Mississippi Grind might not be the greatest movie you will ever watch and the story won’t blow you away, but it is captivating though, thanks to some strong performances by its leads.
Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) is a down-on-his-luck gambler that owes a lot of cash to a lot of people but he just can’t stay away from the tables. It’s at one of these tables over a game of Poker where he encounters Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) for the first time, and is immediately drawn to the charismatic guy who seems to have lady luck on his side.The two eventually get to talking and Gerry hatches a plan for them to embark on a road trip down south, hitting all the gambling spots along the way – combining their skills to turn Gerry’s cash into a small fortune and solving his debt issues.
Now when I say Mississippi Grind is not the greatest movie, I’m not saying that it isn’t good. The story could have been better for sure but Mendelsohn and Reynolds put on performances that turn an OK script into a really watchable movie. Some might not think that Reynolds is the obvious choice for the more serious roles but I actually think that this was one of his best performances yet. Mendelsohn on the other hand is great as Gerry who is hooked on gambling thanks to the thrills that come with it. The support cast are solid as well but most of the screen time gets taken up by Reynolds and Mendelsohn and the chemistry they share is great.
Writer/director duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck capture the emotion and mood of this Southern soaked tale really well, never losing control, and building suspense expertly. The pacing is never rushed over the movie’s three acts and the fantastic soundtrack really helps to sell that feeling of gambling down the Mississippi River on an old steam boat. Overall Mississippi Grind is a safe bet, with some great performances that anyone can enjoy.
Also starring Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton and Alfre Woodard, Mississippi Grind is available on DVD now.
Last Updated: May 5, 2016
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