[yasr_overall_rating]
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.
There’s something about the classic gambling film that makes it difficult to quit while you’re ahead. The fast pace, sharp dialogue and constant action are always a treat, but it’s one that we haven’t seen much in theaters lately. Thankfully, the new comedy-drama “Mississippi Grind” is coming to theaters and on-demand, and early reviews make it look like a flick worth betting on.
The movie follows the adventures and misfortunes of Gerry (masterfully played by Emmy nominee Ben Mendelsohn), a down-on-his-luck gambling addict who resembles something halfway between Nicolas Cage in “Leaving Las Vegas” and Edward Norton in “Rounders.” The man has messed up so many times and been down so much he’s given up on even attempting to fight against the current as he continues his downward spiral. This is a particularly great role for Mendelsohn who recently finished a terrific turn as prodigal son Danny Rayburn in the Netflix original series, “Bloodlines.”
Eventually, Gerry runs into the ever-charming, mysterious benefactor Curtis (a terrific turn by Ryan Reynolds) and the two team up on a raucous road trip through every single watering hole, casino, racetrack, pool hall and card game between them and New Orleans, where they’re looking to buy into a big-time poker game. Along the way, the duo meets a terrific cast of supporting characters including strong performances by Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton and Alfre Woodard.
Ryan Reynolds has been riding a newfound wave of popularity thanks to the positive fan reaction to the two trailers for the upcoming “Deadpool” feature film. Still, it’s a nice change of pace to see the leading man with a lower budget and in a more down-to-earth role. Reynolds feels more committed and believable, and the audience has a chance to identify with a character rather than a larger-than-life stereotype, with some critics calling his performance as Curtis “a career highlight.”
One of the most fun things about “Mississippi Grind” is how it runs the entire gamut of gambling options. Most gambling movies tend to focus on just one game, like blackjack or poker so it was a lot of fun to see more than just the usual card games and include events like horse and dog racing.
When was the last time a movie took you to the dog track? They cover so many different styles of games that you might need a reference guide to keep up with what’s going on in the film. This gaming platform is a good place to start, as it provides users with the ability to play most of the games for free and includes explanations of each of them. That way, you can experience what the characters are going through and know what the hell you’re talking about if you discuss “Mississippi Grind” with friends. Overall though, even those unacquainted with the casino life will find plenty to enjoy with a terrific blues soundtrack and enough of the classics to keep you comfortable.
The directing duo of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden are well known for their hard-hitting indie films like “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” and “Half Nelson,” but this movie thankfully sees the duo dabbling with lighter fare. The picture does a great job of balancing itself between thoughtful drama and ribald comedy as the two hop from table to table and is sure to inspire many a road trip in the near future.
A24 Films and DirecTV On Demand have teamed up to give fans a chance to buy in on the upcoming comedy-drama before it hits theaters later this fall. This is a fun genre film with a surprising amount of heart that hearkens back to the glory days of the 1970s American obsession with the gambling road adventure.
“Mississippi Grind” opens in theaters September 25th and is available now on DirecTV
