I am a big fan of Jessica Chastain but I don’t feel she gets as much love as she deserves so I thought I would use my next ‘Hidden Gem‘ review to help rectify this injustice, looking at the 2017 film Molly’s Game, based on the incredible biographical book of the same name.

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Keaton, Michael Cera, Chris O’Dowd.

Awards: Oscar nominee – Best Adapted Screenplay

Competitive skier Molly Bloom is on the verge of greatness when a freak accident robs her of a place at the Olympics and a promising career. Having spent most of her life preparing for competition, and chasing winter, Molly decides to take her retirement from professional sport as a opportunity to live life a little before she enrols into law school and heads to sunny Los Angeles.

As a way to make some money, she takes a job as Office Manager for an obnoxious real estate developer who asks her to help run his underground poker game, to which movie icons, and sports stars are all players. Ever the overachiever, Molly absorbs learns everything she can about this unfamiliar world and before long she is running the most exclusive high stakes poker games in the world.

Her client list is the ‘Who’s Who’ of the world’s wealthy elite but, after ten years off running the game, her world starts to crumble and she finds herself a target of the FBI, named in an indictment against the Russian mob. Her only ally is criminal defense lawyer, Charlie Jaffey, who learns there is a lot more to the ‘Poker Princess’ than the glossy tabloid make out.

This may be Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut but he is the writer of some of my favourite biographical pics including The Social Network and Steve Jobs, and his fast paced dialogue seems to be something of a signature and in Molly’s Game it helps to drive the story forward and, for me, perfectly reflects the speed with which Molly’s mind must work.

The decision to tell the story in a circular fashion can be a little disorientating at times but I actually enjoyed the to-ing and fro-ing, and the constant narration from Molly ensures all the aspects of the story are cohesive and work to inform and enhance each other. I’ll admit that that the style will not be too everyone’s liking. It’s not something you can have in the background and still know what’s going on, the film needs – and deserves – your full focus from start to finish.

The incredible story telling is one thing but what really makes this such a great film is the powerhouse performance from Jessica Chastain, which in my opinion should have at least been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Her ability to coincide style, class and a sharp wit with an underlying sense of integrity, loyalty and honour really helps to round out the character in such a powerful way that you find yourself mentally cheering and applauding at Charlie Jaffey’s passionate defence of her character to the prosecuting lawyers, fervently delivered by Idris Elba..

Although there is a strong supporting cast around her, and each is given their own opportunity to shine, there is no doubt that Chastain carries this film squarely on her shoulders. This is the story of Molly Bloom, and Molly Bloom is the story.

If you like this film, I would also recommend the book that is also a intriguing and captivating read.

If you liked this review, don’t forget my other ‘Hidden Gems’ here.