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REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS 4/7/13:
Lucky Bastard Is Graphic, Disturbing and Excellent
One of the great aspects of this film, thanks to writers Nathan (who directed) and Kendall is that they make the audience understand that the people who make porn are real people, with homes, bills, and kids to care for. Too often the media’s portrayals of those who work in this industry are dehumanizing. It also manages; in spite of what some feminists might claim, to actually empower the two main female characters. They are strong, don’t put up with nonsense and to them, having sex in front of a camera is merely acting.
—Brian Milinsky, Tail Slate
The film includes a number of amazing performances that are made even more so because the actors have successfully recreated reality to the point that a viewer begins to actually question whether or not they are watching a leaked event that transpired…. Although the subject matter is unflinchingly brutal—it should be praised for many aspects beyond what many may mistakenly think that it celebrates.
—Oscar Benjamin, The Examiner
LUCKY BASTARD is a brave film that isn’t afraid to show it all, the ugly and the pretty of porn. In the opening minutes, the filmmakers tell us that porn sites have been pushing the envelope for years and that sooner or later that envelope will leave one hell of a paper cut. Well, this paper cut was pretty deep with LUCKY BASTARD and the film deserves props to trying something different with the found footage genre.
—“Ambush Bug,” Ain’t It Cool News
LUCKY BASTARD is NC-17 rated and won’t be for everyone, though the picture ultimately isn’t gratuitous, especially considering the subject matter. In fact, outside of its porn story component, it’s a punchy, well-performed thriller that ultimately keeps your attention for all of its 90 minutes. A recommended view, especially for adventurous viewers.
—Andre Dursin, The Aisle Seat
It’s crude, appalling, highly offensive...and I absolutely loved that about it. Far more impressive was how clever the setup is, and how, by using amateur porn as its backdrop, instantly justifiable its own low-fi aesthetic becomes… This movie feels like it was made for $5,000, and by design looks so, yet never once left me bored or disinterested.
—Jake Dee, Arrow in the Head
Audacious and dark in just the right way. Within the “found footage” genre, with Blair Witch Project setting the bar high, this film has a lot of new things to say. It provides a number of intense original moments. There is an excellent horror/thriller vibe to this movie and Hellraiser editor Tony Randel can share some of the credit along with cinematographer Clay Westervelt and unit production manager Jim Wynorski.
—Henry Chamberlain, Comics Grinder
The sex in LUCKY BASTARD is not sexy—it is showy, obviously artificial, business-like, noisy—but not sexy. Betsy Rue’s Ashley pouts and bats her eyes at the camera, wiggles around seductively, but it’s so disingenuous that it’s more laughable than anything else. She is sexy, however, when Ashley jokingly sexy-talks about doing her taxes, doing laundry, and being a single mother—it’s her genuine moments, when she talks about what matters to her and how she feels about her job, that make her sexy. Overall, LUCKY BASTARD is a refreshing and complex look at the controversial world of adult film and a unique use of an overused film style.
—Bethany Lewis, Film Snobbery
An engaging story about the price of personal dignity and what it costs to buy and to relinquish… Aside from the flesh shots and the backstage pass to a porn production, writers Lukas Kendall and Robert Nathan tell a thrilling story that makes you think with your brain and not other parts of your body.
—Clara Armstrong, Forces of Geek
For thriller fans who can take some tough fare—especially those with deep suspicions about “reality” programming—LUCKY BASTARD is a real find.
—Abbie Bernstein, Assignment X
Puts an imaginative spin on what is too often a sloppy low-budget aesthetic, easily outstripping charges of empty gimmickry… Perhaps the highest compliment one can pay LUCKY BASTARD is to say that it’s effective and also quite believable for the story it chooses to tell—well sketched out, and sincere in its characters’ motivations.
—Brent Simon, Shock Ya
LUCKY BASTARD is the very rare cinematic and suspenseful found footage film…for its innovative use of the found footage conceit and its above-par indie acting, LUCKY BASTARD is worth a peek.
—Stacy Layne Wilson, Yahoo Voices
There is not more that I can say other than the fact that I went in a skeptic and came out a believer.
—Victor Caro, Geek Grotto
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Folks, our NYC premiere is around the corner, on Valentine's Day (haha) at Cinema Village: http://www.cinemavillage.com/chc/cv/show_movie.asp?movieid=3046
Awesome! Hope to see you there!
If I brought it, could I get you to sign my Blue Box, LK?
Well...I've never thought that the label guy should be signing anything, instead of the composer or filmmakers...but sure, I'll sign anything anyone asks, thanks!
Lukas
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Posted: |
May 17, 2014 - 3:32 PM
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By: |
MikeP
(Member)
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Lucky Bastard is now available as a movie on demand, at least through AT&T UVerse, where we watched it last night.
To cut to the chase, I really recommend this one. Yep, it is a "found footage" movie, but it looks great, with a real polish. I've seen so many indie movies and indie "found footage" thrillers that look like crap and have awful, stilted performances, but this one is smooth, folks.
Even though the opening does preface what happens in the end ( not that it is a secret ), it is still a slow burn until things go sour. The long-ish set up is very entertaining, man there is some smart dialogue with a few great little throw away lines. The movie takes time getting there but it isn't boring by any means.
The performances - all great. Don McManus is excellent, he's one of those "that guy in that thing" dudes ( I just realized he was in this season's Justified, as Ava's lawyer ), and he is funny and sharp. Betsy Rue...wow. I mean she - puts it all on the line you can say - but she does much more than just bare skin. And Jay Paulson is fine as the twitchy, insecure, and scary "lucky bastard".
But I loved Mike the camera guy. He just had that porn camera guy look...
This is raw stuff... not porn itself, thanks to handy dandy pixelation  but for those more modest folks, it IS graphic and doesn't pull punches with the sexuality. Donna looked at me a few times during the movie giving me the "really? " look 
Well worth the look. Great work, Lukas and crew.
And I laughed out loud spying Mars Attacks CDs on the shelves of the porn director's office.
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MikeP, thanks for watching. Yes, we went live on most cable and satellite VOD systems, as well as iVOD outlets. We are not yet on iTunes (due to our rating, grrr) but we are here at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Bastard-Don-McManus/dp/B00JW08ZJC/ref=sr_1_4?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1398293813&sr=1-4&keywords=lucky+bastard
Internationally, the only way to watch is via a direct download at our movie website:
http://www.luckybastardmovie.com/watch-now/
For my FSM board friends: If you buy the "Theatrical Film" (just the movie) at our website for $12.95 and use the coupon code fsm (that's just the letters fsm, lowercase) get $3 off, making it $9.95.
Here's our hometown paper review which was very nice to read:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-lucky-bastard-review-20140307-story.html
Would love any user ratings/reviews at imdb, rotten tomatoes, letterboxd, etc. Thanks!
Thanks all!
Lukas
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Oh, and those Mars Attacks! CDs at the porn office? That's because we shot at La-La Land Records, thanks MV and Matt!
Lukas
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Is there any chance of LUCKY BASTARD showing up on NETFLIX?
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We're now streaming on HULU for those who want to check it out:
Brought to you by OxiClean!
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Is there any chance of LUCKY BASTARD showing up on NETFLIX?
We are tying
Lukas
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Lucky Bastard is now free streaming on Amazon Prime.
Very curious to see Kendall Porn!!!
Jajah, jk jk....
It is! I had no idea. Thanks!
Lukas
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) I'll check it out! 
