neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Jackpot
	Michael Polish Jon Gries, Daryl Hannah, Garrett Morris, Adam Baldwin, Peggy Lipton 2001 Special edition — widescreen; pan & scan; closed caption; audio commentary by director Michael Polish; trailers.		The idea of karaoke as a life's vocation or a springboard to a more rarefied career is an interesting notion for a film. But last year's karaoke-themed "Duets" failed as comedy or tragedy. Though bolstered by good acting, "Jackpot," a gloomy, elliptical drama from the directing/writing brother team Michael and Mark Polish ("Twin Falls Idaho"), suffers a similar fate. As his sorry, impoverished back story is revealed in fits and starts, Sunny Holiday (Jon Gries), the nomadic anti-hero of "Jackpot," scuffles from town to town, trying to make a buck in barroom karaoke competitions. He's accompanied by his manager/enabler Lester (Garrett Morris), who reinforces Sunny's fantasies of impending stardom. Sunny and Lester sleep in their car when they lack money for a room. They drink and argue. Sunny hits on any available women. Having abandoned a patient wife (Daryl Hannah) and child back home, he doesn't gain sympathy. And if it's hard to care about Sunny, it's harder to care about the whole movie.