Luck is a fantastically entertaining film that director Peter Wellington has really made the festival rounds with - ironically the screening I saw was in Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Luck features Luke Kirby as Shane, a young Canadian man who, after unsuccessfully trying to convince the woman of his dreams to be with him rather than going on a vacation with her ex-boyfriend, gets bit by the gambling bug. Before long, he finds himself in enormous debt, and through the aid of his smart ass friends, comes across an interesting way to bail himself out of trouble (hopefully bail himself out of trouble anyway).

While this picture is essentially about gambling, it isn't Owning Mahowny (another terrific movie). Luck is more about the rush of this particular addiction, and there are some moments in this film that are incredibly intense (including a sequence in which Shane helplessly watches a hockey game that he bet big on.)

Luck is also very funny, most of the humor coming from the numerous scenes in which we see Shane hanging with his buddies. A lot of this stuff reminded me of Swingers as well as the little-seen Poolhall Junkies (which played this very festival a couple of years ago).

Director Peter Wellington has a great eye and he clearly has a love for the works of Scorsese (one sequence in particular is straight out of Goodfellas). Luck is lively and full of colorful dialogue and pretty good performances. Lead Luke Kirby does a good job convincing us that anyone can be seduced by the games of chance. The actor reminds me a little of Robby Benson. Sarah Polley gives an interesting turn as the young woman of Shane's affection. Many of her scenes with Kirby have a sort of David Mamet rhythm to them. I also enjoyed the hell out of Jed Rees. He plays one of Shane's wiseass buddies and supplies the film with most of the comic relief. This guy has a hilariously colorful personae that brings to mind Jack Black.

Luck was extremely entertaining. In addition to Swingers, it really reminded me of both The Cooler and Rounders in that it isn't just a film about taking chances with money. It's a film about taking chances in life.