Mississippi Grind

Overview

Ben Mendelsohn stealing the show in a character-driven indie film? Now there's something you can bet on. Ryan Reynolds holding his own alongside one of Australia's greatest working actors? That probably attracts larger odds. Still, as far as casting is concerned, Mississippi Grind wins big.

Their characters, Gerry (Mendelsohn) and Curtis (Reynolds), meet over a hand of poker, then bond over a glass of bourbon. Gerry is an Iowa-based real estate agent who needs a hefty payday to take care of his considerable debts, while the journeying Curtis is more concerned about the fun of playing and wagering than he is with lining his wallet. Soon, they're fast and firm gambling companions, sharing the rush of the high-stakes chase. With a lucrative game in New Orleans in their sights, they jump between bars, casinos, card tables, racetracks, pool halls and betting agencies across America's south, trying to make enough cash for the buy-in.

The details of Mississippi Grind are fairly predictable: one down-and-out guy wants something more in life, and another charismatic fellow coasts along. Their pairing sparks ups and downs, all while revealing truths about themselves and the women in their past that they've each been running from. And yet, the latest offering from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) mostly rises above its recognisable combination of road movie and addiction drama. The filmmakers' ambling, unhurried approach deserves credit, as does their '70s-style aesthetic dominated by browns, blues and greys.

Still, the film's true source of success can be found in its stellar performances. Indeed, as the expertly deployed creases on Mendelsohn's face indicate, this is a movie that values all things lived-in. Accordingly, weariness emanates from the actor, although that's not the only trait he paints his character with. In his hands, Gerry alternates subtly between tentative, slippery, proud and thoughtful. It's a masterly display from Mendelsohn, and another highlight of his recent renaissance (though with the likes of Animal Kingdom, Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines and Bloodline on his resume, he certainly has plenty already).

Reynolds' efforts might appear more overt, yet they're ultimately no less impressive. At first, his casting as an assured, smooth-talking figure feels a little too obvious. However as the film goes on, he not only unpacks that confidence and allure, but wears it like a mask. And while his back-and-forth with Mendelsohn undoubtedly drives the movie's best moments, he offers plenty of charms of his own. In gradually revealing the sadness that lingers beneath Curtis' façade, he's never been better on screen.

As it intertwines a familiar narrative with finessed portrayals, Mississippi Grind presents a case of taking the standard with the spectacular. And in a feature about wins and losses, that's quite the fitting outcome.