The Grand (2007)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Zak Penn

Writers (WGA):

Zak Penn (written by) &
Matt Bierman (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy about the fine art of losing

Plot:

An improvisational comedy using a handful of actors playing characters competing in an actual poker tournament. |

Plot Keywords:

Poker

Cast

Julie Claire	...	Dr. Jamie Sellers
David Cross	...	Larry Schwartzman
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Toni
Mike Epps	...	Reggie Marshall
Dennis Farina	...	L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks
Judy Greer	...	Sharon Andrews
Woody Harrelson	...	One Eyed Jack Faro
Estelle Harris	...	Ruth 'Nana' Melvin
Werner Herzog	...	The German
Cheryl Hines	...	Lainie Schwartzman
Gabe Kaplan	...	Seth Schwartzman
Michael Karnow	...	Mike Werbe
Richard Kind	...	Andy Andrews
Michael McKean	...	Billionaire Steve Lavisch
Chris Parnell	...	Harold Melvin
Ray Romano	...	Fred Marsh
Andrea Savage	...	Renee Jensen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Alexander	...	Dr. Yakov Achmed
K.D. Aubert	...	Julie the waitress
Hank Azaria	...	Mikey
David Beem	...	Dealer
Ashley Bowler	...	Child in Vic and Anthony's
Jeff Bowler	...	Poker Player
Doyle Brunson	...	Poker Player
Marc Chaiet	...	Hotel Guest #1
Phil Gordon
Steve Grabowsky	...	Poker Player
Errol Guidry II	...	Cajun Larry
Phil Hellmuth Jr.	...	Poker Player
Tom Hodges	...	Tim 'Tiny' Wonders
Alec Holden	...	Little Larry
Kelly R. Kleinman	...	Leroy Kelly
Phil Laak	...	Poker Player
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	The German's Bodyguard
Hailey McCann	...	Little Lainie
Garrett McKechnie	...	Hotel Guest #2
Rusty Meyers	...	Poker Player (LICPC)
Dylan Mitro	...	Cheryl Hines / Ray Romano's baby
Andrew Hill Newman	...	Russell Kalenich
Wesley Okerson	...	Poker Player
Peter O'Meara	...	Dave Esme
David Pressman	...	Murph Murph
Brett Ratner	...	Sob Story Barry Blausteen
Michael A. Rizza	...	Poker player
Brahm Taylor	...	Rex Copeland
Ann Woodward	...	Poker player
Mitzi Woodward	...	Poker player
Harvey Blanc	...	Bell Desk Captain (uncredited)
Barry Brandt	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Paul Edney	...	Poker Tournament Pit Boss (uncredited)
Antonio Esfandiari	...	Poker player (uncredited)
Sean Patrick Flaherty	...	Sean Marsh (uncredited)
Alistair Herz	...	Police Offier #1 (uncredited)
Melinda Kramer	...	Poker Dealer (uncredited)
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Daniel Negreanu	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Dave Yekell	...	Poker Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Zak Penn

Writing credits (WGA)
Zak Penn		(written by) &
Matt Bierman		(written by)

Produced by
Matt Bierman	....	executive producer
Jeff Bowler	....	producer
Steven Bowler	....	associate producer
Ross M. Dinerstein	....	producer
Kirkwood Drew	....	executive producer
Steve Grabowsky	....	associate producer
Ayman Kandeel	....	executive producer
Ziggy Kormandel	....	executive producer
Gary Marcus	....	producer
Ari Palitz	....	executive producer
Zak Penn	....	producer
Bret Saxon	....	producer
Bobby Schwartz	....	producer
Lance Stockton	....	co-producer
Jordan Udko	....	executive producer
Steven Zellers	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stephen Endelman

Cinematography by
Anthony Hardwick

Film Editing by
Abby Schwarzwalder

Casting by
Richard Pagano

Production Design by
Shepherd Frankel

Set Decoration by
Amy Lee Wheeler

Costume Design by
Valerie Laven-Cooper

Makeup Department
Linda Arnold	....	key hair stylist
Lori Ann Baker	....	additional hair stylist
Tanya Cookingham	....	assistant makeup artist
Deborah K. Larsen	....	key makeup artist
Gail Rowell-Ryan	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Stephen Fromkin	....	post-production supervisor
Brent Morris	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Judd	....	additional second assistant director
Jason Z. Kemp	....	second second assistant director
Gary Marcus	....	first assistant director
Tyler Romary	....	second assistant director
Scott Rorie	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Roger Dertinger	....	property master
Sarah Geller	....	on-set dresser
Seth Goulden	....	leadman
Calla Klessig	....	art department assistant
Paul Kurdys	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Steven Avila	....	sound effects editor
Adam De Coster	....	foley artist
Kyle Fox	....	utility sound
Michael J. Fox	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Fox	....	boom operator
Peter D. Lago	....	sound effects editor
Maggie Malyn	....	post sound coordinator
Harrison D. Marsh	....	sound mixer
Greg Mauer	....	foley mixer
Matthew Nicolay	....	additional sound mixer
Rick Owens	....	foley artist
Eric Reuveni	....	foley mixer
Mark A. Rozett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kelly Vandever	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacey A. Washer	....	additional boom operator
Ben Whitver	....	first assistant sound editor
Brian S.M. Wroth	....	dialogue editor

Visual Effects by
Harold De Jesus	....	main title designer
Dennis Harold	....	digital artist
Brian Oakes	....	motion graphics
Marcel Valcarce	....	digital effects artist

Stunts
Tim Mikulecky	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Elliott	....	second assistant camera
Coby Garfield	....	first assistant camera
Michael D. Gonzalez	....	grip
Joe Guzman	....	a dolly grip
Rebecca M. Heunermund-Brenneman	....	still photographer
Brian Holgate	....	second assistant camera
Ryo Kinno	....	second assistant camera
Patrick Kligel	....	jib operator
BJ McDonnell	....	Steadicam operator: "b" camera
Andres L. Porras	....	camera operator
David Sheetz	....	electrician
Owen A. Smith	....	camera operator
Joshua Stern	....	best boy electric
Joshua Stern	....	gaffer: second unit
Steve Tacon	....	digital imaging technician
Chris Tonkovich	....	electrician
Nicholas Tredway	....	grip
John Waldo	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera

Casting Department
Russell Boast	....	casting associate
Jorina King	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kevin Ian Ackerman	....	set costumer
Heather Sladinski	....	wardrobe supervisor
Selby Van Horne	....	key set costumer

Editorial Department
John Roberts	....	assistant editor
Morgan Gross	....	editorial intern (uncredited)

Music Department
Kiersten Leigh Johnson	....	assistant to composer
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor
Adam Swart	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Corey Askins	....	transportation coordinator
Eli Lozano	....	driver

Other crew
Kevin Bowe	....	production accountant
Michael Chamoy	....	assistant: Zak Penn
Sharon Cingle	....	script supervisor
Grant Cross	....	location production assistant
Harold De Jesus	....	title designer
Jarrett Golding	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Ingram	....	production coordinator (as J. Elizabeth Ingram)
Candice Lee	....	production assistant
Jenny Napier	....	assistant to producer
Andrew Hill Newman	....	technical advisor
Tony Niknejadi	....	production secretary
Luke Pearsall	....	production assistant
Rosana Tomas	....	production secretary
Rosana Tomas	....	travel coordinator
Marcel Valcarce	....	title designer
Kelly Catey	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Duck Grossberg	....	data manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Insomnia Media Group
• Eleven Eleven Films

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Empire (2008) (Romania) (all media)

Special Effects

• inMotion Studios (title and graphic design)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Endeavor Agency  secured financing
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Monkeyland Audio  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

Untitled Zak Penn Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some drug content.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino - 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Insomnia Media Group

Trivia:

The script was barely 29 pages long. Zak Penn had the actors improvise.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In a scene, there's a showdown between Jack and The German. The community cards show 6d 8d 2d 2s 9d. Jack has Kd Qd making a King high flush. Phil Gordon makes a comment that the only hand that can beat this is an Ace high flush. But, there are actually 10 hands better than King high flush. The better hands would be, in descending order: 7d + 10d to make a 10 high straight flush 5d + 7d to make a 9 high straight flush 2h + 2c to make four of a kind, 2's 9 + 9 to make a full house 9's full of 2's 8 + 8 to make a full house 8's full of 2's 6 + 6 to make a full house 6's full of 2's 2 + 9 to make a full house 2's full of 9's 2 + 8 to make a full house 2's full of 8's 2 + 6 to make a full house 2's full of 6's Ad + any card to make an Ace high flush.

Quotes:

L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks: Will you take a look at all of this crap.
[Indicating the modern Las Vegas strip.]
L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks: Buried underneath all of this is a history; history of Las Vegas. It's the place where Moe Dalitz opened up his first burlesque club. Place where you can find a thirteen year old in a whorehouse if that was your pleasure. It was a place where the Jews and the blacks had to enter the casinos through rear entrances. By the way, on this corner right here, I stabbed a bum.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-03-22)" (2008)

Surprisingly I enjoyed this film

I have to say I really enjoyed this film. I saw it at Tribeca last month and to be honest I didn't have high expectations. I personally don't like most of the movies the writer/director (Zak Penn) has written of late (mostly big action comic book movies), but this is not that kind of film.

What honestly attracted me to this film was that it's an improv style film starring one of my favorite SNL people ever, Chris Parnell. He doesn't disappoint. He plays a lonely poker player who has some kind of mental problem where he's brutally honest and very, very skilled in math (which makes him a great player). Chris steals every scene he's in, which aren't enough if you ask me, but I'm biased so take that with a grain of salt.

The other actors hold their own in their respective roles all working to try and win a big tournament for 10 million dollars. I don't know enough about poker to know if it's at all accurate, but the good thing is the film doesn't really focus on actual poker all that often.

If you like the films of Christopher Guest (which I do), then I think you'll like this film as well.