Poker is a subject that has often found its way into the movies. From the downright comedic to the thrilling, the ‘king of games’ often makes for an interesting plot point. Molly’s Game, however, introduces us to its secretive side. This is a world of multi-million dollar, high-stakes games, celebrity players, and nail-biting suspense.
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s big screen directorial debut brings to life the memoir of Molly Bloom, an Olympic hopeful turned ‘Poker Princess’ who, for close to a decade, ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game in LA and New York. Her clients included Hollywood celebrities like Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio, elite sports stars, business magnates, and—unknown to her—Russian mobsters. The film follows the enigmatic Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain, as she ascends to poker royalty before being arrested by armed FBI officers late one night; she then attempts to convince attorney Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) that she is more than just her party-girl reputation.
The ever-reliable Chastain imbues her portrayal of Molly with a fierce hauteur that, when combined with Sorkin’s trademark snappy dialogue, brings to mind Bette Davis’ iconic performance as Margot Channing in Joseph. L. Mankiewicz’ masterpiece All About Eve. To say Molly Bloom is a high-achiever would be an understatement; she is driven to succeed, and despite her glamorous appearance—which whilst being highly-sexual never says sexually available—it is her intelligence that is her most valuable asset.
This is the first time that screenwriter/director Sorkin has been given free rein, and it shows in Bloom’s typically ‘Sorkinese’ narration that silkily accompanies practically every scene in the finished cut. The scenes in which Bloom and Jaffey (whom Elba gives plenty of surly combativeness) trade off on backstories makes for some interesting and exciting exposition. Sure, it’s largely witty ripostes and cutting observations, but even if nobody really talks like that in real life, Sorkin negotiates the complex narrative structure with aplomb.
Kevin Costner has settled in well to the sage father figure role that he’s been regularly playing in recent years; in this case, Costner portrays Bloom’s emotionally distant (but ultimately benevolent) father. Michael Cera is cast as the book’s Person X, who is rumored to be an amalgamation of the real-life Hollywood celebrities in attendance at Molly’s table. Cera delivers a satisfying turn as a spoilt-brat who steals Bloom’s LA game. Chris O’Dowd also deserves mention for a commendable, if dubiously accented, performance as Douglas Downey, the man who introduces Bloom to those Russian players who ultimately signal her fall from grace.
Molly’s Game is a great poker movie which finds a balance between the thrills and scenes that make you laugh out loud. But underneath its dramatic and witty sheen lies something a little murkier. After the revelations that came out of the movie industry in 2017, some of the scenes cut a little too close to the bone. There’s certainly no ambiguity on Sorkin’s side, and even though he clearly condemns the hyper-masculine world that mistreated Molly, he doesn’t offer any real resolution. All-in-all, though, Molly’s Game is an enjoyable ride through a world that most of us will never get to experience.
