‘Lucky’ is a love letter to Stanton, and his to fans

“Harry Dean Stanton Is Lucky,” announces the trailer of the new film by John Carroll Lynch. That sentence means more than it sounds.

Yes, Stanton, the wonderful actor with that indelible hollow-cheeked, weather-beaten look who died this month at 91, plays a man called Lucky. Yes, the film is called “Lucky.” But what the phrase really means is that “Lucky Is Harry Dean Stanton,” in every possible way. The character was written for Stanton, and virtually every scene references his own life in some way. The director himself has called it a love letter to the actor.

In any case, we’re the lucky ones. Stanton shines throughout, and it’s a poignant and fitting sendoff for an actor who clearly still had much to give. In fact, maybe “Lucky” is really Stanton’s own love letter to his fans.

Lucky lives a low-maintenance life. He has few earthly ties. He lives in a threadbare home with the few things he needs.

This is a man who clings to habit. Each morning he awakes to the same music, and does the same five yoga exercises in his white underwear. He makes the same coffee and walks over to the same diner.

Lucky’s day continues with his favorite TV game shows, a stop at the local grocery for milk, crossword puzzles, and later, after many cigarettes, a drink at the local bar, where he catches up with the same daily cast of characters.

And the movie moseys along like this, vignette by vignette. What plot there is, centers around Lucky’s growing realization that he is, in fact, mortal. A scary fall leads him to his doctor who finds all in order, and doesn’t see much point in Lucky quitting smoking at his age.

Stanton’s presence is constant, and certainly overshadows any minor flaws.