For the filmmakers, music was another integral element in capturing the time, place and emotions of the story. Fenelon relates, “One of the first things we think about is the music. How can we use it to reveal the essence of the characters, the settings and the themes? Coming into ‘Lucky You,’ Curtis and I both gravitated—independent of one another—toward the Americana music of artists like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams and George Jones.”

Legendary music pioneer Bob Dylan had previously worked with Hanson and Fenelon on the film “Wonder Boys,” writing the song “Things Have Changed,” which brought the artist an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The filmmakers were thrilled when Dylan offered to compose a new song for “Lucky You.” The result was “Huck’s Tune,” which Fenelon calls “the most mesmerizing contribution to the film’s soundtrack. It is a perfect poetic rendition of the movie that cuts to the essence of both Huck and the film.”

Other songs heard in “Lucky You” include: “Lucky Town” and “The Fever” (Bruce Springsteen); “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan); “Let It Ride” (Ryan Adams); “El Paso” (Marty Robbins); a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me To The End of Love” (performed on camera in the Fontana Lounge at the Bellagio by Madeleine Peyroux); “Choices” and “I Always Get Lucky With You” (George Jones); a Kris Kristofferson cover of “They Ain’t Got Em All” (also performed on camera by Drew Barrymore); and Drew Barrymore’s cover of the George Jones classic “Cold Hard Truth.”

“All of these songs are steeped in emotional truth, honestly and openly presented,” Fenelon says. “They reveal the pain and frustration of love and life and growing old, of making the wrong choices, of taking risks and losing and trying again.”

NEXT
FACE CARDS
Eric Bana was cast in the central role of audacious poker player Huck Cheever, and Curtis Hanson says that the actor came with an uncompromising approach to his work that made him perfect for the role.