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:

Lottery | Weatherman | Snowmobile | Murder | 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 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

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: The Denny's restaurant is decorated in the chain's '90s style, with a newer green logo.

Quotes:

Gig: [on the phone with Dale's machine] Things have gotten a bit sticky over here. Slight change of plans, but nothing your death touch can't soon rectify.

Movie Connections:

Features "Jeopardy!" (1984)

Soundtrack:

You Make My Dreams

A guilty pleasure

Picture this.... a room that is full of people and only one of them has any redeeming values whatsoever but that person is patently unlikable. If this sounds like it might be a fun story, you're right. I enjoyed this movie on the simplest and most shallow level. It's no great spellbinder, there is no big surprise, but it moves along nicely and had be laughing out loud on a consistent basis. The performances were good with each character convincingly revolting. This movie is on my "Own It" list. Not because it is a masterpiece but because it managed to entertain me its entire length. I recommend this guilty pleasure to anyone who isn't too wrapped up in pretending they are a movie critic for PBS.