Double Down South

Starting out, this pretty young woman is driving along ... and we have no idea what is going to happen -- let alone high-stakes pool playing.

Playing pool myself, I've been hooked on films about pool since The Great One (Jackie Gleason's "The Husler".

The setting could not be better -- as I think the Location used to be one of those old Southern Mansions from Pre-Civil War days, but that is my own conjecture -- I had a chance to visit one once.

Kim Coates is one of the best 'Bad Guys' around -- and he really does a good job here! Lily Simons just keeps getting prettier and prettier as the film goes along. The first time I saw Mr. Coates was in "The Last Boy Scout" with an incredible performance; he just keeps getting better doing his excellent character!!!

There is a dark theme here too -- be forewarned!

Thid film has some things that for the most part are becoming lost today -- this film has heart! The film is written and directed by the same guy -- supposedly, at least partly, reflected by his own life experience. The film has a 'cozy' feel to it. I think it was done on a smaller scale with none of that fake, computer-generated nonsense. Each major actor/actress had their own stand-in and their own double -- the way films used to be made. Great work by ALL!

I highly recommend this film!

In rural Georgia, skilled billiards player Diana (Lili Simmons) drives up to a secret Keno pool gambling house. It is an old mouldy plantation mansion run by Nick (Kim Coates). Diana seems to be new to Keno, but Nick seizes the opportunity to take her under his wing.

I have never seen this game being played and it is fascinating. I really like this tiny little world. This game seems set up for the night to end in violence. It is crazy to keep doubling the bet without the ability to stop it. Once the DuBinion flashback happens, the twist becomes rather obvious. The more improbable twist would be for the story to go straight. Maybe, Lili shouldn't do the generalized southern accent. She could be a Canadian tourist traveling the States looking for the perfect pool experience. I do like some of the reveal although some do need a bit of changing. All in all, I like this little world even if it is clunky at times.

Double Down South is a gritty gambling film reminiscent of everything from The Hustler to Mississippi Grind. Lili Simmons shines as a tough-talking billiards ace thrown into the crazy world of a game that's as much about luck as skill. Kim Coates is creepy and menacing as the owner of the dilapidated plantation house where the underground games take place. The plot takes twists and turns that I did not see coming, and the cast of grimy good ole boys are always a delight to watch. Tom Schulman is a screenwriter known for several iconic films, and it's fun to see his efforts from the director's chair in this one.

Double Down South is full of great south of the line vibe. The setting accents, style and characters are all there but unfortunately the story or rather the lack of it drags it down. It seems the writers could not decide if this was a family fun movie or something a bit more serious. Great potential, great actors especially Diana and Nick just a lousy story to make one choke on their grits.

The level of mysogyny was a bit over the top and seemed to make the crew cringe when delivering their lines along with the audience and was really un-necessary to support the story line and theme..

The twist at the end was signaled a long way off and as the real bad guys left the scene and everyone else became the best of friends the tale ended. Its not a blockbuster doesnt't try to be the setting was almost perfect and lead did the best theyy coud with the material.

I was drawn to Double Down South by Lila Simmonds whom I thought was the sexiest woman I had ever seen when she was in the fantastic series Banshee. I also enjoy Kim Coates from Sons of Anarchy. And the gambling film genre is full of really good films and barely any bad ones. Furthermore I had never heard of the Keno variation of pool. The entire supporting cast was absolutely excellent. The entire film takes place on a run down old Southern estate that is owned by the the villain of the story. Nick, played by Kim Coates. I was not fooled by any of the stories twists, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. This is just a solid popcorn film with not a boring frame and a fun and different story. Maybe I graded it slightly high because I felt it deserved an audience, let 's call it a 7.5, but If any of the aforementioned elements of the film sound intriguing to you, you really should give it a watch.