HNR@VIFF: Seven Times Lucky Review Score: 7/10 | Date Posted: October 2nd 2004 In: Movie Reviews Seven Times Lucky Review By Robert Waldman Con movies are a dime a dozen. Savvy writing can make or break this genre. Quebec born writer/director Gary Yates using good old Winnipeg to great advantage and shows off Canadian underworld know how in Seven Times Lucky, a fitting tribute to this fleece the willing genre brought forth by Alliance Atlantis Releasing. Winnipeg in the dead of winter can be grueling now that the fabled Winnipeg Jets from long ago have departed. Local sports junkees often get their thrill fix at the track, Assinniboine Downs. Luckless gambler Harlan is in just a touch over his head these days. Down and out, unshaven and disheveled, this meek minded middle aged loser gets by through working for various underworld types. Love of his life Eddie plays a key role in trying to keep him afloat – a hard task indeed since various tough guys are after him. Ever the ladies’ man, this over the hill nerd seeking love happens upon a fetching much younger woman named Fiona who enjoys this elder statesman’s take on life. Together the two learn off one another and become quite the team in concocting schemes to, how shall I say, “take advantage” of the less fortunate. Call this a partnership in heaven. Going along for this journey into the clumsy criminal hall of fame are another sad sack protegy of Harlan named Sonny who’s in hawk even further than the well-reasoned leader of this pack of fools. Lots of local flavour comes across in Seven Times Lucky with the usual suspects all coming into the proceedings of a con gone terribly terribly wrong. From out of the past the local Jewish quarter figures into the criminal undertaking as does the ever rising Aboriginal representation. Bottom line on Seven Times Lucky is that you have cons being conned in hilarious fashion that will appeal to all would-be criminals or just voyeurs fascinated by the murky comedy of North American gangsters and get rich quick wannabes. Kevin Pollak (End of Days) is just one of a very talented cast who anchors things down as Harlan, a poor sad sack schlep in hawk like you wouldn’t believe with blinders on tightly in the love area. Street smart Fiona comes of age and cleans up miraculously as Liane Balaban (New Waterford Girl) shows she’s got just what it takes to turn people’s heads and just maybe empty their wallets. Vancouver resident Babs Chula (Double Jeopardy) nails down the role of Eddie, a big time crime czar straight out of Winnipeg’s west side. Not to leave out the enterprising Indian community, Saskatchewan born Gordon Tootossis (Intertia) brings further flavour to the fun feast as Mr. Five Wounds whose name tells you he’s not exactly a choir boy. Gritty street scenes, tempermental gangsters and a story with more unexpected twists and turns than you can shake a stick at make Seven Times Lucky a refreshing somewhat exhilarating fresh approach to fast buck artists getting their just rewards. Showtimes: > Sat. Sept. 25 9:00 pm @ Granville Seven > Thurs. Oct. 7 12:30 pm @ Granville Seven

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