The Grand - Upcoming Poker Movie

The Tribeca Film Festival kicks off this week, and one of the most anticipated movies just so happens to be about poker. It’s called The Grand, and it’s the latest project from writer/director/producer Zak Penn, who has had major success with films like X2, The Fantastic Four and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Tickets to the showing have already sold out, and expectations are running high. So what the hell is the movie about?

The film follows in the same vein as films like This is Spinal Tap and Best in Show. In other words, it’s a poker mockumentary that relies on live poker action and the actual play of the actors involved. Director Penn cheekily describes it as “Best in Show meets Die Hard meets 300 meets Best in Show again. Minus 175 and Die Hard. Minus one Best in Show.”

When filming started, there was a basic 35-page plot outline and a few specific lines that Penn wanted the actors to include. Otherwise, the film is mostly improvised. The poker scenes feature actual gameplay and were not planned in advance. The cameras rolled and the actors played the game to the best (or worst) of their abilities. According to Penn, “The six people who make it to the final table will play for real in character and whoever wins will win in the movie.”

The cast is an eclectic mixture of actors and actresses with a wide range of poker experience (including none at all). The cast includes Cheryl Hines, Shannon Elizabeth, David Cross, Gabe Kaplan, Richard Kind, Chris Parnell, and Woody Harrelson.

And even if you can’t catch this film until it hits DVD, you can go out and watch the big screen debut of Lucky You on May 4th. It stars Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall.

While you’re waiting for one of these fine films, here are a few more poker articles to take a look at:

Bellagio Five Star World Poker

Pokerstars Sunday Millions Results

The Grand - Upcoming Poker Movie