If a movie were released today that featured Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Lillard, it would likely be a hit that everyone talks about. Reynolds has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, thanks in large part to his work as Deadpool. Meanwhile, Lillard is a beloved actor, especially for millennials who grew up watching him.
The one place where you can find these actors working together is in Finder’s Fee. It’s about as little known as a movie featuring several big stars can be, as most people haven’t heard of it. However, it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and deserves to be way more popular than it is.
Finder’s Fee Is A Tense Thriller
The entire premise of Finder’s Fee sets the stage for an intense experience. The film centers on Tepper, who finds a wallet while walking home one night. He calls the number inside, only to then discover that it contains the winning lottery ticket worth $6 million.
Tepper settles in for a weekly poker game with his friends, where everyone purchases a lottery ticket for the pot and the winner takes all. The owner of the wallet ultimately shows up and joins the game, making for a tense situation as Tepper struggles with what to do with the ticket.
The police also lock down the building for an investigation, meaning the wallet owner is stuck with the poker players and Tepper for several hours, only adding to the problems. When things come to a head, it makes for an engaging third act that includes a pretty great twist right at the end.
Finder’s Fee is so little-known that it only has five official reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with three of those being positive for a 60% rating.
The Cast of Finder’s Fee Is Great
What makes Finder’s Fee stand out, even before you know any plot details, is the talented cast. The protagonist, Tepper, is played by Erik Palladino, who might not be a household name but has done great work on the likes of ER and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
The three biggest stars in the cast are the aforementioned Matthew Lillard and Ryan Reynolds, as well as the legendary James Earl Jones. Reynolds and Lillard play two members of the poker game, Quigley and Fishman, respectively.
Quigley is a divorced man who is something of a loose cannon, while Fishman is a paranoid yet fast-talking guy. James Earl Jones pops in as Avery Phillips, the owner of the lottery ticket. It’s a treat to watch these actors simply deliver dialogue as they share the screen in an underrated thriller.
The Director Of Finder’s Fee Is A Reality TV Star
While the cast of Finder’s Fee is certainly the film’s most notable quality, it also has a very famous person behind the camera. Jeff Probst is both the director and writer of this project, and he’s most well-known as the host of the long-running reality series Survivor.
Probst even won multiple Emmy Awards for his work as the host of Survivor, including making history as the first winner of the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program. He eventually went on to have his own talk show, The Jeff Probst Show, which ran for nearly 200 episodes.
Finder’s Fee marked the directorial debut for Probst. He didn’t return to filmmaking until 2014, when he directed Kiss Me, a rom-com starring Sarah Bolger, Emily Osment, Missi Pyle, John Corbett, and Jenna Fischer. It’s clear that even if his movies aren’t huge, he’s worked with some major names.
If you’re looking to check out a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and features talented actors leading the way, Finder’s Fee is a hidden gem for you.
- Release Date
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June 19, 2001
- Runtime
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100 minutes
- Director
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Jeff Probst
- Writers
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Jim Gulian
- Producers
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Brad Van Arragon, Katy Wallin