By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Gary Yates
Starring: Jonas Chernick | Kevin Pollack | Liane Balaban
Country: canada
Year: 2004
Running time: 82
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364656/combined
Bruce says: “Just when I think I’m tired of caper films, one comes along that seems to refresh the genre. SEVEN TIMES LUCKY is one of those surprises, not because the double-crosses are better than rival capers but because it has a style all its own. Set in Winnipeg, all the activity takes place a couple of days before Christmas. A street beggar has a sign reading ‘Ho Ho Homeless.’ Instead of having the torture and threatening moments punctuated by jarring sounds and ominous music, SEVEN TIMES LUCKY has silly Christmas ditties, Christmas carols and The Nutcracker playing in the background. Horrible things happen while ‘Away in the Manger’ is played on a soothing cello.
“Kevin Pollack plays Harlan, a small-time thug who can’t resist playing the ponies. He is a go-between for a payoff. When he gets
a hot tip, Harlan foolishly uses the payoff cash to place a bet on a ‘sure thing’ at the track. Nipped at the wire, Harlan has a big problem as to where to get the cash to make the payoff. Harlan has a partner in crime, a girl named Fiona (Liane Balaban), who he met when she tried to rip him off in a street scam. Harlan is foolish enough to fall just a bit in love with Fiona in spite of the fact she is young enough to be his daughter. Together, Harlan and Fiona cook up a scam to rake in some big-time cash. Are the two of them the only ones in on the deal?
“The plot of SEVEN TIMES LUCKY is so layered and convoluted that there is no way to remember all the details much less explain them without turning this review into a soporific. After all the turns and twists in plot, the ending has a one more twist guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
“The cast is filled with competent character actors who are given lots of opportunities to ham it up. Pollack, in particular, shines; he makes us empathize while feeling just a bit of impatience and revulsion. James Tolkan plays Dutch, the corrupt police chief; Babs Chula is Eddie, the matronly ringleader of an operation that finds high end buyers for stolen goods; Gordon Tootoosis is Mr. Five Wounds a sadistic Indian chief who has his own network of corruption; and Jonas Chernick is Sonny, a petty street thug in over his head. As a nostalgic touch, the inside of Sonny’s Impala (or similar make vehicle) is lined with old-fashioned Christmas lights.
“Great moviemaking this is not, but it sure is fun. 3.5 cats”
This film was shown at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival”
Michael says: “We ended the festival with a Canadian caper film, definitely not one of my favorite genres, but first-time feature director Gary Yates has made a delightfully entertaining film that mines the genre to its fullest. Set in a city that seems smack out of the noir-40’s, yet peppered with such modern conveniences as cell phones, SEVEN TIMES LUCKY chronicles the hard times of Harlan (Kevin Pollack) a successful con-man whose penchant for gambling keeps landing him in hot water with his various bosses. He’s got a troubled past (his father was gunned-down in front of his eyes) and a new young gal (Liane Balaban) that he probably shouldn’t be trusting. As is the case in most caper films, part of the fun is just keeping track of who’s conning who, and where the story is going. In addition, Yates throws in lots of sly, humor that not only keeps things moving, but ties in well with the story. An unexpected surprise to top off the festival. 3 1/2 cats”