Conference bookie::movies

648.0. "Lucky Break" by 58633::TRP109::Chris (prognosis negative) Wed Sep 14 1994 10:37

First of two movies seen last night at Toronto Film Festival

LUCKY BREAK(****)

Some movies you judge on ACTING and everything else, other movies you simply 
enjoy the acting and EVERYTHING ELSE.  I found this movie to be a 
*completely* charming and delightful treat - it won't win any Academy 
Awards, but it was a wonderful piece of light entertainment.  This is an 
Australian production and the screening was attended by the director, Ben 
Lewin, the producer, Bob Weis and the lead actor, Anthony LaPaglia.  The 
other principal cast members were Gia Carides and Rebecca Gibney.  It took 
me about 20 minutes into the film to remember where I had seen Gia before - 
she played "Liz" in "Strictly Ballroom", but her character in this movie is 
SO different (long brown hair, no hystronics) that I didn't clue in right 
away.  The story is a romantic comedy involving a girl who is physically 
handicapped (she had polio as a child and wears a brace on one of her legs). 
Sophie is the author of bodice-ripper romance novels and is working late in 
the library one night.  Eddie (LaPaglia) is a suave gem dealer with an eye 
for the ladies who overhears Sophie reading her writing out loud - more than 
a little intrigued, he makes a pass and gets turned down. At this point, he 
has no knowledge of her disability. In a very funny slapstick sequence, 
Sophie ends up with a broken leg (the one that she wears the brace on) and 
in turn, gains the confidence to pursue Eddie.  He has a rich, sophisticated 
fiance (Gibney) but realizes that his heart lies with Sophie.  Don't want to 
give any more away, but this is a great comedy of misunderstandings and 
mishaps and by the end of the film, every principal character has a damaged 
body part.  It was really a breath of fresh air, especially in light of the 
fact that every other movie I have seen at this festival has involved HEAVY 
drama.  Hope it gets released here (N.America) so I can go see it again!

P.S. - It was really nice to see Anthony LaPaglia play a role other than the 
"Brooklyn Italian Mafia Hit Man" - he was charming and very believable as a 
romantic lead.  In fact, one of my favorite parts of his was "Stevie D" in 
"Betsy's Wedding" - still typecast, but funny and cute.  I am seeing another 
movie tonight with him in it called "Killer" (review to follow tomorrow) and 
I'm sure that will be back to the usual.