Lucky You - Las Vegas Movie Review

I had avoided the 2007 movie Lucky You (starring Drew Barrymore and Eric Bana) because I had the impression that it wasn't really about Las Vegas, but focused more on the love story between the main characters. I was wrong.

While the love story is prominent, the movie is heavily based on Las Vegas, poker and gambling. The dialog is really strange - it's like the writers had a poker glossary and tried to use each and every term before the end credits. Some of the most ridiculous "people don't talk like this" stuff I have ever seen in a movie.

Lucky You isn't good - but I strangely would encourage any Las Vegas or gambling fan to watch it just to see how bad it is. It falls into the "so bad it's good category" in my opinion. With so much gambling jargon being thrown around it's almost like watching a parody of a poker movie at times.

The cast isn't terrible with Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Shannon having supporting roles, which makes the insanity of the robotic dialog even more head scratching.

As far as Las Vegas scenery, they didn't do much in the way of creative hotel placement that you sometimes see in Vegas movies. Most of the poker action takes place at Bellagio and Binion's (or sets made to look like those places, although the film was shot on location in Las Vegas).

I was expecting to see a standard run of the mill rom-com that I watched just because of Las Vegas, but what I got was a crazy movie that I honestly want to watch again to make fun of the dialog and improbable poker scenarios that play out.

Plaza Buys Fontainebleau Furniture

A few days ago it was revealed that most the the furniture at the stalled Fontainebleau project would be sold off at auction.

Today a story in the Las Vegas Sun reported that much of that furniture was purchased by the owners of the Plaza hotel, which is scheduled to close for renovation this November. Plaza's newly remodeled rooms will be fitted with "Wallpaper, carpet, tile, sofas, chairs, desks, dressers, side tables and bed frames" that were originally intended to be used in the rooms at Fontainebleau.

It appears the owners of the Plaza might actually be serious about renovating the property. When it was announced that the hotel was closing, many people speculated that this would be another Lady Luck or Binion's situation, where the hotel would close and not actually be worked on for a long time. It looks like this is not the case, as the project has a set budget ($20 million) and re-opening date (September 2011). Now they have some brand new swanky furniture to go along with it, purchased for pennies on the dollar.

Summer of the 70's invades Fremont Street

Following last year's "Summer of 69" theme, this year Fremont Street downtown will host the "Summer of the 70's."

All summer long there will be 70's related headliners and tribute bands along with special 70's shows on the "Viva Vision" jumbo-tron.
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Headliner Schedule: (1st or 3rd Street Stages) Concerts start at 9 p.m.

Gloria Gaynor - May 29 for Memorial Day Weekend (3rd Street Stage)
I will Survive, Never Can Say Goodbye, I Never Knew

Sweet - June 5 during the Vegas Cruise car show weekend (1st Street Stage)
Ballroom Blitz, Fox on the Run, Love is Like Oxygen, Little Willy

Little River Band - July 3 for Fourth of July Weekend (3rd Street Stage)
Lady, Lonesome Loser, Reminiscing, Cool Change

Ultimate Elvis Weekend - July 23-24 featuring the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest (1st Street Stage), times TBA

Blue Oyster Cult - August 14 for Hot Rockin' Weekend (3rd Street Stage)
(Don't Fear) the Reaper, Burnin' For You, Godzilla

Jefferson Starship - September 4 for Labor Day Weekend (1st Street Stage)
White Rabbit, Don't You Want Somebody to Love, Miracles, Jane, Count on Me, Ride the Tiger
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Tribute Band Schedule: (3rd Street Stage) Shows are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 p.m. to midnight. There will be a total of three sets, each starting after the top-of-the-hour Viva Vision shows.

Original KISS Army - KISS tribute - June 8-12 (www.thekissarmytribute.com)

Draw The Line - Aerosmith tribute - June 15-19 (www.drawtheline.net)

Desperado - Eagles tribute - June 22-26 (www.desperadolive.com)

Highway to Hell - AC/DC tribute - June 29-30, July 1-2 and July 4 (www.ac-dctribute.com)

Platinum Rockstars - Classic Rock Tribute band emulating Foreigner, Boston, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin - July 6-10 (www.platinumrockstars.com)

Rockin' the Paradise - Styx tribute - July 13-17 (www.thestyxtribute.com)

Heart Alive - Heart tribute - July 27-31 (www.heartaliverocks.com)

Wild Heart - Fleetwood Mac tribute - August 3-7 (www.wildheartrocks.com)

Escape - Journey tribute - August 17-21 (www.keytarmusic.com/escape.htm)

Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones tribute - August 24-28 (www.rollingstoneshow.com)
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"Fremont Street Fever" Schedule: (1st Street Stage)

Thursdays through Mondays at 9:15 p.m., 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Produced by Face Productions, this original production will be a 35-minute show full of high energy singing and dancing to the most popular disco songs of the '70s.

Viva Vision Schedule:
From 8:30 p.m. through midnight on weekdays and 8:30 p.m. through 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays

8:30 p.m. - "Don McLean's American Pie"
9:00 p.m. - "The Doors - Strange Days in Vegas"
10:00 p.m. - "A Tribute to Queen"
11:00 p.m. - "KISS Over Vegas"
Midnight - "Signs of Life by John Van Hamersveld" (Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays) or "George Thorogood's Bad To The Bone" (Mondays, Wednesdays)
1 a.m. (Fridays & Saturdays only) - "George Thorogood's Bad To The Bone"
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For complete information on the lineup of headline concerts and nightly entertainment throughout the summer, visit www.vegasexperience.com to plan an experience that will take you back to the '70s.

"Summer of the '70s" is sponsored by Corona Extra, Corona Light, Cruzan Rum, Modelo especial, Sauza Tequila Hornitos and Stoli Vodka. There will be beer and liquor drink specials available at all outdoor bars on Fremont Street Experience every night throughout the summer.

Source: Fremont Street Experience Press Release.