Betting on Ryan Reynolds has been a foolish gamble of late, but perhaps things are starting to turn around. While Self/Less tanked pretty hard, he scored alongside Helen Mirren in Woman of Gold, and Deadpool may be the surprise superhero hit of next year. This fall he'll also star in Mississippi Grind, a road trip gambling drama that's all about taking chances on life, so now might be a good time to start rolling the dice on Reynolds once again.
Debuting at Sundance earlier this year, Mississippi Grind has Reynolds starring alongside the reliable Ben Mendelsohn as a pair of a gamblers looking for one giant score in New Orleans. The film was directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, whose diverse slate of projects includes the teaching drama Half Nelson, the baseball film Sugar, and the coming-of-age comedy It's Kind of a Funny Story. Here's the official synopsis:
Gerry is a talented, but struggling poker player about to be swallowed up by his unshakeable gambling habit. But his luck begins to change after he meets the young, charismatic Curtis. Gerry convinces his new lucky charm to hit the road with him, towards a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. The highs and lows unveil the duo’s true characters and motivations, and an undeniable bond forms between them.
Having seen the film in Park City, I said the "dialogue runs fast and free like the spin of a roulette wheel" but the "somber, reflective moments that don't quite ring true". Still, the film has a number of strong cards in its favor, not the least of which are the two stars and the supporting cast of Analeigh Tipton and Sienna Miller.
Mississippi Grind opens September 25th.
