“I guess [John Huston’s] ‘Fat City’ is to ‘Rocky’ what we are to ‘Casino’ or maybe ‘Ocean’s 11,’” director Ryan Fleck recently told us about his new upcoming gambling movie. “So we wanted to make that version of the gambling movie, in these real, down and dirty places, the dog tracks, the horse tracks… we wanted to hit up that world.” Co-directed with Anna Boden, and titled “Mississippi Grind,” the drama about two unlikely friends on a betting Hail Mary run through the Southern states stars Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn, Analeigh Tipton and Sienna Miller (our review). Here’s the synopsis from Sundance.
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.
Fleck and Boden have carved out an eclectic career for themselves, having directed the Ryan Gosling teaching drama, “Half Nelson,” the observational baseball/immigration movie “Sugar” and the lighter coming of age comedy “It’s A Funny Kind of Story.” And it looks like their diverse career path continues with “Mississippi Grind” which melds drama, comedy and heart. A24 will release the picture on September 25. Watch the first trailer below.