Molly's Game

Director:
Aaron Sorkin

Starring:
Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Martian, Interstellar)
Idris Elba (The Dark Tower, Prometheus, Thor: Ragnarok)
Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Superbad, Youth In Revolt)

Plot:
Based on the true story of Molly Bloom (Chastain), a former Olympic-level freestyle skiier who became the host of the most exclusive poker games in Los Angeles and New York, which often comprised of famous celebrities, movie stars and even mobsters.  Two years out of the game, Molly gets arrested for involvement with the Russian mafia and requires a lawyer (Elba) to represent her.

Verdict:
As an amateur screenwriter, I have a certain affinity for Aaron Sorkin's screenplays.  Whether it be his work in films (A Few Good Men, The Social Network, Steve Jobs) or television (The West Wing, Studio 60, The Newsroom), I am always enthralled by his characters' sharp wit, their rapid-fire dialogue and and often their extended monologues where they intend on fixing the broken state of the United States.  It might make everyone in his films seem like sarcastic, over-privileged pricks but for some reason, I relate with these people instantly...

There is not much different with the titular Molly Bloom, a woman determined to make something of herself by creating the most lucrative and exclusive poker game in a city full of rich, stupid people who are out of their element.

You could instantly dislike Molly due to her arrogant attitude, but Jessica Chastain's performance keeps you on her side throughout Molly's struggles.  An over-bearing father, over-shadowing siblings and over-grown tree branches all culminate in Molly finding herself at the end of a destroyed career path and in need of something new in her life, and her rise to the top isn't handed to her.  She earns everything she gets and you are more than along with her on this ride to the top.

The high times are appropriately depicted in with slick cinematography and a fantastic pace-setting soundtrack, all making the locations pop with eye-catching visuals that make you want to be in Molly's world.  Apparently David Fincher provided some tips to his friend Aaron Sorkin, and it definitely shows, with some scenes feeling at home in their previous collaboration, The Social Network.

However, similar to the structure of The Social Network, Molly's rise to fame is twinned with her fall from grace as she seeks out Idris Elba's lawyer Charlie Jaffey to defend her in a lawsuit as she is accused of having connections with the Russian mob.  This is where Sorkin's patented dialogue and banter can be properly utilised as a definite chemistry unfolds between the two leads, Chastain and Elba.

Molly's character often gets brought into question throughout, with her flitting between attention-seeking, media-obsessed snob, and earnest woman trying to make a living in a male-centric world and the film doesn't seem to know which one to paint Molly as.  Just when Molly has the audience on her side, she manages to do away with all the well-earned respect.  But nobody's perfect.  Just like the script.

Sorkin manages to shoehorn in some tacked-on father issues on top of everything going on in Molly's life and it unnecessarily makes the film feel a bit bloated, especially when it gets resolved in record time.  However Sorkin feels that if he draws attention to the rush-job by having characters mock it, it will forgive the sloppiness.  No dice, Mr Sorkin.

However this is a minor flaw in an overall fantastic script.  I'd highly recommend seeing this, whether it be cinema or at home.  An entertaining and dazzling ride through the ups and downs of high-chance poker games, with some brilliant side-performances from the likes of Michael Cera and Chris O'Dowd, but overall it is Chastain's show.  Or should I say Molly's game?

Rating

8/10

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