Review of Molly's Game (2017) by Lewis L — 06 Jan 2018

Entertaining and true story of an American called Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain).

She begins the film as a young Olympic freestyle skier whose promising career is brought to a halt by a horrific freak injury.

She lives at home with her caring but perhaps overpowering father/coach Kevin Costner.

Costner has aged since his early 1990s heyday in films such as Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves and The Bodyguard.

Molly leaves home and goes to the bright lights of L.A. where she realises she can make serious money hosting high stakes Texas Hold 'em Up Poker games for the rich and famous of L.A. and Hollywood.

Debut director Aaron Sorkin does a great job considering he is best well known for excellent dialogue heavy screenplays such as The Social Network.

A working knowledge of Poker could be helpful as hands are compared on screen along with the use of other poker words such as flop, river etc..

As Molly's games become more elaborate issues such as gambling addiction are shown. She gets some competition so ends up moving her operation to the east coast and New York with rich bankers and the Russian mafia becoming involved.

The attention of the F.B.I. Is alerted with inevitable results and the entry of Idris Elba as talented lawyer Charlie Jaffey who uses his skills in representing Molly.

Kevin Costner returns to the film.

A brief extract of 1970s George Harrison can be heard during proceedings. Sorkin can be pleased with his directorial debut.

A good film all round.