The Grand (2007)

Director:

Zak Penn

Writers (WGA):

Zak Penn (written by) &
Matt Bierman (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy about the fine art of losing

Plot:

An improvisational comedy using a handful of actors playing characters competing in an actual poker tournament. |

Plot Keywords:

Improvisational Comedy | Poker | Poker Tournament | Casino | Mockumentary

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	One Eyed Jack Faro
David Cross	...	Larry Schwartzman
Dennis Farina	...	LBJ 'Deuce' Fairbanks
Cheryl Hines	...	Lainie Schwartzman
Richard Kind	...	Andy Andrews
Chris Parnell	...	Harold Melvin
Werner Herzog	...	The German
Jason Alexander	...	Dr. Yakov Achmed
Ray Romano	...	Fred Marsh
Mike Epps	...	Reggie Marshall
Judy Greer	...	Sharon Andrews
Gabe Kaplan	...	Seth Schwartzman
Michael Karnow	...	Mike Werbe
Michael McKean	...	Steve Lavisch
Julie Claire	...	Dr. Jamie Sellers
Barry Corbin	...	Jimminy 'Lucky' Faro
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Toni
Estelle Harris	...	Ruth Melvin
Andrew Hill Newman	...	Russell Kalenich - The Dealer
Andrea Savage	...	Renee Jensen
Phil Gordon	...	Himself
Robert Thompson	...	Himself - Tournament Director
Andy Bellin	...	Poker Pro
Doyle Brunson	...	Poker Pro
Antonio Esfandiari	...	Poker Pro
Phil Hellmuth Jr.	...	Poker Pro
Phil Laak	...	Poker Pro
Daniel Negreanu	...	Poker Pro
Hank Azaria	...	Mike 'The Bike' Heslov
Tom Hodges	...	Tim 'Tiny Wonders' Woolrich
David Pressman	...	Melville 'Murph Murph' Murphy
Brett Ratner	...	'Sob Story' Barry Blaustein
Avi Arad	...	Abdul Shavit
K.D. Aubert	...	Julie the Waitress
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	German's Bodyguard
Lance Stockton	...	German's Bodyguard
Tim Mikulecky	...	Bitch Slapped Man (as Tim Mikuletky)
Trula M. Marcus	...	Front Desk Clerk (as Trula Marcus)
Cynthia Petrello	...	Waitress at Vic & Anthony's
Linda Button	...	Jack's Secretary
Rusty Meyers	...	Long Island Poker Player
Richard Brodie	...	Himself
Peter O'Meara	...	Dave Esme
Tara G. Wise	...	Lainie's Daughter Ellen
Catherine Rose Young	...	Lainie's Daughter Catherine
Alec Holden	...	Little Larry
Hailey McCann	...	Little Lainie
Orly Shani	...	Lavisch's Assistant
Naomi Fabe	...	Lavisch's Assistant
Errol Guidry II	...	Cajun Larry
Jeff Bowler	...	Poker Player
Sharon Fann	...	Dealer at TV Tournament
Marc Chaiet	...	Hotel Guest (as Marc J.Chaiet)
Garrett McKechnie	...	Hotel Guest (as Garret Mckechnie)
Tilman J. Fertitta	...	Himself
Munchkin the Rabbit	...	Himself
Sean Patrick Flaherty	...	Sean Marsh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bonnie Joy Ashley	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Harvey Blanc	...	Bell Desk Captain (uncredited)
Ashley Bowler	...	Child in Vic and Anthony's (uncredited)
Barry Brandt	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Kelly Catey	...	Lavicsh's Assistant (uncredited)
Paul Edney	...	Poker Tournament Pit Boss (uncredited)
John Embry	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Steve Grabowsky	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Alistair Herz	...	Police Offier #1 (uncredited)
Kelly R. Kleinman	...	Leroy Kelly (uncredited)
Melinda Kramer	...	Poker Dealer (uncredited)
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Wesley Okerson	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Michael A. Rizza	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Brahm Taylor	...	Rex Copeland (uncredited)
Dave Yekell	...	Poker Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Zak Penn

Writing credits (WGA)
Zak Penn		(written by) &
Matt Bierman		(written by)

Produced by
Lance Bass	....	co-executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Matt Bierman	....	executive producer
Jeff Bowler	....	producer
Steven Bowler	....	associate producer: Insomnia Media Group
Ross M. Dinerstein	....	producer
Kirkwood Drew	....	executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Steve Grabowsky	....	associate producer: Insomnia Media Group (as Steven K. Grabowsky)
Will Griffin	....	co-executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Ayman Kandeel	....	executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Ziggy Kormandel	....	co-executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Gary Marcus	....	producer
Ari Palitz	....	executive producer
Zak Penn	....	producer
Bret Saxon	....	producer
Gene Scher	....	executive producer
Bobby Schwartz	....	producer
Lance Stockton	....	co-producer
Jordan Udko	....	executive producer: Insomnia Media Group
Steven Zellers	....	co-executive producer: Insomnia Media Group

Original Music by
Stephen Endelman

Cinematography by
Anthony Hardwick		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Abby Schwarzwalder

Casting by
Richard Pagano		(as Rick Pagano)

Production Design by
Shepherd Frankel

Set Decoration by
Amy Lee Wheeler		(as Amy Wheeler)

Costume Design by
Valerie Laven-Cooper

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	key hair stylist
Lori Ann Baker	....	additional hair stylist (as Lori Baker)
Camille Berglund-Staunton	....	additional hair stylist
Diana Brown	....	key makeup artist
Tanya Cookingham	....	additional makeup artist
Mary Guerrero	....	key hair stylist
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup department head (as Deborah Larsen)
Gail Rowell-Ryan	....	hair department head (as Gail Ryan)
Natasha Skorzanka	....	makeup intern (as Natasha Sworzanka)
Dallas Smith	....	makeup intern

Production Management
Joanne Beckett	....	executive in charge of production: Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
Stephen Fromkin	....	post-production supervisor
Brent Morris	....	unit production manager
Sylke Neal-Finnegan	....	executive in charge of production: Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Judd	....	additional second second assistant director
Jason Z. Kemp	....	second second assistant director (as Jason Kemp)
Gary Marcus	....	first assistant director
Tyler Romary	....	second assistant director
Scott Rorie	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Chad Axman	....	swing gang (as Chad Axeman)
Roger Dertinger	....	property master
Sarah Geller	....	on-set dresser
Seth Goulden	....	leadman
Calla Klessig	....	art department assistant
Paul Kurdys	....	assistant prop master
Carl Mazaros	....	additional assistant prop master (as Carl Maznos)

Sound Department
Steven Avila	....	sound effects editor
Trip Brock	....	supervising sound editor
Adam De Coster	....	foley artist (as Adam Decoster)
Kyle Fox	....	sound utility
Michael J. Fox	....	adr supervisor (as Michael Fox)
Tom Fox	....	boom operator
Peter D. Lago	....	sound effects editor (as Peter Lago)
Maggie Malyn	....	post sound coordinator
Harrison D. Marsh	....	production sound mixer (as Duke Marsh)
Greg Mauer	....	foley mixer
Chris McDonough	....	foley artist (as Chris Mcdonough)
Matthew Nicolay	....	additional sound mixer
Rick Owens	....	foley artist
Paige Pollack	....	foley artist (as Paige Pollock)
Eric Reuveni	....	foley mixer
Mark A. Rozett	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mark Rozett)
Kelly Vandever	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacey A. Washer	....	additional boom operator
Ben Whitver	....	foley editor
Brian S.M. Wroth	....	dialogue editor (as Brian Miller)

Visual Effects by
Harold De Jesus	....	creative liaison: inMotion Studios (as Harold Dejesus)
Harold De Jesus	....	main title designer
Dennis Harold	....	animator: inMotion Studios
Christopher Jones	....	CG title designer
Tess Kelly	....	CG title designer
Brian Oakes	....	additional graphics
Marcel Valcarce	....	digital effects supervisor: inMotion Studios

Stunts
Tim Mikulecky	....	stunt coordinator (as Tim Mikuletky)
Ty Williams	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlos Ascensio	....	grip
Sylvain D'Hautcourt	....	additional camera operator
Mette Dorman	....	lighting technician
Ron Elliott	....	second assistant camera
Erik Emerson	....	additional first assistant camera (as Eric Emerson)
Coby Garfield	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Anthony J. Gonzalez	....	best boy grip (as Anthony Gonzalez)
Michael D. Gonzalez	....	grip (as Michael Gonzalez)
Joe Guzman	....	dolly grip
Samuel Hamilton	....	grip (as Sam Hamilton)
Tyson Helsley	....	lighting technician
Rebecca M. Heunermund-Brenneman	....	still photographer (as Rebecca Brenneman)
Brian Holgate	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Roman Jakobi	....	chief lighting technician
Ryo Kinno	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Alex Klabukov	....	key grip
Patrick Kligel	....	jib operator
Ian McCausland	....	provider: cameras & lenses, Abel Cine Tech/LA
BJ McDonnell	....	camera operator
BJ McDonnell	....	steadicam operator
Robert Paglliaro	....	additional camera operator (as Robert Pagliaro)
Andres L. Porras	....	camera operator
David Sheetz	....	lighting technician (as David Sheets)
Martin Signore	....	video assist operator
Owen A. Smith	....	camera operator
Joshua Stern	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Josh Stern)
Joshua Stern	....	gaffer: second unit
Sean Sutphin	....	additional second assistant camera
Steve Tacon	....	digital imaging technician
Chris Tonkovich	....	lighting technician (as Chris Tonkavich)
Nicholas Tredway	....	grip
Rick Tschudin	....	additional first assistant camera
John Waldo	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Catherine Wokasch	....	lighting technician

Casting Department
Russell Boast	....	casting associate
Jorina King	....	extras casting: Wild Streak Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kevin Ian Ackerman	....	set costumer
Cristina Acosta	....	costume intern
Sarah Rose Meyer	....	costume intern
Heather Sladinski	....	costume supervisor
Selby Van Horne	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Morgan Gross	....	editorial intern
Mark W. Jacobs	....	on-line editor (as Mark Jacobs)
Randy Magalski	....	on-line editor
John Roberts	....	assistant editor
Keith Shaw	....	colorist
Heidi Tebo	....	project manager: The Post Group

Music Department
Tom Brissette	....	music mixer
Tom Brissette	....	music recordist
Stephen Endelman	....	music conductor
Stephen Endelman	....	music orchestrator
Stephen Endelman	....	musician: keyboards
Kiersten Leigh Johnson	....	music assistant (as Kiersten Johnson)
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Art Labriola	....	additional arrangements
Art Labriola	....	musician: winds and keyboards programming
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music supervisor
Chris Tedesco	....	musician: trumpet and contractor
Tyler Westen	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Corey Askins	....	transportation captain
Steve Blenkhorn	....	driver (as Steve Blinkhorn)
Carl Dante	....	driver
Steven Docherty	....	driver (as Steve Docherty)
Greg Gaulrapp	....	driver
Eli Lozano	....	driver
Guy Michaels	....	driver
Michael F. Pierre	....	driver (as Mike Pierre)
Ryan Vanholden	....	driver
Mike Volpe	....	driver

Other crew
Herach Arzounian	....	set medic (as Herach Arzounian R.N.)
Kevin Bowe	....	production accountant
Barry Brandt	....	stand-in (as Barry Brant)
Marc Yale Burdick	....	set doctor
Kelly Catey	....	stand-in
Michael Chamoy	....	assistant: Zak Penn
Sharon Cingle	....	script supervisor
Jennifer Clark	....	post-production accountant
Grant Cross	....	set production assistant (as Grant A. Cross)
Craig Efros	....	key set production assistant
Lloyd Ellis	....	location scout
Naomi Fabe	....	set intern
Andy Farkasae	....	assistant craft service
Sonia Farrell	....	assistant: Woody Harrelson
Nora L. Ferris	....	insurance: Acordia of California (as Nora Ferris Rohan)
Alexis Garcia	....	legal services: Sheppard Mullin Richter Hampton, LLP
Jarrett Golding	....	intern: Eleven Eleven Films
Chris Haecker	....	craft service
J. Elizabeth Ingram	....	production coordinator
Candice Lee	....	production office intern
Chris Mellor	....	technician: poker table
Tod Mercy	....	chief executive liaison: Scotland
Miescha Montoya	....	paymaster
Wendy Muramoto	....	payroll services
Jenny Napier	....	assistant: Eleven Eleven Films
Andrew Hill Newman	....	technical advisor: poker
Susan Nickerson	....	research
Tony Niknejadi	....	production secretary
Lani Osgood	....	insurance: Acordia of California
Luke Pearsall	....	set production assistant
Tara Powell	....	assistant accountant
Nicholas Savalas	....	location consultant
Orly Shani	....	set intern
Martin Signore	....	consultant: fantasy football
Gregory Steiner	....	set production assistant
Joice Stewart	....	payroll clerk (as Joice Lee Stewart)
Rosana Tomas	....	travel coordinator
Steve Webb	....	animal provider: LIFES Safari
Duck Grossberg	....	data manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Ron Aller	....	special thanks
Jack Bergan	....	special thanks
Linda Button	....	special thanks
Jim Delorto	....	special thanks
Tilman J. Fertitta	....	special thanks: The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino & Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
Scotty Jones	....	special thanks
Michelle Lorenzo	....	special thanks: Panorama Towers
Matthew Mancour	....	special thanks: Nevada Film Office
Eric Morris	....	special thanks: Bluff Magazine
Edie Myers	....	special thanks: Southwest Airlines
Mike Nolan	....	special thanks
Alexander Penn	....	special thanks (as Alexander)
Logan Penn	....	special thanks
Sophia Penn	....	special thanks (as Sophia)
Jason Sloane	....	special thanks
Tom Strickler	....	special thanks
Graham Taylor	....	special thanks
Eddie Urquiza	....	special thanks
Michele Weiss	....	special thanks
Greg Woodhouse	....	acknowledgment: tournament poker table provided by
Joe Woody	....	special thanks
Lynn M. Zook	....	special thanks: "As We Knew It" (as Lynn Zook)

Production Companies

• Insomnia Media Group (presents)
• Eleven Eleven Films (in association with)
• IMG Film 7

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Empire (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Los Banditos Films (2010) (Germany) (video)
• Los Banditos Films (2011) (UK) (all media)

Special Effects

• inMotion Studios (graphics and visual effects)

Other Companies

• Abel Cine Tech  cameras and lenses provided by: Panasonic Varicam (as Abel Cine Tech/LA)
• Acordia of California  insurance
• Adidas  special thanks (as Addidas)
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring: AHA 01250
• Axium Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Axium Entertainment)
• Beyond Baroque  special thanks
• Bluff Magazine  special thanks
• Bravado International  courtesy of: Red Hot Chili Peppers merchandise (as Bravado International Group Merchandising Services, Inc.)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dolly (as Chapman Leonard)
• Cinelease  grip and electric equipment
• Coffee Sound  walkie talkies
• Dell Computers  special thanks
• Endeavor Agency  secured financing
• Fremont Street Experience  special thanks
• G&G Theatrical  additional lighting
• Golden Nugget Casino  special thanks (as The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino)
• Hollywood Script Research  clearances
• Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters  acknowledgment (as International Brotherhood of Teamsters)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Jason's Deli  special thanks
• Jib Tek  jib supply (as Jibtek)
• LIFES Safari  animals provided by
• Landry's Restaurants Inc.  special thanks
• Luka  additional lighting (as Luka Lighting)
• Mario's Catering  special thanks
• Media Distributors  tape stock
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Monkeyland Audio  post-production sound services
• Monkeyland Audio  sound re-recording
• Myrick Video  special thanks (as Myrick Video Services)
• Nevada Film Office  special thanks
• Nike  special thanks
• Panorama Towers  special thanks
• Post Group, The  high-definition post-production services
• Propaganda  special thanks (as Propaganda Product Placement)
• Puma  special thanks
• Ray-Ban  special thanks (as Rayban)
• Savage Design Group  graphic design
• Sessions Payroll Management  payroll: background players (as Sessions)
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton  legal services (as Sheppard Mullin Richter Hampton, LLP)
• Southwest Airlines  special thanks: promotional consideration provided by
• Special Operations Associates  security
• Timberland  special thanks
• UPP Entertainment Marketing  special thanks
• University of Nevada Las Vegas  property: Original Work (as the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas Nevada)
• V.E.R.  editorial rentals (as VER)
• Wells Fargo Bank  banking services (as Wells Fargo)
• Wild Streak Talent  extras casting (as Wild Streak Casting)
• Wolf Seeberg Video  video assist equipment (as Wolf Seeberg)
• Zion Rootswear  courtesy of: Willie Nelson merchandise

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some drug content

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino - 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Insomnia Media Group

Trivia:

The script was barely 29 pages long. Zak Penn had the actors improvise.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Commentator Phil Godon calls a hand King-Jack of clubs, but the display shows it as King of Spades and Jack of Clubs.

Quotes:

Billionaire Steve Lavisch:[gesturing to an architectural model of a casino hotel] Guess how many rooms.
One Eyed Jack Faro:How many . . .
Billionaire Steve Lavisch:Wild guess. How many rooms?
One Eyed Jack Faro:Three thousand?
Billionaire Steve Lavisch:I knew you'd be wrong.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 22 March 2008" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Wisdom

Surprisingly I enjoyed this film

I have to say I really enjoyed this film. I saw it at Tribeca last month and to be honest I didn't have high expectations. I personally don't like most of the movies the writer/director (Zak Penn) has written of late (mostly big action comic book movies), but this is not that kind of film.

What honestly attracted me to this film was that it's an improv style film starring one of my favorite SNL people ever, Chris Parnell. He doesn't disappoint. He plays a lonely poker player who has some kind of mental problem where he's brutally honest and very, very skilled in math (which makes him a great player). Chris steals every scene he's in, which aren't enough if you ask me, but I'm biased so take that with a grain of salt.

The other actors hold their own in their respective roles all working to try and win a big tournament for 10 million dollars. I don't know enough about poker to know if it's at all accurate, but the good thing is the film doesn't really focus on actual poker all that often.

If you like the films of Christopher Guest (which I do), then I think you'll like this film as well.