While famous for The Social Network, The Newsroom and The West Wing, Molly’s Game is Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut and is truly a Sorkin film: jam packed with quick, smart dialogue with a little less story than desired. Rounding out Sorkin’s tight script are the captivating performances from leads Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
Based on the autobiographical book of the same name, Molly’s Game details the life of Molly Bloom, an Olympic ski hopeful with bad luck during preliminary trials, preventing her from competing anymore. Molly, played by Jessica Chastain, leaves for Los Angeles to live far away from her family, where she is introduced to the world of high-stakes, underground gambling. The film begins with her FBI arrest, then going back and forth between her childhood, running a gambling room and then the present, as she talks with her lawyer before heading to court. Idris Elba plays the lawyer, Charley Jaffey, who pairs well alongside Chastain (and who is very capable of that famous, heavy Sorkin banter).
As the film jumps back and forth, the audience learns of her background (a well-off family, filled with overachieving, but actually successful, brothers). Bloom’s plans to follow those overachievers and go to law school are cut short but the qualities are still apparent: smart, quick-witted and a fast learner. But her propensity for risk propels the story.
In addition to Chastain and Elba, the cast is stacked with strong supporting players: specifically, Michael Cera (“Player X”) as an unnamed celebrity at the poker games is always a treat to watch. Chris O’Dowd gives a really great comedic performance as a rich (and very drunk) poker player popping up throughout the second half of the film. But it’s Kevin Costner who is the real revelation, delivering one of his better performances in years as Molly’s dad. (Editor’s Note: even better than Man of Steel?!)
Molly’s Game is a fun movie, that sometimes shows the effects of its long runtime. At two hours and twenty minutes, the dialogue-packed script must have been the length of the Bible but, because of its surprisingly brisk pacing, I was never bored, a sign of a very solid first attempt at directing by Sorkin. Jessica Chastain gives a wonderful performance, showing both an emotional side and a true fearlessness to find her place in a male-dominated setting. Aaron Sorkin may have crafted a tight-knit, fast-talking film about drugs and gambling, but he filled it with great performances and heart.
Some fun observations:
- Best line of the movie: “I don’t like playing poker … I like destroying lives.” – Michael Cera’s Player X
- Second best? “These are poor people bagels.” – Dean Keith (Jeremy Strong)
Images: Michael Gibson; Motion Picture Artwork © 2017 STX Financing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
