Mississippi Grind

Having wondered from the trail with blockbusters like Rogue One when my intention was to try and look at films that usually fall under the radar, 2015's Mississippi Grind seemed like a good idea as this film came and went very fast from the public eye. The trailer caught my interest years ago and it has sat in my IMDb watch-list for some time, along with the other 100+ films I keep meaning to watch.

Unlike many other films we see today, Mississippi Grind comes with a very 1970s gritty yet charming atmosphere but does so almost as if by accident. American Hustle tried this but somehow came away still feeling as if it were part of the Hollywood system. Either way, directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck tread a careful line in telling a down-to-earth story about a 'down on in his luck' man without it ever falling into a TV melodrama one-off.

The unfortunate man in this case is played by the brilliant Ben Mendelsohn who lives from bet to bet, making money in one go and then loosing it on the next. In the wrong hands, this could have been an unlikable character who's their own worst enemy but Mendelsohn delivers one of the most touching yet underrated performances from 2015. We are then introduced to Ryan Reynolds as a charismatic poker player who teams up to make a small fortune, and repay a few debts, in what becomes almost a road movie.

The story moves steadily along while relying predominately on the two leads who have great chemistry. With Deadpool and many other blockbusters going on, seeing Reynolds in this role made for a refreshing change of pace, further proving his acting chops and that R.I.P.D and Green Lantern should be best left forgotten. But this is Mendelsohn's film ultimately and I think it's safe to say that this guy is a chameleon.

While I could go on to talk about the performances and solid direction, this film will not be to everyone's tastes and may even be too bleak. Regardless, I do think it's a shame this film fell by the wayside when it came to the awards as it does warrant the attention. In a world where more films are starting to look alike, Mississippi Grind stands apart from the crowd and offers the audience something we haven't seen in a while.