Search results
Dec 24, 2017 · In other words, Molly Bloom is an Aaron Sorkin character, even though she’s a real person with a really extraordinary tale to tell: The “Poker Princess” made a fortune running high-stakes games for the wealthy and powerful.
Sep 13, 2023 · Characters. At the heart of Molly’s Game is Jessica Chastain’s electrifying portrayal of Molly Bloom. Chastain embodies the character with an intoxicating mix of vulnerability and steely determination. Molly’s transformation from a naive assistant to a savvy poker queenpin is a testament to Chastain’s remarkable talent.
- mac@foxchronicle.com
- 3 min
- First you get the poker, then you get the power, then you get indicted.
- Verdict
By William Bibbiani
Posted: Nov 22, 2017 12:38 am
Aaron Sorkin is one of the most instantly recognizable writers of the modern era, whether or not you have any idea what he looks like. The creator of The West Wing and The Newsroom, and the screenwriter of The Social Network and Steve Jobs, has a knack - or at least a propensity - for telling stories about fast-talking intellectuals whose brains are overflowing with observations and anecdotes, most of which are thematically important by the end of the conversation… a conversation that had at least a 40% chance of being given while the characters walked somewhere.
Sorkin’s particular writing style has a tendency to overpower even the most dynamic filmmakers. It would be difficult to confuse the films of David Fincher and Danny Boyle, and yet their films The Social Network and Steve Jobs are clearly connected, for better or worse, by a single voice. So it was always going to be interesting to see what such a distinctive writer would do in his directorial debut, and find out whether he’s as sharp behind a camera as he is with a pen.
The answer to that question lies in Molly’s Game, a biographical drama about Molly Bloom, who ran a high-stakes poker game for rich people, famous people, powerful people, and eventually dangerous criminals. It was a nebulously legal line of work in the first place and lines are eventually crossed, until ultimately Molly Bloom was indicted by the FBI and forced to explain herself, and possibly ruin the lives of her players.
Aaron Sorkin and poker are a pretty obvious match, since they both build anticipation through the use of deception and repartee. Molly’s Game is at its best when it’s wrapped up in the high-stakes poker games, the unexpected turns of fate, and the spirit of competition that drives Molly Bloom to take charge of the game and the players.
Molly’s Game doesn’t announce Aaron Sorkin as the next great filmmaker, but he’s a good one. It’s a competently filmed production with some fine performances, but it lacks the focus and showpersonship that would be necessary to make it feel like more.
- William Bibbiani
People also ask
Is Molly's game a good movie?
Is 'Molly's game' a true story?
Is Molly's game a poker movie?
Is Molly a good character?
471 Reviews. Hide Spoilers. Sort by: Filter by Rating: 8/10. A phenomenal Jessica Chastain. DLochner 31 October 2020. A fast, excellently written and well-cast film. Jessica Chastain plays outstandingly well as both a fragile beginner, a brilliant winner as well as a strong woman. I would advise everyone to take a look at this strip.
Though Bloom did employ real lawyers, Charlie (Idris Elba) is a fictional character who appears to be basically a stand-in for Sorkin himself — someone who is skeptical of Molly at the outset...
Jan 5, 2018 · 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. Read Critics...
- (310)
- Biography, Drama
- R
Jan 5, 2018 · Molly's Game: Directed by Aaron Sorkin. With Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera. The true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.
