The Grand (2007)

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

Director:

Zak Penn

Writers:

Zak Penn, Matt Bierman

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

poker tournament | improvisational comedy | poker | rehab | poker player | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about the fine art of losing

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

With the exception of the character conversations away from the game, the entire final table scene was unscripted. Co-Writer and Director Zak Penn chose to play the entire final table for real, meaning that they did not know in advance which of the characters would win, and thus how the movie would end. Because of Ray Romano's shooting schedule, the scene between Lainie (Cheryl Hines) and Fred (Ray Romano) had to be filmed before the final table had been played. Two different scenes were shot to allow for Lainie to either win or lose. The alternative scene is included on the DVD.

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Goofs

(at around 39 mins) when "The German" claims to have played Russian roulette with slave traders, the picture clearly shows him holding a pistol with a magazine, and not a revolver.

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Quotes

Mike Werbe: That's the end of the rainbow for this Cinderella story.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Drillbit Taylor/The Hammer/Sleepwalking/The Grand/Under the Same Moon (2008)

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Soundtracks

Coliseum
Written by Phil Garrod, Reed Hays, Scott Schreer (as Scott P. Schreer)
Performed by Phil Garrod, Reed Hays, Scott Schreer (as Scott P. Schreer)
Music Provided by www.freeplaymusic.com

User Reviews

... we don't need the scallop potatoes ...

I really love this movie ... some of the set pieces are exquisitely timed and are truly very funny, Woody Harrelson is very good throughout and holds everything together well, Chris Parnell is at times hilarious, Gale Kaplan and Werner Herzog put in two brilliant top drawer comic cameos, and even Phil Gordon manages a good deadpan performance (much, much better than his poker?). There are plenty of other astutely drawn characters like Barry 'Sob Story', the 'Bust You Crew' and, need I say, Fred, Andy, Larry, Lainie and all the main characters are excellent.

What story lines there are may be a bit obvious, but they do effectively drive the comedy right through to the epilogue and outtakes - I mean, who criticises the plot of Airplane? Story is not what The Grand is about, it is about laughing at poker, people and poker people.

If you are a poker fan you should love this movie ... I am, so I can't comment if not ... perhaps you won't find it funny at all.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Grand

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$5,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,334, 23 March 2008

Gross USA:

$115,879

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$115,879

Company Credits

Production Co:

Insomnia Media Group, Eleven Eleven Films, IMG Film 7

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1