Streaming: Netflix
Warnings:
Abuse
Violence
Gambling
Addiction
Drugs
Rating: R
Molly’s Game is a biographical crime drama based on Molly bloom who is an Olympic-class skier, she also ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game until she became a target for the FBI. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin for his directional debut, Molly’s Game is based on a memoir of the same name. Molly’s Game stars Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O’Dowd, Joe Keery, Brian D’Arcy James, and Bill Camp. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 and soon later began a limited theatrical release in the United States. Molly’s Game received positive reviews overall, Sorkin received praise for the screenplay and Chastain and Elba’s performances received positive critical acclaim as well. Chastain earned a golden globe nomination for Best Actress while Sorkin earned multiple nominations for the screenplay including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Writers Guild of America Awards and BAFTA Awards. Aside from the wonderful acting and screenplay, the editing of the film brought the story to life and added an additional charm to the plot. Molly’s Game takes the audience on twists and turns that the audience doesn’t expect and keeps them on the edge of their seat throughout the film.
In 2014, The Mark Gordon Company bought the feature film adaptation rights for Molly Bloom’s memoir which Gordon also produced. Aaron Sorkin was later hired to adapt the memoir into a screenplay and Bloom had already approached Sorkin because he was her, “favorite writer.” In 2016, it was publicly announced that Sorkin would make his directional debut on the film and Amy Pascal joined in producing. One thing in particular about this film is that it’s not obvious that it’s based on a book which is an interesting approach when adapting from a memoir. Molly’s Game certainly features narration from the main character, but it doesn’t come off as a story adapted for a film by any means. This approach makes the film stronger, more entertaining and possibly allows the creativity to be less restrained.
The acting in Molly’s Game is phenomenal, during the casting process of the film, Molly Bloom told Sorkin that she wished for Jessica Chastain to play her. Chastain’s performance with Idris Elba surely made the film even more entertaining. Some critics state that this was some of Idris Elba’s best acting of his career. What is even more shocking is that because of scheduling conflicts, Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain had only 10 days to shoot. They shot 45 pages in the first 6 days and they rehearsed off-set before shooting began as well as in between takes. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus reads, “Powered by an intriguing story and a pair of outstanding performances from Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, Molly’s Game marks a solid debut for writer-director Aaron Sorkin.” Along with those great performances, Michael Cera is noteworthy in his portrayal of the character, “Player X,” who is widely believed to be based on Tobey Maguire. The acting is energizing and intriguing and it certainly shocks the audience while they are guided through an unexpected journey.
The editing of the film also adds to the story in an interesting way. There is quick editing during poker games as well as explanatory graphics that are used during the poker games. This is a smart way to include audience members who might not understand poker on the level that the characters in the film do, thus not isolating the story and making the audience disinterested. Molly’s Game was edited by Alan Baumgarten, Josh Schaeffer, and Elliot Graham, some of the films they have worked on are, Steve Jobs, Milk, Captain America (1990), Trumbo, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. The editing not only highlights important parts of the story, but it also paces the film perfectly. The storyline isn’t necessarily structured in order, and it captures the difficult situation Molly Bloom was in while also not making her look foolish. The film depicts Molly Bloom as an intelligent go getter even though she is a convicted felon which is a refreshing portrayal of “a criminal” in Hollywood. Through the editing, the film is able to capture the problems Molly Bloom faced, while also examining different perspectives of characters. This element of Molly’s Game only made the film a more powerful and captivating story.
It is understandable why Molly’s Game received so many accolades as well as critical acclaim. From the methodical acting, the engaging screenplay and the masterful editing, Molly’s Game is truly a great film debut for Aaron Sorkin. The story includes thrill, complex female characters and interesting personalities, it is no wonder that it turned out as great as it did. Molly’s Game is by no means predictable and takes the audience on a wild journey. Watching this film makes the audience want to read Molly Bloom’s book simply to get more of the back story. If you wish to watch a true crime drama that will take you on an unpredictable adventure, I highly recommend Molly’s Game.