New HBO Horse Racing Series "Luck" Starts in Australia 18 March

The new HBO series “Luck” explores the complex and intriguing world of American horse racing.

“Luck” follows the various types of people that frequent the horse racing community. The cast consists of gamblers Marcus (Kevin Dunn) and Jerry (Jason Gedrick), jockeys Leon (Tom Payne) and Rosie (Kerry Condon) and horse owners Walter (Nick Nolte) and Gus (Dennis Farina). Their ownership, however, is really a front for recently paroled mobster, “Ace” Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman). 

Much of the show’s cast are played by veteran actors who do a wonderful job at making their roles feel true to real life. The roles could have otherwise been overplayed with clichés and histrionics by less talented performers.

The driving plotline is Bernstein’s story, which follows him as he tries to get revenge against his former mob bosses for putting him in prison — not through violent means, but by appealing to their greed and wallets.

Hoffman gives the best performance by creating a frequently unpredictable and nuanced role of a man who is slowly losing his mind.

"Luck" will premiere in Australia on 18 March on the Showtime channel.

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• Read detailed review at www.statepress.com