Out on DVD today, Tuesday April 26: LUCKY
Jeffrey Blitz’s lottery documentary premiered at Sundance last year – his second film there following 2007’s Narrative Director Award winner ROCKET SCIENCE. Of course, his acclaimed first doc, SPELLBOUND, premiered at SXSW in 2002 before its acquisition and successful theatrical run.
In LUCKY, Blitz looks at lottery winners, and on the effect the jackpot has on their lives. Focusing on a number of stories – from a curmudgeon who can’t hold on to this winnings, to an immigrant who joined his co-workers in playing the lucky numbers – look at both the good and bad sides of suddenly coming into wealth. While the subjects may not have the natural charm of Blitz’s spelling bee participants, they are diverse and engaging. More could have been done to explore more extreme personalities such as lottery addicts who are briefly addressed, but the film still offers access to a life-altering situation that statistically very few individuals will ever directly experience – no matter how often they purchase a lottery ticket.
what (not) to doc 