The Grand (2007)

Larry Schwartzman: I can psych the shit out of people. I don't need cards to beat you. I can literally have no cards, and I would still beat you. You think that's not playing fairly, or that's not the way a gentleman plays? I would fight you over that. A film similar to the mockumentaries like Best in Show made by Christopher Guest, writer/director Zak Penn takes the same structure and focuses it on the world of poker. The film is made up of a number of actors, all of whom improvise their lines after being given a basic setup for their scenes.One Eyed Jack Faro: Building his stack . . . !Lainie Schwartzman: Yeah, guess I just put that little brainiac fucker back in the game.Harold Melvin: You have the vocabulary of a drunken spice miner and the hairstyle of an Arrakeen whore. The film revolves around a poker tournament, The Grand, which has a jackpot of $10 Million. The main players are played by Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, Chris Parnell, and Richard Kind. What gives the film a bit more excitement is the fact that the final tournament was played for real. The script had no written ending and while staying in character, the actors all played real poker, hoping to win.The film also features a large supporting cast, consisting of actors who are all good at both poker and improv, as well as a number of famous poker players and poker related personalities. Among these people is acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog in a bizarre but hilarious role.The German: To feel alive and to get this energy, it is essential for me to kill something each day. It doesn't have to be a large animal. I squish an ant once in a while, or spiders, they come very easily. I've shot stray dogs. Goose.. is a very, very troublesome animal. I've had a goat. To strangle a goat, that makes you feel really alive. Among the main actors, Harrelson is made out to be the biggest lead, but I found Richard Kind to be my favorite. He is an actor who's face you'll recognize, but not his name. The scenes involving his character worked the best for me and he also had odd but great chemistry with Parnell.The film actually does a great job at getting you to care for most of the main characters, especially during the closing scenes explaining what has come of them. It also helps that they are very good at the dry humor that goes with the improv concept.There are a few missteps in the film. Some of the comedy is hit-or-miss and the tournament does eventually play out like watching one on TV, which doesn't help the film. There is also a particular scene, which completely breaks the realm of the film's mockumentary setting.There is however, a lot of good fun and entertainment to be had in this movie.Harold Melvin: It is apparent that you have no concept of pot odds. There are a number of books available in the gift shop that explain it quite thoroughly. Also, you have corn in your teeth.