PIC of the Week – Molly’s Game
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Several promising releases this week with Phantom Thread and All the Money in the World, but none can beat the hand presented by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s Blu of Molly’s Game, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball, The Social Network). It’s the true story of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic class skier who ended up notoriously famous for running one of the biggest high end poker games and became a target for the FBI. Jessica Chastain captures the spitfire and grit of Molly Bloom while looking classy, and also giving a glimpse of her vulnerability in a very nuanced performance. Idris Elba, musters a tough, practical and sensitive side, portraying the last decent lawyer in town that may consider taking her on as a client.
Sorkin bounces us from Molly’s arrest, to young rebellious Molly, and how she became the top game in town. The writer/director glides the story by in such a quick pace that it nearly reminded me of the scene in Scorsese’s Goodfellas when Henry Hill is coked up and in too deep when the law finally catches up with him. Except, Sorkin’s movie feels like that throughout, at least through the first 2/3 of the film.
Those not familiar with poker could really use a cheat sheet in order to keep up with the movie. Thank God for rewind and subtitles. All that said, the film and Chastain are a marvel to behold, a lot of that having to do with its subject matter, Molly Bloom, one remarkably strong willed and smart woman who stood her ground.
Anybody that’s ever gambled, even for fun, is going to want to watch this film over and over again. Sorkin proves to be as adept in directing as he does with his writing, and all the actors are better for it.
Curiously, the big U is not providing a 4K version at this time, which is a shame since the Blu is a dynamic presentation with a 1080p picture and 2.39:1 ratio. Audio is a crisp English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 along with a Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. One could only imagine how great a 4K picture might have been. Not sure how Universal gauges what they bring out on 4K with such an erratic lineup from Despicable Me 2 to Ron Howard’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Fifty Shades Freed. No consideration for a class act like Molly’s Game? Also, at first glance, I thought I had it wrong, but there are nearly no extras. Just a paltry Building an Empire segment that sheds very little light on the film. Just an obligatory nod on all the hard work committed by Sorkin and his stars. There is a Blu/DVD/Digital Download package available. With so little to offer, the Blu is still the best release of the week.
Best Price – Amazon – $19.96
