Mississippi Grind (2015)

As Good As It Gets

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Ben Mendelsohn steals this buddy movie about a pair of sad sack 'grinders' (a term for people who gamble for a living) who befriend each other after meeting across a poker table. Reynolds has made a solid career playing fast talking cocky charmers but placed in a supporting role amidst this cast he brings a depth and complexity to his character that is original and thoughtful. This is about people who are doing the best they can trying to manage in a world that is unfair, uneventful and especially unforgiving to people who choose to live in a world constantly surrounded with bad choices. They are unexceptional well-intentioned people who long ago abandoned any fatal optimism for the future but still need to make their way within the limited confines of what they know and where they find themselves. It is a grim, lonely and stark existence which makes for an engrossing film.

While "Mississippi Grind" may seem like a generic gambling movie that builds up to some final Vegas showdown - and at times it seems so - it's more of a road trip movie. It's about little moments here and there, and the drama doesn't come from the gambling. It comes from the characters and subtle reveals about them. It's a movie about those little things that make us human, most of all involving people who aren't bad people in a sense, but live a very unfulfilling life, having troubles to actually change their lives (or not even wanting a change) but still having some child-like hope. I challenge you to not see yourself, or even a piece of yourself in some of these characters. Many people will not like the fact that there really isn't a point to all of this. There isn't a character arc where one person overcomes everything and learns all of the life's hard lessons. There isn't a moment where you totally understand a character and all that he/she is about. There is an end, but it isn't a closure. And while that did bother me too to some extent, perhaps that was the point.Ryan Reynolds and (especially) Ben Mendelsohn are very good. Both have a sense of realness to them, and their chemistry is visible. In fact, there are no poor performances in this movie. Supporting actors are all very good, so thumbs up for them. Yvonne Landry, Kerry Cahill, and Stephanie Honoré come to mind, but everyone involved was very good. Writer/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck have to mentioned as well, good work.I have to compliment the soundtrack. There's a lot of good old "real" music to this film, like a road movie should have. It's used just right, not cynically trying to imitate a road movie soundtrack, but actually being a good road movie soundtrack. Most of the music is even played at bars.To summarize: "Mississippi Grind" doesn't seem to have a larger scheme in the traditional sense, but it's a well-acted, well-written and subtly directed little drama. Much like a road trip itself, where little things here and there make you think and feel something, the drama follows suit in a similar fashion. Don't expect a tight, compelling story, force-fed character motivations or even a powerful closure, and you might just enjoy it. I did, and I'm glad these kind of movies are still made.

Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) and Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) are professional card players and degenerate gambling addicts. They begin a friendship over a card table and in a bar. Curtis is looking to visit Peru. Gerry has left behind his family. The two gamblers go on a meandering journey of addiction.Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds are great actors. Mendelsohn is especially great in this one. The plot does need a device to drive it. Without it, this is just a series of scenes strung together, and there are some interesting scenes. I like Analeigh Tipton doing her magic tricks. I like Gerry stealing money from his ex-wife. The gambling doesn't hold much interest without a ticking money counter. Even with a win, these two will eventually lose again. That is the basic flaw. Even the ending is not the final ending. There is no real climax.

The Movie Grinds and Grinds its way to the Payoff. Whether it Truly is a Payoff is up for Debate. Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn are Two Strangers that Meet and it's "Love at first sight", the first of many Overwritten and Overplayed Chops that the Film introduces to introduce Audiences to its Indie Bona Fides.Restraining in its Scenes of a Never Climaxing Slice of Life Character Study, the Script and Dialog are Never as Clever as it Thinks it is with Awkward "Tarantino" Pop Culture Droppings that Feel Inserted. For Example, the "...tell me something about St. Louis...", and the "...are from Memphis" Clunkers. "Don't forget Justin Timberlake!" Sheesh.The Acting from Everyone is Good and the Soundtrack could only be Better if the Songs Played Out Longer, because it is Truly the Highlight. The Look of the Movie is Smooth and Captures Underbelly quite well. The Story about Two Gamblers, one a nothing to lose "Rambler "and the other an already lost everything "Loser", is OK. But...Overall it's a Letdown and has No Edge to it, almost exclusively from a very Dull and Pretentious Wordfest that Cribs its Betters and is Frankly so Often Flat that it can Cause a Cringe. The Film isn't a complete Failure with its Better Elements keeping the Weaker parts in the Game. Worth a Watch for Patient and Tolerant Viewers with Low Expectations.