Review: Molly's Game - Solid if unspectacular directorial debut for Aaron Sorkin

The beginning of the calendar year is usually the best time to head to your local cinema to catch the solid steady flow of award favourites and quality features that hit the big screen at this time.
The prospect of a fascinating biopic from the pen of award winning screenwriter who takes his place in the director's chair for the first time, that includes a formidable cast and it's easy to understand that this latest production was not a difficult one to settle in for such was the potential it carried.
Director Aaron Sorkin's Mollys Game is the true story of Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally in this debacle was her criminal defence lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned there was much more to Molly than the press led people to believe.
The movie starts in typical Sorkin style with his sassy, quick witted and stylish script leaping steadfast from the big screen and engaging the viewer from the very first shot. Jessica Chastain again proving what a top class talent she is by supplying a performance that is bound to have her in the conversation come awards season. Idris Elba is also magnificent here proving that outside of those annoying Sky TV adverts lies a quite talented actor who can hold his own quite admirably amongst his contemporaries. For the first ninety minutes the audience is treated to riveting and at times quite unbelievable tale that has some sharp dialogue and strong performances to thank for what looks like it's heading to be a great cinematic start to 2018.
But alas the promise shown in the first two thirds of this film fade as Sorkin buckles under Hollywood pressure and delivers a limp and weak ending with some scenes in particular sprinkled with extra cheese in a feature that showed so much promise but unfortunately falls at the final hurdle.
There is enough in this production however to ultimately entertain the masses who will undoubtedly be impressed with the leading actors performances and salute what was a valiant first time effort from first time director Sorkin.
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