Mississippi Grind: Movie Review

The writing/directing team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (“Half Nelson”, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story”) are back with their new gambling drama “Mississippi Grind” which stars Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Reynolds. Sitting through this thing was absolute torture. I didn’t count, but if I had to guess, at least 15-20 people walked out of the film by mid-way through and if I wasn’t reviewing the “Mississippi Grind” I would have walked out with them. It’s a shame because of the talent involved.

The story centers on Gerry (Menselsohn), a down on his luck gambler who believes his new friend Curtis (Reynolds) is a good luck charm. The two set off on a road trip through the South in order to take part in a high stakes poker game. Along the way the stop at numerous casinos in order to raise the money to buy into the game.

Curtis has a good head on his shoulders and we wonder why he agrees to go along on this journey with the self destructive Gerry. We do learn more about both characters at the film progresses. Unfortunately none of it is interesting. I kept hoping “Mississippi Grind” would get better, but it’s just slow and dull. To make matters worse, the way things end for Gerry I just could not buy.

Both Boden and Fleck are gifted filmmakers and Mendelsohn is usually much better than the films he is in. Hopefully he will have a chance to finally shine in next year’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”. As for Reynolds, I never really expect much from him, but he is actually pretty solid in “Mississippi Grind” even if the film isn’t.

By: Marc Ferman