Luck: The Complete First Season

The first and only season of this magnificent HBO original series about thoroughbred horse racing culture was created and written by David Milch (of Deadwood fame). A marvel of character and storytelling, with a chemistry, rhythm, and sensibility unlike anything else on TV, Luck features Dustin Hoffman as Ace, a mobster fresh out of prison who is determined to make his mark with a gambling empire, using a California track as his base. But much of the color comes from the local denizens, including horse owner Walter (Nick Nolte), Peruvian trainer Turo (John Ortiz), jockeys Rosie (Kerry Condon) and Leon (Tom Payne), veterinarian Jo (Jill Hennessy), driver Gus (a marvelously loose and easy Dennis Farina), and an oddly comic quartet of gamblers—Jerry (Jason Gedrick), Marcus (Kevin Dunn), Lonnie (Ian Hart), and Renzo (Ritchie Coster)—who live in adjoining rooms in a seedy motel and pitch in to buy a horse of their own. Unfortunately, Luck will never see a second season; the show was shut down after the accidental death of three horses. Collecting all nine episodes from 2011–12, extras include audio commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes. An amazing series full of unexpected character journeys, surprising friendships, thrilling races, and heartbreaking losses, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)