Mollywood.
140 Mins. Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Cera, Joe Keery, Jeremy Strong, Bill Camp, Chris O'Dowd & Kevin Costner. Director: Aaron Sorkin.
Much more than stakes or Academy aces are high here as Jessica Chastain goes all in for 'Molly's Game'. One of today's best actors who is about to become an 'X-Men' this Summer like 'A Most Violent Year' co-star Oscar Isaac's 'Apocalypse', swaps her trademark 'Dark Phoenix'/Molly Ringwald (could she be 'IT' too?) do for some raven locks. Growing into them to play Molly Bloom and the real life story based on her memoir of the same movie name about the former Olympic skier who salomon switched to another game. All the way from the thin air of Colorado to the hot sun of Hollywood, chicaning via the debauched sin of Las Vegas. Running the biggest and most exclusive, underground, billionaire boys poker game for athletes and politicans and DiCaprio's and Affleck's alike. Although here to protect identities they are more like Cera's and that kid from 'Stranger Things' with the hair for you chip geeks. It's not all how this slick movie looks however in black and red as under the wig is a perfect performance for Chastain's Oscar chasing big-three roll of 2017. See also her heroic roles in the war resistance of 'The Zookeepers Wife' and her one woman 'Miss Sloane' army against every gun range in the United States. But now former creator of the real 'American President' in 'The West Wing' (forget a Trump or Frank Underwood) Aaron Sorkin follows his screenplay work for the likes of David Fincher ('The Social Network') and Danny Boyle ('Steve Jobs') for a dynamic directorial debut that leaves it all on the green felt table. Much like his Michael Lewis adapted 'Moneyball' big swing, now showing that you should never leave his inspired ideas in the hands of someone else or the cutting room floor (see the criminally underrated 'Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip' starring Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry). For Molly's chambers you're looking at the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood and one of it's legendary, legacy making leading lights. Shall we play a game?
Digits stack like chips and numbers crunch like snow under skis on the most devastating descent as Sorkin sorts through some casino lever slick pulling direction that hits the jackpot like three reels of the same slot. Running the facts and figures like another Michael Lewis adapted movie in 'The Big Short', Aaron's debut in the chair headlined "director" makes it all look so too cool easy and like he had more time behind the lens for the likes of his screenplay big-three, 'The Social Network', 'Steve Jobs' and 'Moneyball'. But just like "playing a song for your daddy, right here in the store" or the 'if only the real world was really like this' wonder of 'The West Wing' there's huge heart behind all the hallmark hit highlights. Cue a Winter coat Costner on a cold Central Park bench again a la 'Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit'. Otherwise Sorkin's 'Molly' goes it 'Sloane' alone and makes her own modern American dream luck with no Hollywood b.s. damsel in distress hero to save the day for this heroine, or no love interest to keep the paint by numbers stereotypes crass canvased. Because just like Sorkin said, shooting down film festival press, "Brad Pitt didn't need one in 'Moneyball'", as Robin Wright was playing house with 'Her' director Spike Jonze in that Billy Beane movie. And from the winter sports pages snake eyes to the double or nothing second career gamble, 'Zero Dark Thirty' actress Jessica Chastain brings lights out, magic hour power of performance to her real world implicating character. She caters to the rich and famous high rollers but will never be brought or played by them. She holds her own and does her job, to those who think she looks the part...NO! She is the part and to those who think she's an object of desire or someone to flirt with between hands and cash exchanging for chips go home, grow up and think again. Her only interest besides her bank account is furthering herself and a career and high life that was lost on the slopes. This is Molly's empire...you're just playing in it. So lose your toys in the sandbox and get some perspective, because this woman even holds off the mob, takes a beating and picks herself up and carries on like any strong person and individual would. This is someone who walked away from a mountain sized fall that should have crippled her...physically and psychologically. A couple of goons in cheap suits? Forget about it! Chastain has been chasing and subsequently been called for these roles she's showed and proved for ever since her breakout in 'The Help'. And just like her leading co-star, 'La La Land' Oscar winner Emma Stone who is even greater in her latest movie 'Battle Of The Sexes' this is more than gender politics or going against a backwards Hollywood(land). This is the right for everyone willing to put in the work to get their equal share. Whether in dollars, sense or a piece of the American dream pie that should be all world reaching.
'The Tree Of Life' lead Jessica Chastain isn't the only one in full bloom however, playing a woman named after a James Joyce character. Idris Elba walks away from a critically shot down adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower', which he Gunslinger carried with lonely charisma and yearning heroism to give us one of his best roles to date. Right next to the 'Beasts Of No Nation' Oscar rob that should have got more 'Blood Diamond' attention even if it was the state of Netflix a couple of years ago (and still somewhat to this day). London's 'Luther' again shows just like 'The Wire' how acclaimed his American accent can be as this Great British actor who grew from the small screen to the cinemax one is as so slick as the game he's trying to find a legal loophole around. But there's no oil to this lawyer even in a land of snakes as this attorney has a stirring soul behind all those legal briefs and objections. As a matter of fact switching seats more times than celebrities courtside at a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, this reluctant representative has the biggest legal aid heart since Denzel Washington took Tom Hanks 'Philadelphia' case in '93. Just wait for Idris' impassioned, inspired peace saying speech that lump in the throat draws more cheers and tears than his "apocalypse" one in 'Pacific Rim' that even cancelled out Bill Pullman's 'Independence Day' one. The defence rests. But still there's even more to this movie that is more than just a casino or courtroom drama. It's layered. Take former 'Superbad' geek Michael Cera oozing milleniaal, "don't care" cool as a player who likes to "destroy lives" even if his top lip looks like it's still trying to get through puberty. This man yet again shows us he has more 'Scott Pilgrim' tricks as he takes on the world with all his 'Youth In Revolt' alter-egos. Even 'Stranger Things'' Joe Keery-who proved he had a lot more in the bag than being a douche in season 2 cameo-appears with that trademark Brylcreem showing us that in a couple more trips to the cinema he'll be Cera. As an ever versatile Jeremy Strong also shows us his strength of an actor as the usually all round good guy plays someone you'll hate. Whilst vests like Bill Camp bring character actor defying definition to small roles of significant that 48 hours at the table smell of substance. And if that wasn't enough 'IT Crowd' favourite Chris O'Dowd polishes off an American/Irish accent and whatevers left in whiskey on his bar tab. But for all the big names and recognisable faces at this all-star table of movie star high rollers its the legend Kevin Costner that really has presence in the shadows like in his hammer to "white only" bathroom stall sign support for the real life moon landing heroes of last years 'Hidden Figures'. Because this isn't the 90's 'Bodyguard', 'Waterworld' and 'Untouchable' legend Costner's movie...it's Chastain's. And as Sorkin soaringly writes and directs his vision of this story on screen shows one day she can do it all too. As in bringing the real Molly Bloom to life Chastain doesn't just partake in the game...she rewrites the rules of it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Miss Sloane', 'The Social Network', 'The Big Short'.
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