TIFF ’24 Review: ‘The Luckiest Man in America’ is a chronicle of errors
‘The Luckiest Man in America’ follows a man who won the largest ever prize in game show history by gaming the system.
While the American Dream is to be successful, the true goal is to bypass the hard work and make easy money. It’s one of the many reasons the lottery and game shows (and to a different element, robbery and scams) are so popular — the return on investment can be exponential. However, as most people know, leaving things to chance also stacks the odds against them – unless you happen to be incredibly fortunate, skilled and/or clever. The Luckiest Man in America is about a game show contestant who is some combination of these characteristics.
Press Your Luck was a popular game show in the 1980s, lasting four seasons. But in 1984, contestant Michael Larson (Paul Walter Hauser) won the largest prize in game show history in a record-breaking streak of “no whammys.” Originally from Ohio, the man auditions for the show in Los Angeles and in spite of some grave errors, wins over show co-creator Bill Carruthers (David Strathairn) and returns the next day for a taping. He gets off to a slow start, but on his next turn he launches into a hot streak of winning squares and refuses to relinquish control of the board. As Michael’s winnings increase, host Peter Tomarken (Walton Goggins) tries to quell the fire. Meanwhile, everyone in the control booth is sweating bullets since the size of the prize likely has a direct correlation with the odds of them losing their jobs.
Bill’s right-hand man, Chuck (Shamier Anderson), knows there’s something off about Michael, but Bill is convinced his awkward niceties will make good television — after all, the man drives an ice cream truck. He says the right things at the right time, overly polite and apologetic as the need arises. Yet, there’s a temper bubbling beneath the surface and a sense of desperation related to his supposedly picture-perfect family that’s unsettling. Convinced Michael must be cheating somehow, the showrunners begin to dig into his life in the hopes of discovering a connection to an accomplice or a weakness they can exploit to throw him off his game.
It’s unusual to think a movie like this would be suspenseful, particularly since it’s based on a true story and the outcome is predetermined, but there is a mounting tension that permeates the narrative. There’s so much at stake for so many characters, whether it’s a financial windfall or job security. There’s a constant question of, “What will they do next,” either in relation to the showrunners frantically trying to end his streak or Michael deciding when the risk is too great and he’s won enough. Hauser loves portraying these resigned eccentrics, and here he conveys a man whose hopes and dreams rest on this one television appearance, for better or worse.
The Luckiest Man in America had its world premiere in the Special Presentations programme at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Read other reviews from the festival.
Director: Samir Oliveros
Starring: Shamier Anderson, Haley Bennett and Brian Geraghty
