“Aces are good, right?” asks Ryan Reynolds in ‘Mississippi Grind’ (2015), and—while we may not know much about cards—we thought this movie was worth a couple aces. A pair of aces (the talented Ben Mendelsohn as the perpetual loser, Ryan Reynolds as the good-luck wanderer) lead this ramble down the river from Iowa to Louisiana. It’s blues country, baby, and the soundtrack is delicious. Gerry (the Loser) owes money and needs it yesterday. Curtis (Charmsville) is looking for the next adventure and a ride to New Orleans by way of every gambling opportunity on the way. There are ups, there are downs; there are wins and there are gut punches. It’s part road trip movie, part card playing high stakes character study. It’s a story as much about addiction as it is about knowing when to go all in, and when to trust a complete stranger in a world that’ll get ya for everything you’ve got. These aces are good.

Two Woodfords!