Molly’s Game – Reviewed by Will

In this multiple award nominee (two Golden Globes and BAFTA for Best Screenplay at last count) Oscar Winning Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin brings more of his patented rapid-fire chatter to the screen with the thrilling story of the rise and fall of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), former olympic skier turned high stakes poker Madam.

Beginning with a superb fast paced dissection of the skiing accident that put an end to Molly’s olympic dreams, the film then bounces back and forth between a young Molly’s empire building and it’s subsequent collapse as Molly stands charged of money laundering and suspected ties to the Russian Mafia in the present day.

For fans of Sorkin’s previous work such as The West Wing, The Social Network and Steve Jobs, you know what to expect. Super-smart dialogue, delivered at a machine gun pace. Though potentially off-putting to some, Sorkin (also on directing duties here) manages the ebb and flow well, allowing for the quieter moments to stand out and it’s here that Jessica Chastain truly shines adding a much welcome dimension to the usual hyper-verbal Molly in what she doesn’t say, rather than what she does.

As the triumvirate of men in Molly’s life; Idris Elba as Molly’s lawyer, Charlie Jaffey, Kevin Costner as her father Larry Bloom and Michael Cera as Player X (if gossip is to believed, an amalgamation of Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio) all acquit themselves with aplomb. But make no mistake ; this is Chastain’s film.

If you were to indulge in a game of chance at the cinemas this week, Molly’s Game is definitely a safe bet.

Molly’s Game is screening at thescreen Stortford on Monday 26 February and Tuesday 27 February – book tickets now.

To view the full cinema programme click here.