Molly's Game (Review)

'Molly's Game' is a crime drama film which stars Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba. This film is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin.

Writing about people in power is Sorkin's forte, from his days of writing 'The West Wing' to his oscar winning script for 'The Social Network'.  This time around Sorkin is also in the directors chair, so how well does Sorkin direct his own writing?

Well, he does a good job actually, which was one of the main concerns I had about this film. I knew that the script would be good, but I thought the dialog heavy nature of Sorkin's writing might make the film seem stale, but yet the seasoned writer finds ways of making the scenes feel well paced and alive, and most importantly having the right tone, as the film often shifts from drama to comedy within the same scene. The film features some unconventional, but effective shots that I believe will stick with me, as far as his directing goes I was pleasantly surprised.

The performances from Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba are electrifying. They can delver some of the most complex monologue's without breaking a sweat. This is certainly one of Chastain's most defining roles. Kevin Costner provides the film with another great performance as 'Larry Bloom', Molly's controlling father.

Overall 'Molly's Game' is a solid directorial debut from Aaron Sorkin. The film has great performances, funny and engaging dialog as well as a good depth of character development all within a well paced story. My only real issue with this film is that I feel that it's too long and there is a a sub-plot which I would of like to have seen more of, however if you want an intriguing poker story then here you have one.

Rating: 8/10

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