Lucky Numbers (2000)

Director:

Nora Ephron

Writer (WGA):

Adam Resnick (written by)

Release Date:

27 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

When they put their heads together... it's a no brainer.

Plot:

A television weatherman scams a local lottery.

Plot Keywords:

Weatherman | Lottery | Murder | Snowmobile | Celebrity

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Travolta	...	Russ Richards
Lisa Kudrow	...	Crystal
Tim Roth	...	Gig
Ed O'Neill	...	Dick Simmons
Michael Rapaport	...	Dale
Daryl Mitchell	...	Det. Chambers
Bill Pullman	...	Det. Pat Lakewood
Richard Schiff	...	Jerry Green
Michael Moore	...	Walter
Sam McMurray	...	Chief Troutman
Michael Weston	...	Larry
Maria Bamford	...	Wendy the Waitress
Caroline Aaron	...	Nurse Sharpling
John F. O'Donohue	...	Bobby (as John F. O'Donahue)
Colin Mochrie	...	Jack

Also Known As:

Le bon numéro (France)
Numbers (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexuality, some drug use and brief violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:R (certificate #37808) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

This film was based on a true-life scandal involving the Pennsylvania Lottery Commission in 1980. Employees of a local television station in Pittsburgh actually were convicted and served jail time in the "666" drawing. Some of the balls were weighted down by injecting them with paint, ensuring that only 4s and 6s would remain airborne and captured in the lottery machine.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While Russ and Gig are arguing about Dale the Thug outside Denny's, several cars from the 1990s can be seen in the parking lot.

Quotes:

Dale: Unfortunately Russell we have a new wrinkle in the situation.
Russ: Oh really? What's the wrinkle?
Dale: Basically I had to play pinata with Jerry the bookie's skull. See, that sort of ups the invoice a little.
Russ: Is he okay?
Dale: No, he's dead.
Russ: Oh! Oh, God!

Movie Connections:

References "SportsCenter" (1979)

Soundtrack:

Happy Days Theme

Okay Comedy From The Mind Of Adam Resnick!

Lucky Numbers is not a great film but a good one. I thought John Travolta, Lisa Kudrow and Tim Roth and Ed O'Neill gave fine performances. Lisa Kudrow is the only one of the "Friends" cast who doesn't make totally sucky movies. With the exception of Jennifer Aniston in Office Space and maybe David Schwimmer in Apt Pupil.

I really dug the Midwest American setting, the two bumbling cops, how Travolta's character Russ Richards wallows and loves his local celebrity status and his reserved parking spot at the local Denny's, and the great 80's soundtrack. And this has to be the first flick directed by Nora Ephron that I enjoyed.

Adam Resnick wrote the screenplay for Lucky Numbers and the more recent Death To Smoochy. Both these films are good but flawed dark comedies and deserve to be seen and enjoyed. So don't listen to what others may say and go see these two (flawed) Resnick gems. Ciao!