Molly's Game

Or: “A Bell of My Good Name"

There are some people that just make you feel inadequate. They’re smarter, more driven, put together, socially adept, untroubled and better than the average bear. Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) is one of those people, and an audience member could be forgiven the tiniest sliver of schadenfreude to find that even such refined person can still get themselves into trouble. But only the tiniest. After an abrupt end to her childhood aspiration to be ski champion of the world (imbued by her dyspeptic and demanding father Larry (Kevin Costner), Molly finds herself wading into the dark waters of private poker games for the rich and famous. Though proving herself an adept GM, and outstripping a number of unsavory fella’s who think her beauty and intelligence is a tool for their private use, she finds herself coming across more and more dangerous company, until she runs afoul of the biggest and badest: the U.S. Government. Now, her wings clipped, Molly must strive with her fast talking and suspicious lawyers Charles Jaffey (Idris Elba) to fight for her own good name.

Written and Directed by Aaron Sorkin, Molly’s Game is well paced, engrossing, and (unlike say Moneyball or The Social Network) delivers up more enriching than smart hands making money and mistakes. The camera hungrily devours the magic of the poker table and sets up a few cinematic delights that ping nicely against our infante sense of story. The Sorkinese runs fast and flashy as ever, though when Molly starts narrating about the intricacies of poker, it’s best to sit back and let it wash over you. Or ask for supertitles and an annotated libretto. Between Molly and Charles, the feints and clashes and super-tasty tidbits of information are marvelously dished and received. Elba is a perfect match for the script, full of flowing eloquence but able to bring himself about to a new direction on a dimes turn. Chastain mixes in her patented coolheadedness with a depth of soul. Its so delightful to watch her wash off the contemptible persons that throw themselves her way, but so painful when she comes up against something she can’t outsmart.

In one glimpse, we see Molly observing her first game from the shadows. Eyes flickering over the players she drinks it all in, mastering the game from the sidelines, then breaks into a beatific smile. It’s the expression of someone who has felt powerless finding a way to reclaim herself. And after every setback, every dismissal, she keeps coming back, playing not only harder but with greater integrity.