Product: Luck of the Draw (2001)
Rating: 4.0
A crowd pleasing product in theaters,
LUCK OF THE DRAW (2002), carries several trumps, in the form of itsroster of actors, namely, the great Eric Roberts, Dennis Hopper,Michael Madsen, and ICE-T.The more surprising aspects is its goal in pleasing the youngeraudience, by including the famous rapper, and by the mind-numbing,excessive mortality and brutality shown in this picture, that olderaudiences will find unnecessary, unrealistic or tasteless. There isalso the teenage romance that's woven into the story, confirming thisanalysis.In addition, the lesson of the movie is its thesis that there is acomplete lack of moral compass, character and religious feeling amongthe people today or at least those shown, such that, each and everywhich one was out to cut themselves a deal, devoid of principles,with money and getting ahead in the world the only guiding factors.Some viewers may find objectionable the blatant, in-your-faceexploitation of female human sexuality for the satisfaction andamusement of the crime bosses, played by Hopper and Ice-T. Or the thebrutal beating given to an elderly accountant, who has medicalissues. The fact that so many gangsters are consistently triggerhappy, suggests this is intentional, in order to please the youngermarket segment.Still, this movie is an excellent Hollywood production, guaranteeingexcellent overall entertainment, in its many facets.Among the strong points to the movie are the action sequences, withfire-fights with a variety of weaponry, fireballs and explosions.As for the music, the soundtrack never overdoes itself in the music,thus managing to avoid distracting viewers from the story, the action ordialog.Another strong point is the serious approach taken with the subjectmatter, involving grifters, counterfeiters, money laundering, bankbranch managers, and CPA's (accountants), etc. The grifting aspect,is interesting considering the unexpected twist in the movie, similarto the Las Nueve Reinas picture (that also featured money plates inits US version.)As for money laundering, we see the US Secret Service accompanyingthreats posed to the currency, by fake bills and by branch managerscleaning the profits of gang activity to reach corporate profit andindividual career objectives. Here, the branch manager has personalrelationships with 2 of the top ring leaders in the community,cleaning the profits of those dirty business underneath a sheath ofrespectability and prestige. They tell the manager " Over the years,I've paid you well!" indicating those bank employees were getting acut.The police's oath to obedience is questioned, by showing a cop who'sthe crime ring's payroll, as an informant and killer, allowing ahospital patient to be taken out.The script is also excellent, with the occasional amusing line,such as " How are you ? Fine " to which Roberts replies "Well, thatcould change!"Overall, notwithstanding the trail of bodies, the bloodbath thatoccurs amongst the gangsters, like rats after a piece of cheese, andeven the rivalry among the US Secret Service in getting the merit forthe crackdown, or the jaded hypocrisy that the film suggests existsin society, from the actors, the quality in all aspects asmentioned results in a crowd pleasing product in theaters.