Mississippi Grind (2015)

Down on his luck and facing financial hardship, Gerry teams up with younger charismatic poker player, Curtis, in an attempt to change his luck. The two set off on a road trip through the South with visions of winning back what's been lost.

Directors:

Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Writers:

Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Stars:

Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Yvonne Landry

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Gerry
Yvonne Landry	...	Louise
Anthony Howard	...	Larry
Ryan Reynolds	...	Curtis
Jayson Warner Smith	...	Clifford
Kerry Cahill	...	Riverboat Waitress
Jane McNeill	...	'Bloody Mary' Kate
Jason Shaffette	...	Chuck Poker Dealer
P.J. Marshall	...	Dale
Stephanie Honoré	...	Denise
Teri Wyble	...	Home Buying Wife
Hunter Burke	...	Home Buying Husband
Randy Austin	...	Big Winner
Jared Bankens	...	Skinny Thug
Alfre Woodard	...	Sam

Storyline

Down on his luck and facing financial hardship, Gerry teams up with a younger, charismatic poker player named Curtis in an attempt to change his luck. The two set off on a road trip through the South with visions of winning back what has been lost.

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Plot Keywords:

road trip | bar | mugging | stabbed in the stomach | new orleans louisiana | 

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Taglines:

We can't lose.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Curtis and Gerry are driving to Memphis and Gerry asks Curtis his age Curtis says he's 39 but Gerry doesn't believe him and tells him he's 35. Curtis admits to lying and says "I am 35." But in real life (Ryan Reynolds) playing the character of Curtis is in fact 39.

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Goofs

The sub-titles to the Netflix version of this film mistakenly credit Jack Fessenden with composing Satie's "Gymnopedie Number 1"

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Quotes

Cherry: A man alone is a half a man.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, when the soundtrack information is rolling, the first 4 tells of Joe Navarro's 200 poker tells are played.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Riding With Willie
Written and Performed by Marshall Chapman

User Reviews

The Journey is the Destination

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a 2015 straight drama film that is more fun to watch than Mississippi Grind. I was really surprised at just how intelligent this film was while also being extremely entertaining. The premise and what I had seen from the marketing seemed to push the film in more of a 'Runner Runner' direction with it's tone and themes, but Mississippi Grind is much more than that. Not only is it great to watch Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn act alongside each other, but there's a surprising amount of depth to the story and it's characters that puts it up there as one of the best films of the year.

Focusing on Gerry, played by Mendelsohn, having a mid-life crisis as he's in major debt, divorced, and has a serious gambling problem. Enter Curtis, played by Reynolds, who adds excitement and 'luck' to Gerry's gambling life. The two are both very much lost in their own issues and their meeting feels more natural than it probably should. The strengths of the relationship and interesting dynamic ultimately goes to the two actor's performances. While Reynold's character is a happy go lucky guy on the outside, Reynolds adds so much more to him underneath. Same goes for Gerry, who should be an unlikable character considering he's in debt through self doing and even tries to steal money from his ex- wife, Mendelsohn grounds the character and the film to a perfect level.

Both the journey men go on various missions in hope of entering into a large buy in tournament in New Orleans, but you forget about that because you're more invested with what's going on outside of the casinos with these guys. The casinos add life to the film when it needs it and the poignant undertone of the story takes over at just the right time. It is a straight drama, but it's also very re- watchable just from the performances side of this film alone. To me, Mississippi Grind is one of the best directed films of the year. The story beats happen at just the right time giving it more depth than it probably deserves.

+Great lead performances

+Poignant script hits the beats at just the right time

+Entertaining and re-watchable

8.6/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mississippi Grind

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,434, 27 September 2015

Gross USA:

$130,541

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$422,746

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sycamore Pictures, Electric City Entertainment, Gowanus Projections

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1