Molly's Game (2017)

Molly's Game Poster

Molly Bloom, a young skier and former Olympic hopeful becomes a successful entrepreneur (and a target of an FBI investigation) when she establishes a high-stakes, international poker game.

Overview
"Molly's Game" is a 2017 crime drama film directed and composed by Aaron Sorkin. The film is based on Molly Bloom's narrative of the exact same name and stars Jessica Chastain in the lead role. The cast also consists of Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, and Michael Cera. The movie focuses around Molly's life, involving high-stakes underground poker games, her subsequent arrest by the FBI, and her battle for redemption.

Plot
Jessica Chastain plays Molly Bloom, a previous Olympic-class skier, who ran the world's most unique, high-stakes poker video game for a years prior to she was arrested in the middle of the night by 17 armed FBI representatives. Her poker video games brought in Hollywood celebs, business tycoons, and even the Russian mob.

The film starts with Molly's life as a skier, trained completely by her requiring daddy, represented by Kevin Costner. After a severe injury, he is forced to give up the sport. She then relocates to Los Angeles and gets a task as an assistant to Dean Keith, a shady entrepreneur. Dean introduces her to the underground world of poker. Molly takes control of the video game, improving it with her service acumen and drawing a greater quality of players.

Legal Battle and Redemption
Molly's world comes spiraling down when among the Russian mob gamers leads the FBI to her. She is charged with running a prohibited gambling operation, among other things. Left broke and helpless, Molly employs legal representative Charlie Jaffey (played by Idris Elba).

Charlie is skeptical about Molly at first but takes her case after realizing her real plight. She declines the FBI's offer to trade her poker contacts for resistance due to the fact that she doesn't want to destroy others' lives. The court ultimately sentences Molly to a year of probation, 200 hours of social work, and a $200,000 fine.

Molly's Relationship with her Father
A crucial part of the story is Molly's strained relationship with her dad. He is a hard-driven man who always pushed her and her siblings toward high achievement, contributing to her relentlessness. In an effective scene, Molly's daddy delivers a 'treatment session' where he astutely breaks down Molly's actions and she finally forgives him.

Crucial Reception
"Molly's Game" received favorable evaluations from critics, praising Sorkin's movie script, along with the efficiencies of Chastain and Elba. It was likewise admired for its fascinating storytelling that wrapped viewers into the busy world of underground poker. Chastain's powerful portrayal of Molly highlighted the strong determination of a lady declining to be a victim of situations or social expectations. The film does not glorify the illicit world of high stakes poker however deals with the human weakness for vanity and dependency.

Conclusion
"Molly's Game" is an engaging real-life story of Molly Bloom's journey from a competitive skier to an operator of high-stakes, underground poker games, and finally to a defendant battling a court case. The film skillfully checks out themes of ambition, power, addiction, and redemption, powered by Jessica Chastain's captivating performance and Aaron Sorkin's sharp movie script.

Top Cast

  • Jessica Chastain (small)
    Jessica Chastain
    Molly Bloom
  • Idris Elba (small)
    Idris Elba
    Charlie Jaffey
  • Kevin Costner (small)
    Kevin Costner
    Larry Bloom
  • Michael Cera (small)
    Michael Cera
    Player X
  • Jeremy Strong (small)
    Jeremy Strong
    Dean Keith
  • Chris O'Dowd (small)
    Chris O'Dowd
    Douglas Downey
  • J. C. MacKenzie (small)
    J. C. MacKenzie
    Harrison Wellstone
  • Brian d'Arcy James (small)
    Brian d'Arcy James
    Bad Brad
  • Bill Camp (small)
    Bill Camp
    Harlan Eustice
  • Graham Greene (small)
    Graham Greene
    Judge Foxman
  • Justin Kirk (small)
    Justin Kirk
    Jay