PAUL WALTER HAUSER IS A GAME SHOW CONTESTANT WHO IS SECRETLY CHEATING, HE'S LITERALLY "THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA" (2025)

 

It's 1984 and Michael Larson has been studying previous episodes of Press Your Luck on his VCR. He's figured out the patterns to the lighted board at the center of the game and how to pick only the highest money amounts. In effect, a game show version of a card counter. Now he goes on the show to become a contestant and starts ringing the cash register with his picks until the producers figure out what he's up to. Should they pull him and boot him or let him stay and benefit off his fame, a la Quiz Show?

Based on a real incident, this project was in development hell for 25 years, now that's hell. Samir Oliveros second full feature and he directs an excellent film on a low budget. Hauser is a perfectly complex actor to keep us guessing and more than worth mentioning are - David Strathaim in yet another great performance as the show's producer. It's hard to imagine the film without him but gosh, he looks old in this and Nightmare Alley. 

The other worth mentioning is the Brian Geraghty, who was so good in Flight and Wildlike, he's really reached that stage where anything he appears in brings gold to the project. I almost didn't recognize him here as a fuddy duddy pastor, one of the other contestants. It's a bit of a too small part though for him. 

Debuted in Toronto last year but officially released here last month. Highly recommend this one but unless you want to pay 6.99 a rental, you may want to wait a few months til it comes down, which it will. This is a good one, folks.   2.75 stars/2.75