Lucky is an old man, a washed up cowboy who’s living out his remaining years in a small town where his routine means everything to him: a daily glass of milk, some exercise, coffee and crosswords at the local diner, devotion to his game shows. Just because he’s alone doesn’t mean he’s lonely. But then a brush with his mortality reminds him that death comes for all of us, and he starts reevaluating a thing or two.
We missed seeing Lucky at SXSW this year; our schedule was packed and we had to 
choose between several old-guy movies (we ended up seeing The Hero and The Ballad of Lefty Brown). We can’t regret seeing either of those movies, both are good, but there is one mitigating factor. Harry Dean Stanton, star of Lucky, died last month at the age of 91. And there is, I believe, a difference between watching an old man come to grips with his age and death’s proximity, and watching a man who we know was actually met his maker be confronted with his expiration date on screen and admit to us all that he is scared. Oof.
How does a 90 year old atheist feel about death’s encroachment? You’ll see it all on Stanton’s face. The years have visibly burdened him, he walks with a heavy but purposeful gait, his shoulders sloping under the effects of time and the weight of the unknown. And though he makes various connections, a surprisingly diverse variety of connections for a man of his generation, we’re very much aware that in the end, everyone dies alone. This film has moments of genuine warmth and delight, but it’ll also make you feel his emptiness, his isolation, his fear. And if that’s not enough to completely gut you, director John Carroll Lynch wrenches the very last drops of our humanity from us with the help of my favouritest favourite Johnny Cash song. So you just can’t help be hollowed out. But Lucky also fills you up. The script accounts for more than a few quirky characters, but it’s Lucky’s persistence and courage that fill us up with hope.
There aren’t enough words to say what a great performance we have here from Stanton. It’s superb. Lucky isn’t the talkiest of fellows but Stanton delivers a meditation on mortality that is the perfect legacy to his lengthy career. He’s magnetic. And we’re all a little luckier having seen this film.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Wow these are high words of praise. He was truly an amazing actor. This review has truly made me want to see this movie now. I love movies that feature high caliber acting 😀
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Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll definitely be looking for this one.
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Awesome review Jay! Lucky was already on my must watch list as I’m a big Harry Dean Stanton, but now I really can’t wait to see it.
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This would be a really great movie regardless, but I think it’s also a very fitting send off, so be sure to check it out!
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Cool review, another saad loss to the movie world.
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Harry Dean was one of a kind….well except maybe for his twin brother Dennis Hopper.
While he wasn’t the warmest or most appealing actor ever to work,he did have his charms.
I like to check Lucky out…..
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On my TBS list already.
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It wasn’t until I saw a trailer for Lucky that I really realized who Harry Dean Stanton was. I’ve seen him in so many films and yet to me he was always “that guy from that other thing,” and I feel guilty about that now because he was so amazing.
I guess, though, that I can look on the bright side and think about how, in his long and varied career, this is the first film of his I know of where was the lead, and we’re all lucky he gave it to us.
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I’m a huge Harry Dean fan and I’m very eager to catch. Sounds the most poignant of roles for him considering his sad passing recently. He’s a legend.
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Interesting that he’d made this movie to come out just after his death.
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