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

Tony Rountree, who runs the big poker game, is played by James Toback, who wrote the 1974 film 'The Gambler.'

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Goofs

During the Fairgrounds Racetrack scene prior to the start of the horse race, the track announcer says "The trotters are now in the hand of the starter, it's post time." This would be appropriate prior to the start of a trotting harness race, not a thoroughbred turf race which is depicted as happening live on the track.

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Quotes

Curtis: [Yelling, drunk] Woodford!
Gerry: [Yelling, drunk] Woodford!

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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

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Ryan Reynolds Performances (2018)

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Soundtracks

Leave Her Alone
Written and Performed by Junior Kimbrough
Courtesy of Fat Possum Records
Administered by Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.

User Reviews

Strong Performances From Mendelsohn & Reynoilds Carry This Gambling Flick

Two powerful performances from Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds carry this gritty gambling flick. Mendelsohn is pitch perfect as Gerry, a lying and conniving compulsive gambler. Reynolds is also excellent as Curtis, a free-wheeling and gregarious guy, who meets and befriends Gerry at a poker room, in a Dubuque, Iowa casino.

They decide they will travel together down the Mississippi on a gambling odyssey, with the ultimate goal of playing in a high stakes poker game, in New Orleans. At times, the talented filmmaker duo of Ana Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson, Sugar) capture the tone of the gambling experience perfectly, while towards the end of the movie it enters fantasyland to some degree, in my opinion. There's even illustrations of the very dark masochistic tendencies that can be shown by a gambler, which reminded me of the classic 1974 film "The Gambler".

All in all, although this movie may appeal to only a certain slice of viewers, I found it intriguing enough to maintain my interest throughout, and wonder how it would all turn out, led, as mentioned by two superior portrayals by Mendelsohn and Reynolds.

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