DbcultAccessing Vault...
4.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Fisherman's Luck remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like they were filmed in someone’s backyard about a hundred years ago, you might get a kick out of this. It’s for the folks who enjoy silent-era slapstick and don't mind a bit of graininess. If you need a tight plot or modern pacing, you are going to hate this and probably turn it off in three minutes.
Honestly, Fisherman's Luck is just a bunch of people being clumsy near water. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in One Week, though it definitely lacks that same level of polish.
The whole thing is basically an excuse to watch Harry Bailey and John Foster struggle with fishing rods. There’s a scene where they’re trying to set up their gear, and I swear, it goes on for about 40 seconds too long. You can actually see them fighting the props.
The director clearly decided that if one person falls in the water, it’s a mistake, but if two people fall in, it’s cinema. I counted at least four times someone loses their balance. It starts to feel like a dance, if the dance was performed by people who’ve never seen a lake before.
It’s not trying to say anything deep about humanity. It’s not trying to win an award. It’s just two guys being idiots with a net. And you know what? That’s kind of refreshing.
There is a weird tension in the middle where they start arguing over a lunch basket. It’s not written well, but the way they shove each other is strangely aggressive for a lighthearted comedy. It’s like they stopped acting and just got annoyed for real.
It’s definitely not as sharp as Outwitting the Hun, but it has that same dusty charm. You can feel the heat coming off the film stock. Or maybe that's just the glare from the water.
Anyway, I didn't learn anything. My life hasn't changed. But I did have a smile on my face for about ten minutes of it. Maybe that's enough. 🎣
