A24 has released the first trailer for writers/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s (Half Nelson) upcoming gambling road trip flick Mississippi Grind. The story revolves around a down-on-his-luck gambler (Ben Mendelsohn) who crosses paths with a young, charismatic poker player (Ryan Reynolds) and subsequently enlists his new friend on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans.

As I said in my review from Sundance, the movie is a little shapeless, so I'm not too surprised that the trailer follows suit.  There are comic bits but it all leads to some heavy drama.  At best, the trailer reminds me how damn good Mendelsohn is and that the movie is worth seeing for his performance alone.

Watch the trailer below, via A24, and click here for Steve’s video interview with Reynolds and Mendelsohn from Sundance. The film also stars Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton, Robin Weigert, and Alfre Woodard. Mississippi Grind will be available on DirecTV on August 13th and opens in theaters on September 25th.

Here’s the official synopsis for Mississippi Grind:

In this lively, freewheeling road movie, Emmy Award nominee Ben Mendelsohn plays Gerry, a talented but down-on-his-luck gambler whose fortunes begins to change when he meets Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), a younger, highly charismatic poker player.  The two strike up an immediate friendship and Gerry quickly persuades his new friend to accompany him on a road trip to a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. As they make their way down the Mississippi River, Gerry and Curtis manage to find themselves in just about every bar, racetrack, casino, and pool hall they can find, experiencing both incredible highs and dispiriting lows, but ultimately forging a deep and genuine bond that will stay with them long after their adventure is over.

Reminiscent of classic 1970s American Cinema, Mississippi Grind is an unforgettable journey featuring two characters who—flawed as they may be—are always worth rooting for.  It’s a film about friendship, addiction, regret, family, and the paths we sometimes unexpectedly find ourselves on—told with empathy, humor, and a remarkable light touch by acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden (Half Nelson, It’s Kind of A Funny Story).