Lucky
(USA, 2017)
directed by John Carroll Lynch
starring Harry Dean Stanton
Lucky was Harry Dean Stanton's last movie, and it is John Carroll Lynch's directorial debut. It is a worthy film in both regards. Not much happens, but somehow we as audience members want to keep watching.
In the movie, Harry Dean Stanton is a 91 year old man (the actor's actual age) living alone in a small town. He is surprisingly fit and has a morning routine that involves a lot of yoga, a lot of walking, and coffee and a crossword at the local diner. It is a town where everyone knows everyone and people look out for the vulnerable. The staff at the diner where he's a regular keep an eye on him. In the evenings he frequents a bar where his friend, played by David Lynch, joins him to sing the praises of his runaway tortoise, President Roosevelt.
Not much happens, but one minor event sends him to his doctor (brilliantly played by Ed Begley, Jr.) and causes him to really, seriously ponder his rapidly approaching mortality. He spends most of the film grappling with his newfound realization of the fact that like everyone else, he too will eventually shuffle off this mortal coil.
It may sound unappealingly heavy, but Lucky actually manages to stay light and wryly funny while doing justice to a serious topic. The cast is stellar--in addition to Stanton, Ed Begley Jr., and David Lynch, there are other familiar faces that deliver perfect performances.
Highly recommended for longtime and new fans of Harry Dean Stanton.
