MOLLY'S GAME (2017)

Written & Directed By: Aaron Sorkin 
Based on the book by: Molly Bloom 
Cinematography By: Charlotte Bruus Christensen 
Editor: Alan Baumgarten, Elliot Graham & Josh Schaeffer 

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Bill Camp, Jeremy Strong, Brian d’Arcy james, Chris O’Dowd, Graham Greene, J.C. Mackenzie, Angela Gots, 


Molly Bloom, a beautiful young Olympic-class skier, ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans, and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe to her lawyer as well as excerpts form her book. We follow her story.


Now I will admit I have never read the book source material but I know the story and have read some articles.

While there are some risks the film never makes them feel quite as dangerous or dire as they should as the film never makes the character feel in danger that much or at least she is too headstrong and resilient most of the time for us to really worry about her.

The film starts off vividly by informing the audience about her humble beginnings and the raid that begins all of her legal troubles. Then as the film goes along we learn little by little about her rise and fall.

That might be because Jessica Chastain gives such a strong performance of a character that this film feels more of a female empowerment theme over everything else. Even if by the end the answer to her problems seems to be all about fixing by the damaged relationship with her father. Which seems to be the source of her subconsciously going into this business when she had so many other opportunities to do bigger and better.

You can tell this is screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut. As his scripts are usually worldly and dialogue heavy but here the film feels a bit overstuffed and flashy at times more than it needs to be especially at the beginning. As even though this film is about games go chance and cons. It doesn’t need the mystique and hardness the script tries to present. He doesn’t embarrass himself as he comes off like a pro. Though it’s not as sting visually as it might have been in a more experienced directors hands.

Everyone is here as many of the roles feel vital and all seem to have their own sad story that could make an excellent movie on it’s Own or be a character study but the film keeps things moving along and shows the strength of the main character that while these other distractions are around. Molly still stays the most intriguing character throughout.

The third act in New York is where the film really starts to feel a little too much like a mob movie but presented in more of a fashionable way.

The only things that plays distracting is Chris O’Dowd’s American accent. As he naturally has more of a scottish one. Here he is playing an American actor and what he sometimes does here and in other performances is has a nasally exaggerated American voice that sound more comedically nebbish rather than realistic. Idris Elba is guilty of the same only not as exaggerated though distracting only a little here. Both are still stellar performers in this film and in other films. Though O’Dowd plays a more vital character who does come off as maybe some needed comedic relief.

Michael Cera plays one for the villainous roles of the film an early ally and then enemy of Molly’s with a charming vengeance. That plays off of his baby face looks and catches her and the audience off guard. When he lets his true side show.

The film desperately seems to want to say something and be about something and it succeeds, but like all good stories it wants you to make it to the end before they will reveal it. Even though you see it coming. Yet won’t let you leave before you get there by always seeming like it is about to throw you off and surprise you. Which is only a curve ball before it gets right back on track. That might be a condition of having written so many television shows over the years from Mr. Sorkin, As his intelligent dialogue heavy scripts obviously showcase his playwright background

Grade: B