Moneyball | Geekscape

Most successful individuals must work or train tirelessly to hone their craft, devoting a lifetime to reaching the pinnacles of their professions. Yet, somehow Aaron Sorkin appears to circumvent the norm with his seemingly effortless skills that have transformed the screenwriter and playwright into an Oscar-winning titan of the industry. Sorkin’s rare mastery of rapid dialogue interspersed with comedic undertones are staples in cinematic achievements such as A Few Good Men, The Social Network, Moneyball and countless others. But now Sorkin feels ready to embrace the next major challenge in his life, as the prestigious writer tackles his directorial debut with the unbelievable true story behind his new film, Molly’s Game.

After a crushing defeat ends the Olympic dreams of young skiing sensation Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), she ventures to California for a sunny retreat from intense training and a stressful upbringing at the behest of her father (Kevin Costner). While on the west coast, a series of odd jobs somehow navigates Molly into the underworld of high-stakes poker headlined by actors, athletes, politicians and all other kinds of celebrities. But as Molly’s thirst for expensive taste and her desperation to stay a part of the action crosses the line of legality, she’s forced to beg attorney Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) for his counsel after the U.S. government presses serious charges and confiscate all of her finances.

If you’re a fan of Aaron Sorkin’s past work, his trademark style is on full display once again in Molly’s Game. Told through a non-chronological approach, the audience is given a thorough glance into the mindset of a remarkably gifted woman who trades her intellectual and physical strengths for a dark and exhausting life of underground gambling. Molly is at the forefront of nearly every scene, paving the way for Jessica Chastain to grow an audacious and compelling character. Despite Molly’s crazy life story that manages to stay engaging even through a lofty 140-minute affair, Chastain’s performance is strong but not transcendent. Her work rings familiar to another recent turn Chastain delivered in John Madden’s Miss Sloane, and the similarities sour the experience a bit. Idris Elba and Kevin Costner provide stellar supporting performances as well, but the largest issue with Molly’s Game is the film’s inability to elevate the stakes. The story feels grossly repetitious at times and its dramatic conclusion is regrettably flat. However, Sorkin’s usage of heavy dialogue is executed to his typical standards, keeping a comfortable beat and tempo that’s constantly moving and never bores. Molly’s Game is a decent effort and a fine directorial debut for Sorkin despite the movie’s lack of necessary escalation.

GRADE: 3/5

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In the new age of sequels, remakes and quick turnarounds, it’s easy to forget how difficult it can be to release a major motion picture. Just ask Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment, who first bought the screen rights to Marc Forster’s World War Z back in 2007. After a half-decade of development, filming and post-production that included multiple re-writes and threats of pulling the plug on the project altogether, Brad Pitt refused to let his “baby” get lost in the abyss. And finally, six years in the making, World War Z‘s long-awaited release has arrived.

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is a former U.N. employee who, along with his wife and children, is rescued from a widespread zombie attack and brought in by officials to help put an end to the epidemic. In a race against time, Gerry must leave behind his loved ones and travel the world in hopes of finding a cure to this never-before-seen disease.

Along with the release of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, World War Z stands out as one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the summer, and it doesn’t disappoint. Brad Pitt’s passion project benefits strongly from his make or break performance. While it’s a far cry from his previous Oscar-caliber work in Moneyball, Pitt’s latest effort clearly surpasses most performances you can expect to see this summer. Along with Pitt’s excellent leading role, World War Z delivers enough non-stop action to cure all of your blockbuster blues. Inarguably riveting and gripping beyond belief, Marc Forster’s zombie-apocalypse film offers a unique vision in what’s become an extremely watered-down genre. Moreover, World War Z moves every bit as fast as its rage-filled fleet of foot monsters, making it an absolute adrenaline rush.

Although World War Z is a worthy and above average summer action blockbuster, the feature leaves much to be desired with its dramatic elements. There lacks heart in Gerry Lane’s family’s subplot. Instead of creating depth to this portion of the story, director Marc Forster remains content in showing off his high-octane zombie sequences. Thus, World War Z delivers very little substance and feels slightly incomplete. In fact, outside of watching cities crumble at the hands of a flesh-eating epidemic, not much happens in the film. And once the movie begins to test the audience’s patience with a merely glossed over plot line, Forster has the good sense to quickly roll the credits. As entertaining as you could hope for, World War Z is a successful summer release despite its unfulfilled screenplay.

You can expect a handful of certainties with Marc Forster’s World War Z. Edge of your seat suspense and a fresh take on the zombie-phenomenon can be assured, while Forster’s direction and Pitt’s performance are just icing on the cake. However, a repetitive feel and a surreal plane crash scene leave World War Z as a good, but not great, film. Chances are you’ll enjoy this made-for-summer treat (especially if you’re looking forward to it), therefore I suggest taking a shot on producer and star Brad Pitt’s latest piece of work.

GRADE: 4/5

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Tag: Moneyball

Geekscape Movie Reviews: World War Z