Molly’s Game (2017)
“To whoever answered that the worst thing that can happen in sports is getting 4th place in the Olympics: Seriously? Fuck you.” – Molly.
Molly’s Game (2017)
Directed by: Aaron Sorkin
Written by: Aarok Sorkin
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera
Inject Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue into my veins.
Molly’s Game follows the true-story of Molly Bloom’s dalliance with the rich and famous during the creation and then collapse of her exclusive high-stakes poker game in both LA and New York. When players from her table are indicted in a federal case, Molly is dragged into the mess and engages the services of defence lawyer Charley Jaffey (Elba).
This is an absolutely wild true-story, with players at Molly’s games including the likes of Tobey McGuire (think evil spidey in Spider-Man 3), Leo, Damon, and Affleck, and the intricate web of money, mobsters and Molly practically built for Hollywood.
As with any Sorkin project, it can feel a bit preachy in parts and is farrrrrr too long, but Sorkin, Chastain and Elba go all-in to ensure an entertaining product. No one does dialogue like Sorkin, and the movie is at it’s best when Chastain is spitting these lines at us over dynamic montages, or sparring with Elba in his office.
The movie embraces its flashy and trashy subject matter, giving the audience what they want, but balances this with intellectual dialogue. Not a royal flush, but still a two pair or something.
Rating: 7.5/10