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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Friday’s openings redux: Sorkin plays poker

Dan Webster

So, one film is being added to the list of movies opening on Friday. And it's from Aaron Sorkin. The film:

"Molly's Game": Jessica Chastain portrays Molly Bloom, a woman who ran a high-stakes poker game for celebrities whom the FBI targeted. Sorkin, an Oscar- and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, debuts as a writer-director. Bet the house on this one.

Here are some of the critical comments (most of which revolve around Chastain's performance):

Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times: "Chastain draws us so deeply into Molly's lightning-speed thought processes that you can almost see her synapses firing, making 'Molly's Game' not just a biographical portrait but a genuine thriller of the mind."

Tomris Laffly, Time Out: "A sharply judged edit stitches together three separate timelines, shaping Molly as a complex and razor-sharp character in a world dominated by entitled mansplainers. Forget 'Rounders' — here's a poker movie to go all-in on."

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: " 'Molly's Game' is worth the ante: It pays off, both as slick, adult-oriented entertainment and morality tale."