Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

RyothChatty ridiculous rating

Steineded How sad is this?

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

MBay And a good one. A story about the highs and lows of addicted gamblers, made friends by their addiction. In any other world these two men would not have met; but at a card table they are one in the same. The story was a bit slow at times but I think it added to the hopelessness of a too long night turning into day and finding the next thing to do. This movie is more like reading a novel, not watching something like Casino, or 21.It's not a great story, but it's a good one. I'm glad I spent the time.

Tony A good buddy road movie with a difference. Our heroes are actually junkies of an overlooked yet very destructive drug - gambling. Like the more infamous alcohol and chemical substances, this drug tears families apart and makes some people destitute. This isn't a Cool Hand Luke were you hustle your way through games to pay for the big tournament to be crowned the best pool player. This is hard core addiction as opposed to recreational thrills. They'll bet on dogs, horses, ballgames or sports they know little about but odds look good. Games of chance they'll take it on, poker / blackjack and dice. They win big it's not enough, it ended with the last show of cards or roll of dice. Need the thrill again, even bigger, everything you've won on a single throw of a card or dice. Real life says this never ends well.

starchy-2 I was surprised by how much I enjoyed watching this movie. Definitely not my normal fare and to be honest I was expecting not to enjoy it. But man I was pleasantly surprised! It's definitely a more subdued film, but these two actors just chew up every scene they're in. It's a really sad and realistic tale of two gambling addicts, they both struggle differently, but ultimately that's what they both are. I was actually thrown off a couple times by thinking that I knew where it was headed or what each persons motivations were, but each time I was off the mark. Both guys aren't the greatest people, they don't make the right choices, and they both have their major issues. And what I find sad but a unique way of ending the movie, was that they both ended the movie pretty much where they started. It's a realistic look at what the cycle of addiction can do. Great movie with great acting! Definitely give it a watch!

Tehmeh While "Mississippi Grind" may seem like a generic gambling movie that builds up to some final Vegas showdown - and at times it seems so - it's more of a road trip movie. It's about little moments here and there, and the drama doesn't come from the gambling. It comes from the characters and subtle reveals about them. It's a movie about those little things that make us human, most of all involving people who aren't bad people in a sense, but live a very unfulfilling life, having troubles to actually change their lives (or not even wanting a change) but still having some child-like hope. I challenge you to not see yourself, or even a piece of yourself in some of these characters. Many people will not like the fact that there really isn't a point to all of this. There isn't a character arc where one person overcomes everything and learns all of the life's hard lessons. There isn't a moment where you totally understand a character and all that he/she is about. There is an end, but it isn't a closure. And while that did bother me too to some extent, perhaps that was the point.Ryan Reynolds and (especially) Ben Mendelsohn are very good. Both have a sense of realness to them, and their chemistry is visible. In fact, there are no poor performances in this movie. Supporting actors are all very good, so thumbs up for them. Yvonne Landry, Kerry Cahill, and Stephanie Honoré come to mind, but everyone involved was very good. Writer/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck have to mentioned as well, good work.I have to compliment the soundtrack. There's a lot of good old "real" music to this film, like a road movie should have. It's used just right, not cynically trying to imitate a road movie soundtrack, but actually being a good road movie soundtrack. Most of the music is even played at bars.To summarize: "Mississippi Grind" doesn't seem to have a larger scheme in the traditional sense, but it's a well-acted, well-written and subtly directed little drama. Much like a road trip itself, where little things here and there make you think and feel something, the drama follows suit in a similar fashion. Don't expect a tight, compelling story, force-fed character motivations or even a powerful closure, and you might just enjoy it. I did, and I'm glad these kind of movies are still made.