Good story, mediocre casting, bad dialogue.

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2020)

Molly's Game delivers on two fronts: a deep story about a flawed human being in search for success and remembrance and a criticism on the dynamics of gambling. Jessica Chastain as Molly navigates us through a good performance, not mediocre, but definitely not memorable. I did not really cared for her experience that much, because she didn't manage to evoke any strong feelings from me. She remained too impassive for prolonged periods of the film, to the point that I did not care about her success in her business. The movie was entertaining. For a person that is not an avid poker fan and knows little to none on the dynamics, this was fresh and detailed. The movie delivered a way for the amateur to feel comfortable and understand the story engagedly.
I appreciate the profound display of Molly's life and motivations. The movie felt like it was going through the experience of many characters rather than have a prominent protagonist. What kept me always at least interested in the protagonist were the continuous gestures of analysis of her intentions and experiences in a relatable way. Some gestures felt a bit serendipitous or forced into the story, but it was not a drastic change that ruined the whole experience of the movie. The voice-over and dialogue felt a bit too fast paced for my taste, but it also added vitality and flavor. I am usually more irritated by a slow pace that disperses my attention than a fast-paced dialogue that might not give enough depth to the narrative but keeps me immersed.
I appreciated the subtle criticisms of gambling that occurred in the movie. Yes, it is talking about a woman that was able to escape legal consequences from starting an illegal gambling ring, but it also details the negative emotional, physical, and mental repercussions of immersing oneself into those environments. In no way did she remain unscathed. She went through a complex transformation of character and integrity that was dignified.
The story carries the movie. It is really eventful and descriptive, but uses too much voice-over and does not engage our imagination. Still an entertaining movie.