Lucky Numbers (2000)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

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:

Features "Happy Days" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Etrange No. 3 (The Twilight Zone Theme)

Watch it for Lisa Kudrow and Bill Pullman !

John Travolta is embarrassing. He is NOT funny. Unfortunately the story is about his character Russ Richards. This Russ Richards annoys everyone in the movie and the audience. Travolta's last good movie was 1997's SHE'S SO LOVELY.

Lisa Kudrow does her best, but can't save the movie. Her character ranges between being stupid and being ruthless. Some of the better moments AND laughs come from her.

Bill Pullman steals the show as a cop who doesn't want to work. Unfortunately he only appears at the end of the movie when you are so bored that you are not longer interested in what is happening next.

Good cast (except Travolta), poor story, nothing special. 4 out of 10