Review of Molly's Game (2017) by Filipe C — 09 Dec 2017

The story of an Olympic athlete who went on to run the world's most exclusive poker game seems like the work of Hollywood at its most creative. But in a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction turn, that's exactly what happened to Molly Bloom.

And who better to adapt her autobiography than Moneyball and The Social Network scribe, Aaron Sorkin? Molly's Game is the heart-pounding, consistently compelling result. Featuring a thunderous Jessica Chastain in what might be the crowning achievement of her career, the film also marks Sorkin's promising directorial debut, and maintains a brisk pace throughout its almost two and a half hours long runtime.

Dynamically edited and featuring the writer's trademark (rapid-fire exchanges), Molly's Game is one of the most successful biopics of the last five years. It's a film about the pursuance of excellence, chance's part in (un)success, and the ever-fascinating look at people staking their lives on account of their principles.