In Case You Missed It: Finder's Fee

In Case You Missed seeks to examine films that time has forgotten about or you simply didn't see when it was released. Upon rewatch, we will review the film and try to figure out why it was missed and/or forgotten. It will then be given a final rating ranging from Hidden Gem, Humdrum or Hot Garbage.

This Week's Film: Finder's Fee

Starring: Erik Palladino, Ryan Reynolds, Dash Mihok, Matthew Lillard, James Earl Jones, Robert Forster, Carly Pope, Frances Bay

Director: Jeff Probst

Release Date: 6/19/2001

Box Office:

N/A

Initial Reaction:

The premise is a simple one. What do you do if you find a strangers wallet? To make matters more complicated, what if that wallet contains the winning lottery numbers worth $6 million? Director Jeff Probst (Yes that Jeff Probst from Survivor) drew from personal experience for this single location thriller that could also feel at home on the stage. While the acting fluctuates over the course of the run time and motivations seem to change from moment to moment, it's still an effective character study that gut punches you at the end.

Standout Moments:

As the characters continuously point out, they only play one hand throughout the majority of the film. That changes once they play Last Man Standing, which is 5 card draw and the lowest hand is eliminated each round until there is a winner. The winner gets the pot, which includes the lottery tickets. A lot happens around that final game: Will Tepper (Erik Palladino) cheat to stay in the game? Does Quigley (Ryan Reynolds) know what Tepper is up to? Why does Avery act weird whenever the police are around?

There is also some good tension built around who knows the winning numbers. Tepper knows and Quigley may know but says he doesn't. Fishman (Matthew Lillard) and Bolan (Dash Mihok) swear they don't, as does their unexpected guest Avery (James Earl Jones). Each time the lottery ticket makes an appearance this question keeps the stakes high.

The final 10 or 15 minutes had me on the edge of my seat with Quigley, who had been calm until this point, attacking Avery followed by everyone figuring out what to do with the money. It's the best acted part of the film.

What did/didn't work:

The movie actually does a good job at showing the greed that lies in everyone. Tepper makes some right decisions and some wrong decisions. I liked that the film blurred the lines with his character, as well as the others as the film progressed. This leads to a final 10-15 minutes that, as I mentioned previously, is very well performed. Even by Lillard, who has spent the majority of the film greatly overacting his part as the obnoxious friend. Everyone has one of those friends but even this was a little much.

One aspect of the film that didn't feel organic was the building lockdown that kept Avery in the apartment. It was really the only aspect of the story that felt forced, with Probst needing a reason to keep Avery there.

My ultimate question is: Who plans a poker night the same night you're going to propose?!?! He also uses his impending proposal as the excuse for why he is acting weird. Maybe he did it to show his overall lack of seriousness about proposing? It's unclear but it just doesn't track for me.

Why was it missed:

Despite the talent in the cast, from what I can tell it never got a theatrical release. I actually don't even remember how I heard about this movie but I think I found it on Netflix many years ago when I was in college.

Rating: Humdrum

It's unfortunate Probst never made another film. He does have talent behind the camera and was able to get some good performances from the cast. I enjoy movies that give you a "what would you do" scenario and while it has flaws, the film delivered thanks to its ending.