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The Grand (2008) DVD Review
The Grand (2008) DVD Credits:
The Grand (2008) Directed by:
Zak Penn
The Grand (2008) Written by:
Zak Penn
The Grand (2008) Cast:
Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta, Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, Cheryl Hines, Werner Herzog, David Cross, Richard Kind, Michael Karrow, Gabe Kaplan, Dennis Farina
The Grand (2008) Released by:
Insomnia Media Group
Region:
1
The Grand (2008) DVD Release Date:
9th June 2008
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The Grand (2008) Synopsis:

Revolves around an international poker tournament

The Grand (2008) DVD Review:

The Grand is a mocumentary that follows a large cross section of Texas Hold ‘Em poker players competing in a championship series by the same name. At stake is a ten million dollar prize, enough money to change the lives of any of those competing. Before the tournament starts, however, the film follows a small collection of players who have been there before.

The first is “One Eyed” Jack Faro (Woody Harrelson, Natural Born Killers, No Country For Old Men). Jack is the grand son of Jimmy “Lucky” Faro, the man who started Lucky’s Rabbit’s Foot, a Las Vegas casino and strip staple. Jack has an addictive personality, and has subsequently been addicted to everything under the sun; for example, he has been married 75 times. Unfortunately, during a drug and alcohol induced stupor, Jack sold the casino to Billionaire Steve Lavisch (Michael McKean, For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind). Jack now must win The Grand in an attempt to save his grandfather’s casino and legacy.

Next is a brother and sister pair of players, Larry (David Cross, School for Scoundrels, Arrested Development) and Lainie Schwartzman (Cheryl Hines, The Waitress, Curb Your Enthusiasm). Larry is the bully at the table assaulting his fellow players verbally, while acting crazy, in one scene he shows up covered from head to toe in a Muslim burka. Meanwhile, Lainie is the potty-mouthed woman of the group, swearing irrationally at any given point. Lainie is married to ideas man Fred Marsh (Ray Romano, Everyone Loves Raymond, Eulogy), a man who is so obsessed with fantasy football that he does not even show up to the final round because it is the day of the draft.

Harold Melvin (Chris Parnell, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) is the “Rain Man” character of the group. He calculates the odds in his head while delivering the results in a quick paced monotone voice, and offers his unwanted criticisms to his fellow competitors.

L.B.J. “Deuce” Fairbanks (Dennis Farina, Get Shorty, Stealing Harvard) is poker royalty. He is the oldest member and looks back fondly at the old Las Vegas. Deuce was a close friend of Lucky’s.

Lastly there is the nobody, the Cinderella story, a man who claims that he stumbled onto Partypoker.net accidentally one day when he was looking to purchase a fire poker. Andy Andrews (Richard Kind, Confessions of a Dangerous Man, The Station Agent).

Those six make it past a laundry list of hilarious other players played by such names as Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Mike Epps, Doyle Brunson, Phil Laak, and Steve Grabowsky, to make it to the big game. A pair of hilarious commentators hosts the championship, including actual poker champ and Celebrity Poker Tour host Phil Gordon, and Mike Werbe, a man who knows nothing about poker, but plugs his book the entire time.

Each of the characters are well formed and crafted and each of the actors give outstanding performances, making The Grand an absolute blast to watch.

The Grand DVD is presented in widescreen and features a 5.1 stereo surround soundtrack. The special features include two alternate endings and deleted scenes. The DVD also includes an audio commentary with writer/producer/director Zak Penn, writer/executive producer Matt Bierman and actor Michael Karnow. Included is also a group of selected scene commentaries with actors Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, and Ray Romano.

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The Grand (2008) DVD review written by: Andrew Mattson

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