As Luck Would Have It (2011) User Reviews

Comedy , drama and amusement by offbeat filmmaker Alex De La Iglesia

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 30 August 2012]

¨As Luck Would Have It¨ (La Chispa De La Vida) deals with an out-of-work publicist (Jose Mota) and once popular ad exec can't catch a break, until a freak accident at a Roman theater located in Cartagena puts him at the center of a media frenzy, he hires an agent (Fernando Tejero) to help him cash in on his life-or-death situation in an attempt to provide money for his family . Roberto's loving wife (Salma Hayek) tries to convince him he's worth more alive than dead .

Dramatic comedy follows an unemployed advertising executive as he looks for work , ultimately becoming the focal point of media attention when he falls into a precarious situation . This is a full-on surreal psychotronic black-comedy that blends emotion , thrills , comedy , tension as well as an interesting script full of dark humor ,outrageous drama , odd /selfish characters and exciting situations . This satirical melodrama explores the greedy nature between the media and public consumption . Eloy De La Iglesia moves out from under the literal big top and sets his sites on the mass media , probably as close to a modern circus as you can get . De la Iglesia reigns in his style this time around and delivers a utterly watchable takedown of ambition and media obsession that certainly delivers a few madly inspired moments . But while he tips his hat knowingly to films like Network and Billy Wilder's ¨Ace in the Hole¨, the end result is curiously toothless, and far less outlandish , intense and angry than either of those media-satire hallmarks . The film works on various levels and is constantly reconfigured , however contains some embarrassing , contriving moments and also certain excess . Acceptable performance by José Mota as an executive who has been out of work for a long time and suffers an accident and attempts to sell the exclusive interview rights to the highest bidder . A real standout by Salma Hayek , Mexican-born actress certainly makes up for her short stature with her performance in the film, receiving much praise for her role . Excellent plethora of secondaries such as the recently deceased Juan Luis Galiardo , Joaquin Climent , Juanjo Puigcorbe , Blanca Portillo and Alex De la Iglesia's ordinary actors such as Santiago Segura , Manuel Tallafé , Fernando Tejero , Enrique De La Torre and Carolina Bang whose partner is the director . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by Kiko De La Rica . Thrilling as well as emotive musical score by Joan Valent , the soundtrack flows great with the film in every way, and creates enjoyable atmospheres in every moment.

The motion picture was well directed by the king of black comedy , Alex De La Iglesia , though failed at the Spanish Box office . He's a cool director has got much success as ¨Accion Mutante¨ ,¨Dying of laughter¨ or ¨Muertos De Risa¨ , ¨Baby's room¨ , ¨Oxford murders¨ and ¨Balada Triste De Una Trompeta¨ and winner of several Goyas (Spanish Oscars), however his movies have not yet reached box office in USA, but he has strong followers . Nonsense, ridicule , laughters , absurdity , disturbing scenes .. and many other issues ; you can find everything in this flick . The movie is a lot of fun, especially for those who enjoy surrealist humor . This is without a doubt a thrilling and enjoyable movie to be enjoyed for dark humor buffs and Alex De Iglesia fans.

The embarrassment

[yoggwork · 7/10 · 21 February 2019]

The embarrassment of the clerks is in sharp contrast to that of the wealthy. It reflects the injustice of the society and the pursuit of the interests of the wealthy regardless of the lives and deaths of others.

Koka Kola

[valis1949 · 6/10 · 1 September 2013]

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT (dir. Álex de la Iglesia) A weak Spanish satirical comedy about an unemployed advertising executive who suffers a horrific accident in which he falls at a construction site and is pierced through the skull by a piece of iron rebar, yet remains conscious during the entire ordeal. In the process of getting help he engages the service of a publicity agent, and attempts to exploit the situation for all it's worth. The film tries to make a philosophical statement about the nature of a society that would encourage or support such self-serving behavior, but the film doesn't take it far enough. This could have really been a powerful drama or a scathing black comedy, but just came off as a lackluster effort.

Outstanding Spanish one off.

[Mozjoukine · 8 July 2012]

Gangbusters De la Iglesia movie which defies expectations of taste and form to become extraordinarily involving.

Working from a script by a Hollywood writer, who did Stallone and Van Damme movies and mixing elements we recognize from work like NIGHT & the CITY and DEATH of a SALESMAN, we end up with something that it would be hard to imagine anyone else trying. De La Iglesia is a much better craftsman than Pedro Almodovar to whom he's frequently adversely compared. He brings a feeling of scale to what is a quite intimate subject, a blaring score, the Cartegena Roman circus setting, broad media and promotion satire and particularly a full blooded performance from Hayek, who wins over the audience in her first scene, encouraging Mota not to think of himself as a failure by saying "Look what a hot wife you have!"

As Mota finds himself life imperiled, with a steel spike in his head, the film sneaks up on the spectator till the scene between Hayek and Bang and her last gesture become unexpectedly moving.

The critical response and non response to De Iglesia's movies continues to amaze me.

Throw in another of Santo Segura's endorsement walk-ons - like GROWN UPS.

Weak Remake

[lvzee · 3/10 · 25 April 2012]

If some demented soul decided to remake the old Kirk Douglas classic "Ace in the Hole" as a modern comedy, this would be it. unfortunately it is neither funny nor tragic. You'd be much better off watching the classic film, even if it seems a little dated. Probably the best part of As Luck Would Have It, originally entitled "La Chinga de la Vida", is the set, which is a Roman ruin. The actors generally do a credible job considering how weak the story is and how unfunny the humor. Everyone ends up playing a caricature or a stereotype, with the son of the leading couple falling more deeply into this trap than anyone can imagine. If you need a comedy about the flight of being an unemployed family man during a recession, you can always fall back on the Full Monty.

Tribeca Review: 'As Luck Would Have It' Is The Jewel Of The Fest REVIEWS

[svendsenfilm · 8/10 · 2 May 2012]

Álex de la Iglesia's "As Luck Would Have It" features, in supporting roles, Salma Hayek and Carolina Bang, two of the most ravishing and talented Spanish-language actresses to ever grace the screen. Most viewers are well aware of Ms. Hayek, who has aged gracefully into Hollywood's demeaning mother-ghetto for actresses over the age of 35. Few know of Ms. Bang, who was the centerpiece of de la Iglesia's last film, the criminally-insane "The Last Circus." Both command the screen with old school Hollywood glamour and mature sexuality, and yet neither manages to obscure the machinations of de la Iglesia's sharp media satire. This, as Queen once sang long ago, is a kind of magic.

Jose Mota is Roberto, a one-time ad exec who hasn't had success in many moons. Unbeknownst to his supportive wife, the couple are in dire financial straits, Roberto long living off the reputation gained from an old Coca Cola slogan. Reduced to begging and groveling at his former bosses' knees, Roberto soon realizes he has no job prospects. The cosmic joke of the film, unspoken, seems to be that Roberto seemingly bottomed out without a natural talent for advertising, and whatever reputation he has garnered was a fluke. The irony, of course, is that these callous suits lack what the enterprising Roberto brings to the table, courtesy of his Coke tagline: "the spark of life."

Despondent, Roberto flees to the location of his honeymoon with his wife, where one absent- minded misstep lands him on his back, seriously injured but conscious. Lying on his back, Roberto maintains his motor skills, but he cannot move. He is impaled, a sharp nail sticking out from the ground, embedded in his head. Cops descend, but none dare to pry him loose, until medics provide a diagnosis: they could remove Roberto from the nail, but if he is pried loose in the wrong direction, he will die. The story of Roberto's misfortunate circulates, now attached to the circumstances. Soon, a media circus erupts over his captive state, reports circulating that his career had been failing and that he may have attempted suicide. The location de la Iglesia picks is not unintentional: all parties involved realize he's fallen on somewhat sacred ground, a landmark of sorts where Roberto's freedom could involve desecrating ancient ground. From Roberto's perspective, as we see various onlookers and media outlets observe, the area he occupies is shaped very much like ancient Coliseum bleachers. He has become the star of his own show, the story of his death, Ancient Rome-style. Wife Luisa (Hayek) eventually descends, though she is soon swarmed by the vultures of the press (among them Ms. Bang). As Roberto moves in and out of lucidity, they fight over exclusive access both to an interview with him or her. The ghoulish lengths they'll go to procure official footage and soundbites overwhelms Luisa: one reporter openly muses on a much higher cost for an interview if he were to die.

De la Iglesia's setup hearkens back to "Ace In The Hole" but with a much more humanist bent: with his life on the line, Roberto immediately starts thinking dollar signs, knowing the cynicism of the media can be exploited to finally give he and his wife the life that will please her. But Luisa is the film's heart, and this attitude pierces her, as she fights against the reporters' obvious interest in Roberto's possible death. De la Iglesia, in the middle of what some may consider a career-long roll, continues his commitment to stark, realistic humanity in heightened, blackly comic situations. The absurdity of Roberto's predicament, while handled with good humor, is played with an entirely straight face -- his argument as to whether Brad Pitt or George Clooney in a movie adaptation is as much a product of his pop culture cynicism as it is about his hopeful recontextualization of this unlucky scenario. There may be no boogeyman in sight, but de la Iglesia uses Hitchcockian music cues and camera angles to emphasize the morbidity of Roberto constantly being moments away from death, with surrounding onlookers subtly rooting for his demise. Mordantly funny and sharp as a razor, "As Luck Would Have It" is one of the treasures of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Master Alex .... What the F ?

[isaiasvalbuena · 1/10 · 8 June 2012]

Mmmm , What can I say I'm huge fan of Alex de la Iglesia and love in some way almost every film he has made , some more than others of course but at this moment , I was expecting something amazing ; more even after seeing his last film beautifully crafted and visually stunning with an over the top ending but that's something I have learn to accept and even like on his films , I'm talking about The Last Circus (la balada Triste de la Trompeta) after that one , As Luck Would Have It comes as a big disappointment sadly.

The direction is nice nothing you haven't seem before ,the acting is good, but not great, hence to the story line and the script and opposite to the Goyas (something like the Oscars in Spain) I think Salma Hayek in that role seems awkward and out of place.

In general an entertaining flick but very beneath the genius of Alex de la Iglesia.

A String of Pearls

[davidtraversa-1 · 10/10 · 3 August 2015]

My Summary phrase came to mind after watching this 2011 Álex de la Iglesia masterwork. It was, as a string of pearls, a string of scenes, so perfect, so smooth in their sequencing, that, with the help of an impeccable photography and admirable soundtrack we got spell bounded from the beginning of this splendid movie to its brilliant ending, a pathetic story almost unbearable to watch.

Unbearable to watch thanks to the forceful interpretation of our protagonist couple, Luisa (Salma Hayek) and Roberto (José Mota) who, all of a sudden, find out how tough and painful life can become in a matter of seconds.

Roberto's desperation to find a job, after months of fruitless interviews is the Gordian knot that plunges him (and us) into what will become a major film. The script construction is peerless, as is the interpretation of every actor involved in the complicated choreography, very difficult to film, of this gem of a movie, all encompassed by the hand of this genius, Alex de la Iglesia.

Only at the end of the projection we get the subliminal message given at the start of the movie, behind the cast names and credits, with takes that seem to be only background texture..., and they tell you the whole story.

Our string of pearls has a gorgeous diamond clasp. It loops the string with a superb finale, showing us how deep is Luisa's love for her husband Roberto. It couldn't have had a better ending.

Interesting Comparison with....

[VintageSoul56 · 19 October 2018]

I'm in the middle of watching this on Hulu and I will finish it. I want to see how it ends. I read the description and thought that it sounded interesting and Salma Hayak is always good.

Here's the comparison that I found. Yesterday, I wrote a review for "A Star is Born". I find the similarities in both movies interesting in the way that some people will exploit either themselves (As Luck Would Have It) for gain or let someone exploit them (A Star is Born) for the same reason, whether or not you realize that it's happing at the time.

Here's two totally different movies with a similar theme. Reality TV does it all of the time in today's age, but it's been going on since the dawn of humankind. There's no real reason why I wrote this, but the was my observation.