MOLLY'S GAME

MOLLY’S GAME

Film Review by FIORE

At times, a cameo role can upstage the main stars of a film.  Kevin Costner does this in MOLLY’S GAME.  He’s only on the screen for mere moments at the beginning and end of the movie, but those moments, especially the scene on the park bench in Central Park, facilitate this film to finer finesse. 

Molly Bloom was an Olympic Free Style Skiing hopeful, when an accident ends her aspects of athletic competition.  Attempting to keep pace with her successful brothers, and under the reproachful eye of her father, Bloom transforms her athletic skills into entrepreneurial skills for poker.  She runs successful games in both of the two-letter cities, until the FBI thwarts her operation.  MOLLY’S GAME reveals her rise to the high-stakes underworld, and eventual dismissal.

Molly is played by Jessica Chastain.  This role is overdue for Jessica.  A stylish, buxom, Rubenesque actress, her more recent roles have downplayed her sexual allure.  Here, she can style and profile with some of the world’s wealthiest personas and do so with poise. 

Idris Elba plays her attorney, but it is Kevin Costner as Molly’s father who steals the show.  Through his gravitas, MOLLY’S GAME elevates to an extra echelon. 

Like too many movies today, MOLLY’S GAME is too long.  Interest begins to wane at about the one hour, forty-minute mark; meaning a solid twenty minutes could be eliminated from the film. Again, this is most likely due to an overabundance of editors.  Three are used, and that is two too many.

All of the characters in MOLLY’S GAME, with the exception of Costner’s character, come off a bit too polished.  This is understandable, and is a general penchant of biodramas.  No one wants the unseemly portions of their lives exposed, so most of the rough edges are smoothed considerably.

These foibles aside, MOLLY’S GAME is enjoyable.  It’s pleasant seeing Jessica in a role more befitting her physical attributes.  It’s also energizing to see a seasoned veteran like Costner pull the thespian rug out from the rest of the cast.