ready
for the new season in 2 weeks.

"Game of Thrones" is terrific. Anyone reading this who thinks "I don't like
fantasy epics" should just watch the first hour or two and see if it changes
our mind about that notion.
The capsule review is that it's "The Sopranos in Middle Earth", but it's also
Lord of the Rings for big kids;-)
That is, Tolkien set the template for this sort of story: monolithic Evil vs.
pretty much monolithic Good. Though members of the Good side can prove
untrue, and fall to darkness, Orcs aren't going to "get religion" and become
good anytime soon.
GoT, by contrast, gives you a world that's a bit closer to the real one we
know, with 50 shades of grey in personal actions. & there's a lot less magic
to rely on-- just a bit floating about the edges of this world. There's a
whole lot more violence, sex, greed, lust and who holds the "divine right" of
kings seems to be determined more by who is more brutal and conniving than
who has the Lord on his side.
Apparently, author George R.R. Martin (and what a name that is-- his real
one, I think -- the intersection of the Beatles & Tolkien) based this series
on the historical "War of the Roses" in medieval England.
After seeing the first season, I burned through the books-- (5 of them so far
of a planned 7) in short order, though they average about 900 pages.
Anyway, don't miss this great show, which starts anew on 4/1. & check out the
first season if you have not yet.

I watched all of Luck. I think like Milch's other series, there are too
many characters and story arcs and a lot of them just aren't that
interesting. He tries to create some idiosyncratic characters with
unusual speech patterns but the patter isn't particularly interesting.

Game of Thrones is more of a popcorn movie, not art. HBO missed that
chance by missing on Mad Men.

[j***@johndoherty.com]

Post by poldy
In article

Post by j***@johndoherty.com

Post by Dick Hertz

Post by John Doherty
I wanted to like this show, with Deadwood's David Milch & Dustin
Hoffman involved. If you haven't seen it, it's about the racetrack,
and gangsters involved in the periphery.
You'd think such a show would appeal to this demographic, but the lack
of interest here was typical of the show's reception in general. I
watched the first one, and while well put together, I didn't bother to
watch another. It was slow paced, with no "holy crap!" moments.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-03-14/horse-hbo-cancels-luck/535
38330/1

I wanted to like it too, since Dennis Farina, one of my fave actors and a
native Chicagoan, plays a supporting role.....not to mention Michael Mann
and Dustin Hoffman being involved. But you're right, the show just didn't
provide much incentive to keep watching. The horse racing theme is
polarizing, either it interests the viewer or it doesn't. I personally
thought it was more distracting than adding to the plot.
I'm spending more time on HBOGO, watching Game of Thrones and getting ready
for the new season in 2 weeks.

"Game of Thrones" is terrific. Anyone reading this who thinks "I don't like
fantasy epics" should just watch the first hour or two and see if it changes
our mind about that notion.
The capsule review is that it's "The Sopranos in Middle Earth", but it's also
Lord of the Rings for big kids;-)
That is, Tolkien set the template for this sort of story: monolithic Evil vs.
pretty much monolithic Good. Though members of the Good side can prove
untrue, and fall to darkness, Orcs aren't going to "get religion" and become
good anytime soon.
GoT, by contrast, gives you a world that's a bit closer to the real one we
know, with 50 shades of grey in personal actions. & there's a lot less magic
to rely on-- just a bit floating about the edges of this world. There's a
whole lot more violence, sex, greed, lust and who holds the "divine right" of
kings seems to be determined more by who is more brutal and conniving than
who has the Lord on his side.
Apparently, author George R.R. Martin (and what a name that is-- his real
one, I think -- the intersection of the Beatles & Tolkien) based this series
on the historical "War of the Roses" in medieval England.
After seeing the first season, I burned through the books-- (5 of them so far
of a planned 7) in short order, though they average about 900 pages.
Anyway, don't miss this great show, which starts anew on 4/1. & check out the
first season if you have not yet.

I watched all of Luck. I think like Milch's other series, there are too
many characters and story arcs and a lot of them just aren't that
interesting. He tries to create some idiosyncratic characters with
unusual speech patterns but the patter isn't particularly interesting.
Game of Thrones is more of a popcorn movie, not art. HBO missed that
chance by missing on Mad Men.

I dunno. I like the description of "GoT" as "The Sopranos in Middle Earth". ;-)

Is it art? It's High Pop Entertainment, I think.

Here's a good problem to have, though : GoT back to back with Mad Men. It's such a shift of mood from the visceral brutality of Westeros into a world I remember.