Ace's High: Review of Molly's Game

Molly's Game

Director: Aaron Sorkin

By Alex Watson

Aaron Sorkin's first time behind the lens is certainly an entertaining one. Molly's Game has plenty of visual and narrative trickery to make it a slick and engaging drama. Although Sorkin shows promise, this movie doesn't quite have the winning hand needed. There is great tension and intrigue in the gambling world that Molly Bloom immersed herself in and a typically strong Jessica Chastain gives this tale a boost.

Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) is a former skier who has recently moved to Los Angeles. Quickly she finds a job working for a douchey Hollywood executive who asks her to organize a weekly poker night. Immediately she discovers a knack for running game night's and soon she attains a big celebrity clientele. However, her ascent to becoming a 'poker princess' will lead to her eventually crossing into illegal territory.

Molly's Game is a movie that clearly respects and admires its subject. In a breathless and enrapturing opening, we meet Molly as a member of the U.S Ski Team attempting to qualify for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics. When she is injured, she has to rethink her career path and this is what leads her towards the poker world. Bloom soon emerges as a contender with both the savvy and smarts to build an empire. At first, she lives by a tight moral code as she refuses to accept payment and stays away from gambling herself. The early heyday is where the movie is at its strongest and Sorkin builds a great interest in not only how the game functions but the methods Molly uses to stay ahead. The movie moves back and forth between past and present to when Molly is being charged for her alleged involvement with the Russian mafia. Attorney Charlie Jaffrey (Idris Elba) is now faced with a near-impossible task of keeping her out of prison.

To keep her out of the big house, Molly must reveal what she knows to the US government. Keeping her cards close, she refuses to fold under pressure. This leads to verbal jousting between her and Charlie as her attorney mentally digests her decision to keep silent. There are some interesting aspects to Molly's backstory such as her fractured relationship with her psychologist father (An underused Kevin Costner). Her rise in the gambling world is what keeps this movie at the table and although she becomes vastly wealthy, she often rubs others the wrong way. Falling foul of high rolling celebrity Player X (Michael Cera) forces her to relocate to New York which is where her downfall begins. The problem that Sorkin faces midway is sustaining interesting and upping the already high stakes. Unfortunately, despite some unpredictable storytelling, this movie is unable to lift itself to where it needs to be.

The third act of Molly's Game is where the game beings to fold. Sorkin is keen to point out that Molly is very much a victim of having her success abused by wealthy men. What Molly Bloom achieved is nothing short of remarkable, but Sorkin seems to be unclear in what sort of reaction he wants from his audience? Because of this indecision, the wanted fireworks are never released during the film's finale. The scenes between Molly and Charlie are often enthralling but seem to lack a special something to make them memorable. Sorkin's movie desperately wants to be a classic poker movie and so far, it is definitely the best modern movie about playing cards. As much as we want it to be an award's contender it cannot bluff like a pro.

Jessica Chastain proves she is one of the Hollywood's elite talents with yet another powerhouse turn. As Molly Bloom, she is strong, smart and has plenty of moxie to boot. Showing this character as one weary from her time riding high, Chastain peals away the layers of this character to reveal who deep her conflict runs. Already an award's favourite, you can expect Chastain's name to appear constantly come Oscar time. Idris Elba, unfortunately, is stuck in a less weighty role as Charlie. Reduced to just shouting constantly, his presence does inspire some great scenes with Chastain. Sadly, this character is drastically underwritten so any potential effects are lost.

Molly's Game shows that Aaron Sorkin can walk the walk behind the lens as well as on paper. With time, our favourite writer could be something special!

The Batman: Review of The Lego Batman Movie

The Lego Batman Movie

Director: Chris McKay

By Alex Watson

Few animated features will be quite as fun as The Lego Batman Movie. Sporting the same kind of charm that delighted both Lego and movie fans alike, Chris McKay has given us an ideal geek out movie. The story might not necessarily be strong, but the sheer amount of jokes make up for it. At the centre is perhaps 2017's ultimate bromance as two enemies share a deeper bond. Lego Batman was one of the highlights of 2014's 'The Lego Movie', and when given his own movie he doesn't disappoint.

Batman (Will Arnett) is the hero of Gotham City who has once again succeeded over his rival The Joker (Zach Galifianakis). However, during the heat of battle, he completely dismisses this villain as completely nothing. Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) is the newly elected Police Commissioner who wants a closer working relationship with Batman. His ego still hurting from the rejection by his nemesis, the Joker deliberately surrenders to Gordon. Shocked by this, Batman sets out to banish the Joker to the Phantom Zone.

From a rocking opening sequence which will have smiles from the opening black screen "Black. All important movies start with a black screen." Batman emerges to foil The Joker, of course with his own catchy theme song. Chris McKay taps into the Dark Knight's individual streak early on. Even though he loves his reckless life- secretly he heads home alone to an empty mansion. Brilliantly The Joker's presence is almost vulnerable in this movie. Normally feared, here his entrance is met by a blank expression due to his constant defeats. It could be said this movie is about the effects of wounded pride. The Joker is stabbed to the core by Batman's refusal to acknowledge him (the facial expressions are excellent!). While our hero plays it cool, secretly he needs this band of villains. Gordon has big plans for Gotham, which due to Batman's inability to capture his rivals has meant scaling back his involvement.

The sheer amount of jokes related to Batman's backstory always hit the spot. In one scene with butler Alfred (wonderfully voiced by Ralph Fiennes), we see each previous instalment recreated. Chris McKay has basically done a love letter to the entire screen history- including each time Joker failed. When his enemy and his legion of cronies surrender to Gordon- this is the ultimate slap in the face to Batman.  This along with accidentally adopting Robin (Michael Cera) quickly sends Batman into a mad spiral. Obsessed with banishing Joker to the Phantom Zone- there is the big question of is he just playing into his rivals hands? There is a heartfelt note as McKay reveals Batman's big fear of starting a family. To his horror, he begins growing closer to his adopted son and finds his family ever growing. Without them, he cannot defeat the Joker.

When the final battle hits, this is where The Lego Batman Movie has the most fun. An array of movie villains come forward such as Sauron, Agent Smith from the Matrix, King Kong and Voldemort. Reigning hell on Gotham, Batman must accept that teamwork will help him save the day. I cannot emphasise just how much fun this picture is. Yes, it might be a kid-friendly adventure that is more a satire of the campy 60's humour. However, this is easily a far stronger offering than the belated Batman v Superman offering. There might have been fears that Lego Batman's appearance would be lessened in his own feature film. Well forget your worries and just sit back and enjoy. The film does drag slightly with Batman refusing to grow up and embrace others, but with the sheer entertainment on show, this will be quickly forgotten. At the centre of the picture is the unlikely bromance of The Joker and Batman. Their mutual hatred makes them an essential match- all the caped crusader needs to do is acknowledge it.

It is hard to imagine anyone more perfectly suited to voice Batman than Will Arnett. His silky voice just fits this character like a glove. Even better though is Arnett's perfect channelling on Batman being like a spoiled child. Living alone in his mansion eating Lobster Thermidor, his temper tantrums are a continued source of amusement. Ralph Fiennes almost makes a perfect Alfred, embodying both the surrogate father figure and reluctant disciplinarian- Fiennes could have been a perfect live action choice. Zach Galifianakis has great fun as The Joker playing the insane king like a jilted prom date which works perfectly.

The Lego Batman Movie is a perfect source of fun for anyone who wants nothing more than pure enjoyment. Give this guy his own franchise and keep the laughs coming I say! Ben Affleck's upcoming feature 'The Batman' has a lot to live up to!

Food For Thought: Review of Sausage Party

Sausage Party

Director: Conrad Vernon & Greg Tiernan

By Alex Watson

While this does have the odd chuckle thrown in for good measure, Sausage Party isn't quite the laugh a minute affair many would expect. At first, this rowdy and raunchy supermarket comedy is amusing but before long the innuendo jokes begin to reach their expiry date. In the later stages, directors Conrad and Tiernan do show some great maturity and restraint on the level of humour, but its poor taste of food stereotypes makes it lose points.

Frank (Seth Rogan) is a hot dog who along with his friend Carl (Jonah Hill) and stumpy friend Barry (Michael Cera) live inside a package within a supermarket. On the Fourth of July, he is delighted when he and his bun girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wiig) are chosen by a shopper are destined for the mythical 'Great Beyond'. When the encounter a traumatized jar of Honey Mustard (Danny McBride) the group finds themselves separated. Soon some bitter and traumatic truths come forward when the discover precisely what happens to them in the real world.

Sausage Party is the first ever R-rated animated movie and for those who like rude jokes and unashamed potty humor, this is right up your street.  Opening with a song and dance number that ranges from funny to downright bizarre, this sets the tone. When Honey Mustard shatters Frank and Brenda's delightful hopes and jumps to his death, things turn into a battle scene replica which does tickle the ribs when you see Peanut Butter crying to a jar of jam "I'm nothing without you!" From there, things dissolve into a variety of food-related puns as we meet Salma Hayek's Taco character who has an especially close eye on Brenda, David Krumholz's grumpy Middle Eastern bread Vash and Edward Norton's Sammy Bagel Jr.

Vernon and Tiernan seem of the opinion that if they drop the F-Bomb as frequently as possible it will guarantee laughs. Here, it often falls flat and after a time just becomes tedious and its lack of subtly hinders what could have been something great. There are some glimmers of hope like the hilarious character Douche (Nick Kroll) , who is an actually a Douche. A funny and relevant Italian-American stereotype, watching him get juiced up on juice is very hilarious. His quest for vengeance against Frank for ruining his chance at the great beyond is endlessly watchable. The moment where Barry and friends are at the same shoppers home are smartly played. Watching an Irish potatoes horror as the human rips down the peaceful facade by peeling him makes way to some horror film like moments as we see Nachos being made and carrots wailing in pain at being shredded. Moments like these are rare and it is during these sequences where the most comedy is found.

Sausage Party tries to engage with the idea of people believing in something higher and what it really means to be human? Meeting Firewater (Bill Hader) an old bottle of spirits breaks ground on the real truths of the supermarket, but doesn't raise any sufficient laughs. Also stranded is a wad of gum that looks and sounds like Stephen Hawking. In the right hands and deft comic touch this movie really could have been far stronger, here were stuck with German mustard resembling the Nazi's and such flat lines as "Ketchup, catch up!" When the movie morphs into an extended food orgy scene, those weary of the constant sex references will be sighing internally. It's not to say that this film will be one of the worse that will be reviewed this year, just it could have been toned down rather than just go for all out explicitness.

Seth Rogan is able to bring his usual lazy charm to the role of Frank but neither he or Kristen Wiig are stretching themselves by doing this type of role. You can see the appeal for a whole range of Hollywood stars to get paid handsomely by talking dirty all day. Edward Norton's voice is nearly unrecognizable as he sounds closer to Eugene Levy or Woody Allen. Nick Kroll steals the show as the mad and bad Douche, who now has a thirst for revenge. Michael Cera's naive charm as Barry does make us smile, particularly when he meets James Franco's junkie whose high on bath salts.

Sausage Party will satisfy some tastes, but others will probably spit this food right out. Overall this could have been given a little more flavor.