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Television review: 'Luck'

HBO's meandering new racetrack series starring Dustin Hoffman pays off down the stretch.

January 28, 2012|By Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Television Critic

But a story is more than moments on a string, and in their attempt to fly high without the safety net of traditional exposition, the creators of "Luck" too often dismiss the central responsibility of the storyteller: Remember that you have an audience.

Many people have perfectly wonderful ideas for television shows in their heads; what separates the professionals is their ability to articulate those ideas in a way that resonates with others. "Luck's" first four or five episodes play too much like a private conversation about things that happen at the track, things that don't necessarily matter much in the long run.

This could be forgiven in pursuit of a new form of television, but the arch "keep up or shut up" quality that accompanies it cannot. We are not stupid, but we are not psychic. Color and character complexity should enrich a story, not obscure it.

If you make it to the end, the payoff is sweeter for the suffering. In the meanwhile, enjoy each scene on its own merits, which are not inconsiderable. And the horses really are amazing.

mary.mcnamara@latimes.com

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