Once again in a hole of his own making, burnt-out gambler Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) goes on a road trip with fellow gambler Curtis (Ryan Reynolds) to go down the Mississippi, gambling their way to the ultimate pay-day in New Orleans.
"Tomorrow's a new day. So's the next."
One of those movies you make a mental note of and then completely forget to check out, Mississippi Grind deserved way more than it got in 2015.
It came out at a time when movies of this size were running out of runway, both in terms of box office and visibility.
It gave Ben Mendelssohn another great showcase, gave its filmmakers the keys to Marvel - however briefly - and offered a glimpse at just how great an actor Ryan Reynolds could be, before he slipped behind a mask of self-parody.
Unable to help himself, Mendelsohn's Gerry is a study in arrested development. Locked in a cycle that he seems completely aware of, he is a listless, tired figure - unless he is at the table. Then an engine fires.
Mendelsohn is magnetic but perfectly complemented by Reynolds. Reynolds has a natural note of insincerity. Even before Deadpool, he struggled to find roles that could play off that sense of superficial charm.
Occasionally, he is able to find a role, like this, or Adventureland, where he is playing someone wearing a front.
On the surface, Curtis is more put-together than Gerry. For one, he has a lifestyle designed for his vocation. Unlike his new friend, he is not trying to pretend to have a normal life.
As the movie progresses, his air of confidence begins to slip - culminating in an act of extreme self-punishment that Reynolds plays off with a disquieting familiarity.
Underneath it all, he is as tormented as Gerry, struggling to reckon with demons that go beyond a love of the odds.
If you are new to this blog, I also co-host a podcast on James Bond, The James Bond Cocktail Hour.
You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
If you enjoy something I wrote, and want to support my writing, here’s a link for tips!
No comments:
Post a Comment