New Poker film set to hit the screens

Author: Simon Dexter

The latest poker-based film will be hitting the screens soon provided the makers can get the distribution of the low budget production financed.

“The Grand”, staring Woody Harrelson, had its first airing recently at the Tribeca Film Festival – a Festival which provides a showcase for films that do not have the backing of the big Hollywood studios.

The fast-paced film, which uses improvisation techniques, centres around the attempt by Harrelson to prevent the sale of his grandfather’s Las Vegas hotel to an arrogant and power-hungry real estate investor (Dennis Farina).

To stop the sale, Harrelson becomes involved in a high stakes card game. The black comedy has received encouraging reviews to date and its performances are sold out until the end of May at the underground film festival held annually in Manhattan.

Harrelson enjoys playing cards himself and believes many players take up the game more seriously if they are successful the first time they play.

“I think generally if people win early on, then they’re going to be attached to it forever, because that feeling of winning is pretty cool,” the actor told NY1.com.

“But if you just go and you’re constantly beaten, you may not get attached to it. I’ve had luck, so consequently I get attached to it and I always think I’m going to win, then I get crushed. Vegas is not good for me, I can tell you that.”

The film is directed by Zak Penn, better known for writing and directing Incident at Loch Ness and co-writing the script for X-Men: The Last Stand.

Penn explained how the actors did not necessarily know who was going to win a particular hand.

“It is real and it’s weird,” said Penn.

“You know, I basically got the actors by telling them, look you will be playing in character, we will shoot it live and if you win, you win and if you lose, you lose.

“And whatever your personal stake is in the movie, that’s how it’s going to end up for you.”

The film also features Cheryl Hines who has not only become famous for her role as Larry David’s wife in Curb Your Enthusiasm but also as a leading player in Celebrity Poker Showdown – currently being shown on Challenge TV every night this month.

Check out the latest Poker TV listings on this site.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 11th, 2007 at 2:48 pm and is filed under Poker News.

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