REVIEW: Molly's Game

Directed by Aaron Sorkin
2017 Biographical Drama
2 hours 20 minutes
From STX Entertainment

Starring 
Jessica Chastain
Idris Elba
Kevin Costner
Michael Cera
Jeremy Strong
Chris O'Dowd
Brian d'Arcy James
Graham Greene

Far and away the best thing about this film is the great Aaron Sorkin's writing.  Let's not pussyfoot around this.  His legion of fans should not be displeased.  Some of it was like poetry and it always has been to me.  Today is a day I wanted some poetry.

I only had a vague recollection of who Molly Bloom is and when I heard that a high-stakes poker game(s) were at the center of the story, I thought about The Cincinnati Kid (which I liked) and thought been there, done that, not interested.  Of course, when I heard Idris Elba was attached to the project, I began to weaken.  It was, however, hearing that Sorkin was not only adapting Bloom's book but for the first time directing a big screen film that cemented my attendance.  I got the poetry, intrigue, intelligence, well-developed characters, a healthy understanding of some complex issues and complete satisfaction.  This is a wonderful film.

Understanding those complex issues is greatly enhanced by Sorkin's decision to have Molly do a voice-over, especially at the outset.  It moves the exposition along quickly and those background details that can be so tedious sometimes and bog down a story don't show up here.  Another tactic that is cleverly done is two components of the story are told simultaneously.  Sorkin flips back and forth between the story of her crime and her legal proceedings.  These things don't always succeed well in other films but in Sorkin's capable hands, which includes masterful editing, it all goes so smoothly and helps keep audience interest high.

Molly Bloom was a competitive skier as a young woman.  Her mother was a ski instructor, her brother an Olympic skier and pro football player and her father a clinical psychologist and Colorado State University professor.  While the family was accomplished, Molly felt less so and she developed an antagonism toward her strong-willed father.  The real truth was like father, like daughter.

She rebelled, headed for L.A. and went to work as a secretary/Girl Friday for a businessman who on the side ran big-monied poker games involving sportsmen, showbiz types and business tycoons.  He enlisted Molly to cater to the whims (not sexual) of the players and generally manage the games for him (while he was one of the players).

She learns a great deal about the inner workings of such an enterprise and after her boss attempts to screw her over financially, she sets out to take the business away from him.  She becomes rich and enjoys being among such powerful men.  Soon she moves her operation to Manhattan where she sets up fancy games for Wall Street titans and others who are well-connected.  Doing what she did is illegal and with too much booze and drugs she didn't always keep her eye on the ball.  The mob trying to cut itself in is no real surprise.

Ultimately she was arrested for a number of things.  She hires an attorney who is as strong, opinionated and determined as she is and because they have such different ideas on how things are to proceed, he is reluctant to take her case.  Of course he does and the Chastain/Elba scenes together sparkle.  I didn't know how this turned out in real life and I'm glad I didn't.  

Chastain is the best she's ever been... and that's saying something given her body of work.  I have no problem understanding the awards attention she's getting.  Molly is a cool character, sometimes chilly, seemingly troubled, and Sorkin has armed her with dialogue most actresses would kill to say.  Most would also kill to play a woman so powerful and looking so beautiful at the same time.

Elba is always stunning.  He is formidable as her attorney who at first is reluctant to take her case but then jumps in with both feet. 

Costner nails his role as well.  For years I have found him to have a smug and humorless if not grave attitude about things but that's partially why he's so good in this role.  Those traits are his character's.  He's a dad who is an authoritarian and tough on his kids... and he seemed to break his daughter's spirit to some degree, shake her confidence.  Just as I mentioned in my Call Me by Your Name review a few days ago, there is a heart-warming scene between father and child near the end that choked me up.

The supporting cast is all letter-perfect as well.  Molly's game was a dangerous one, a dumb one, a compelling one, and Sorkin and company brought a multi-layered, continuously entertaining look to it.  I expect poker players would have some extra interest.  I wouldn't have expected that I would have had that but I was mistaken.  I found it all quite fascinating.



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