Why Molly's Game is Aaron Sorkin's Weakest Film
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- čas přidán 29. 03. 2018
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I'm a big fan of Aaron Sorkin's work, but I thought his most recent film stood out as being particularly weak. So, let's take a few minutes and talk about the dangers of a constant voiceover - and how it can turn a potentially great character into a simply mediocre one.
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Sources/Further Reading-
DP/30: Aaron Sorkin - bit.ly/2pQ0e0z
Manohla Dargis on Molly's Game - nyti.ms/2COxM4p
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Guys... he didn't say it was a terrible. He just said it was Sorkin's weakest film. And in any case there's a lot of information here helpful for critics and filmmakers.
Keep up the good work! 😀
But he did say it was boring which is a very hot take
@@lukegriffiths8653 You live in a simple world. Or you live in an adequately complex one viewed through the prism of a woefully simple mind.
@@wellesradio What do you mean? Sure he wasn't as mean to the film as people are making it out to be and he had valid criticisms but I disagree with him when he said the film was boring. What's so simple minded about that asshole?
@@lukegriffiths8653 simpleton
@@vijaz5559 explain how what I said was simple
I too agreed that the film should’ve been more visual, most directorial debuts of writers completely lack strong visuals in their stories. But I still liked the movie
Go watch Thoroughbreds
Thomas Morris agreed. this film is actually pretty informative like the big short was. not every film is 100% character driven because you wont understand certain characters unless you have context that requires clunky exposition. does that mean they are not stories worth telling? no. to me, it means the opposite and if you can find a way to be clever about it as in both of these films, then you have made the film serve more than one trafitionally cathartic character oriented purpose. i think dude just didnt like the character or the subtext, because they were totally there.
Tobey Maguire
Just you're friendly neighbourhood narcissistic life destroyer.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
According to the film theorist Serge Daney, the problem with narration is that it has power over the viewer's interpretation of the film image. If a character's voice serves as narrator, that character loses (in most cases) any depth and complexity and the movie suffers greatly for it. The interpretation of the character and the film become foregone conclusions and boring for any viewer.
He never met my friend...Andy...
Moral of the lesson sorkin should've gotten scorsese or Fincher. Boom better movie!
crazy chameleon why not just edit some of the voice over?
The least important parts of it at least
This movie kinda reminds me of scorsese’s wolf of wall street
I didn't really had a problem with the narration, and honestly I thought Jessica Chastain elevated the character greatly, she's great
I loved the narration, to me it helped the movie along. Jessica Chastain had the perfect emotion
She's fantastic, she deserves a lot more work than she deserves
Would it make you like this movie better if I reminded you that all of the narration is what ties every event we see back into the central framing device of the entire film. Which is the fact that Molly is currently under federal indictment, and is therefore retelling her entire story from start to finish to both her Lawyer, and the federal prosecutor’s.
All the narration we hear is just Molly telling her story to her lawyer and the prosecutor, Idris Elba’s character even says so at one point. Hence why it sounds so rehearsed, almost robotic.
We are hearing the cold hard facts of the story that would be relevant in a court case while also seeing the gritty reality of having actually lived those events.
This juxtaposition is probably best highlighted in the seen where we see her getting beaten by the mobster in her apartment. The narration goes silent and all we’re left with is an incredibly brutal display of violence that we see through her perspective, and once it’s over the narration starts up again.
I love all your videos so much! Have signed up to be your patron on Patreon. Thank you for making these amazing film-related movies. Passionate about films and filmmaking myself, I appreciate them wholeheartedly! My favorites among the movies you've made are the "BEFORE TRILOTY" and "WES ANDERSON" movies.
Your videos are such *prestige* mate.
Cheers for _another_ amazing video.
I see where you are coming from, but I had a different reading (that doesn't really contradict your points). I don't see the events that take place before the book had been published as the story, so much as her story. It's an accounting. The character moments that matter to me happen after. It's about her decision to bear the full weight of the consequences of her actions and it is about reconciling with her father. These pillars are addressed free of the narration. But with the bulk of the run-time showing her account of the events that led us there, I can see where it would be off-putting.
That freaking voiceover.....yeah I feel you.
I love the channel a lot. It's not always exciting each on one aspect or topic relating to film in general but I havent seen any here ever doing so in a boring manner.
I disagree wholeheartedly. I get your points, but I felt that the voiceover added a ton and made it feel like a book (which Idris Elba's character was reading) in a good way to where the visuals and dialogue matched well to me. I can see if it didn't work for you, but I didn't mind it personally speaking.
If anything, I had the problems you mentioned with 2015's STEVE JOBS (especially the scene where Jobs confronts Sculley talking about getting himself fired by the staff while showing the flashback with dialogue. There was no clever editing or anything, it was just them ex positioning something that happened in Job's past that everyone knows about in Apple's history and then just cutting to random spots of the boardroom with dialogue telling us what we've already heard during the present conversation and throughout the entire film.)
Aww, I regard both as fantastic films (Steve Jobs especially).
100k Well deserved!
To be honest I always thought that Steve Jobs was his weakest script since it seemed to have a lot of lumps of cheesy dialogue in its script. But looking back on it, Molly’s game just has not aged well for me.
I saw Molly's Game on the first date with my girlfriend and oh boy that was the wrong choice. I love Aaron Sorkins Dialogue, but holy crap this movie killed us for the rest of the day in terms of mental energy
Movies are typically bad first dates
Movies make for terrible first dates, man. People can only get connected to each other by actually, you know... talking to each other.
i never get the idea of movies as dates
all we want to do is fuck , not behave in public
j-just me?
Zé Ninguém, nah that's probably most of us.
I'm surprised a movie first date even developed into a relationship lol
I don t find voice over a bad thing. It s like we are reading her book or her narrating her story to us 😉 intelligent movie
I think the narration was meant to give it the feeling of a heist movie. That's how it felt watching it.
I wondered why I wasn't as engaged as his other moviesyou have articulated the reason so well
With regards to the rest of Sorkin's filmography, I'm interested in the general complaint that his dialogue is "too witty/sharp/clever," so as to be unrealistic. I get that the average person (myself included) may not frequently talk like that with their friends, but there are actually people who do. My family is almost all lawyers, and so my siblings and I all grew up seeing conversation as a battle of wits. When I read some of my conversations from high school for instance, it's very noticeable. Even today, whenever my family gets together, it sounds very much like an Aaron Sorkin movie.
Thanks for the lesson on voice overs *congrat's on the milestone*
The acting in this film is top notch. The back and forth verbal tennis, typically very Sorkin, is the best thing about this movie. But yes, the V.O. was little too much and they could have cut much of it out and instead showed it on screen. I'm putting it down to this being Sorkin's directorial debut.
I liked the voiceover. Knowing Molly’s thought processes made her 10 times more interesting
Thoughts on the voice over in The End of the F***ing World?
Personally, I loved how it gave the audience direct access to the characters' thoughts, especially when they lied.
Do you need another character being written like Major from GITS or something? A lost girl who's finding her place?
Molly is a full grown woman.
Funny how different people have different reactions! People are people. People are strange--people are different.
What I'm trying to say is that I loved it. Or, well, I was pretty entertained. But thanks for the analysis! Neat video.
i want to give praise to that film titles subtitle option
that's a big aspect between bad film essays and a lazy film essays
I actually loved Molly's game. But I'm self-aware enough to know that that doesn't mean it's the greatest movie ever that are objectively great, and this others that we enjoy because they reach out to us personally in some way. I really enjoyed Molly's game and I re-watched it several times.
i haven't seen this movie yet, but i plan on it. it definitely feels like she's too much of an open book by the overuse of narration, form what i've seen, I think the best treatment of narration for this movie could be something like the i,tonya style narrative i think that could've made for a more playful movie watching experience, like a game. *air horn* i should go watch it now, i may be entirely wrong.
While you make some really solid points, none of this was a dealbreaker for me. It's not Sorkin's best script but I thought it was still a killer good movie. Still, you're entitled to your views. Great video. :)
The amount of vindication that I felt at 1:07 cannot be overstated!
I loved it. The Characters, the lines, I saw it on a sneek and I was suprised for sure of how great it felt
Backup Plan Ditto.
I feel the same way, it was excellent and different to my liking, Jessica Chastain is fantastic as Molly, and herself elevates the character's boring persona, which I didn't thought she was boring
What about discussion? Michael Tucker made a point in its Social Network vid. And is easy to imagine that the Skylab sequence in Steve Jobs was Boyle’s idea. Great video anyways.
I totally agree. If a different director had been brought in to helm Molly's Game, they might have flagged up some of the script issues (including the over-reliance on voiceover) just like Fincher did with TSN and Boyle did with Steve Jobs. I'm not saying Sorkin shouldn't have directed Molly's Game or that he shouldn't direct at all, but it's definitely true that not every writer should also be a director (and the opposite is true too- there are just as many directors that should remain directors and not write).
I called this the best Podcast I had ever seen in theaters.
Hmm. I enjoyed the film a lot and have seen it multiple times and felt the narration helped a lot. But then again, I’m not a film critic by the least bit.
Yes, Sorkin is a master screen writer...my only criticism is that all his characters sound the same, even minor characters are all equally glib and snappy. This is especially true of his TV shows. You could drop Molly Bloom into the West Wing or the Newsroom without missing a beat. It's like that scene in Being John Malkovich when Malkovich enters his own Malkovich and Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich.
Enjoyed this movie.
Actually this was my favorite Sorkin movie. Granted I don't really like Sorkin.
great video essay
I get the show don't tell idea but I feel if scenes like Molly's interaction with the shop clerk to get the dress was left in, much of her growth and push to the real meat of the movie would have been bloated and the pacing may have been flat. I feel the editing may have pushed the need for a heavier voice over and while I think in some places it does do too much heavy lifting, without it there could have been other flow problems. In the end it's a biopic with a mass of content to include to make it all make sense.
I think for a first-time director he made a solid effort. It looks like he's directing his next film as well so it'll be interesting to see what he has learned from Molly's Game.
Yeah, but... damn... Jessica Chastain... she is a gorgeous woman.
So based on your comments here, I guess your not a fan of Yasujiro Ozu?
...Have you seen Charlie Wilson's War?
How great would it have been if Micheal Cera Molly as "Player X" but as "Micheal Cera"? Have her just say, "he was a big time Hollywood actor, let's call him for now... Micheal Cera"
Irl it's Toby Miquire (allegedly) but that would have been such a fun 4th wall break for a narrating character that is already basically breaking the 4th wall
Being boring isn't the issue with the movie..
The issue is the over-the-top "creative license" taken on this based-on-a-true story.
Well... Lets talk serious now - voiceover in Blade Runner... I have a Final Cut, dubbed in Czech where some of the voice over of the original theathrical cut is left. Its and interesting hybrid. The voiceover fills in some gaps... :D
This is better then it's view count, you should have more subs
2:06 gets the point across but I believe that it was the wrong choice of sound, it effect kind of takes me out of the feeling that this is a commentary and more of a top ten reasons why molly's game wasn't a good movie.
The "best scene" is bad because the film doesn't understand poker and poker players.
Martin is strictly a cinema dude. Sorkin apparently can’t quite have firm grip on meaning of “To Show” medium. That is all.l, but kinda like to see next effort though.
I love Steve Jobs, The Social Network is a very excellent movie, and I watched all of The News Room. I kinda fucking hated Molly’s Game.
Agree, couldn’t finish the film.
Michael Cera looks creepy in this movie
I couldn’t agree more! I’m a huge Sorkin fan and I was so disappointed by this one.
Noticing some antagonism toward Aaron Sorkin in this video. What's that about?
I literally just finished watching this movie before seeing this video on my subscription feed, and I think it is Aaron Sorkin's best film.
I don’t agree is boring this actress is great and by the way beautiful ...the text is super interesting I just agree that is too much voiceover
Who else had an ad for an online sorkin writing class before this video? Kind of ironic...
........TOBEY MAGUIRE WAS PLAYER X?????
The Player X was based on Tobey Maguire
@Kai McCook And he wasn't the best poker player from what I've heard
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been trying to figure out why I liked “Molly’s Game” so much less than all his other work. Brilliant analysis
Brady Mears I have an alternate theory for you...
It's not his best but I really like it
I'm very excited to see what his next movie as a filmmaker will be
I love me some Squarespace
I clicked on this video in the mindset that I was going to disagree with you, but I actually agree with you 1000%. That voiceover was completely unnecessary. Scorsese executes the voiceover thing into his movies wayyyy more naturally.
It by no means is his weakest script, but its just the weakest execution. But considering it was his feature film directorial debut, it was a great film.
Listen Up Phillip has the best voiceover in recent times.
My friends(who have seen the movie), partner and I all found the film entertaining from beginning to end. Boring? This critic is boring... I stopped watching after 3 minutes!
The American President is actually Sorkin's weakest film. One of the most unmemorable films of all time. Its also his second film, which kind of negates the idea that "Sorkin doesn't make boring movies." Sorkin has made some real fucking duds in his time.
Okay? Who cares lol. What's your worst film?
I love Jessica Chastain, but as her character wants control over powerful men, she also controls the viewing experience with her dominating voiceover... It would have been better to divide the story in different characters as Sorkin did in 'The Social Network', or as a false documentary like in 'I, Tonya'. Thanx, Great Video!!!
you're kidding. This is one of the smartest writing. Most movies are so dumped-down for mainstream audience so much. This is the first movie I see in a long time has such a fascinating lead character. There's a scene where Jeffrey asks Molly if she would like to get married. Her answer is: very much.
Do we really need another scene from a movie about a couple go out on a date, have sex, break up, and say something like : I don't know who to trust anymore?
Plus Aaron manages to mix humor without losing track of the story.
Also, do we need to see Molly takes drug, collapsing on the ground, etc?
If Aaron directed the film in traditional way, It might takes up to 7 hours to finish if you think about it.
I disagree so much
the reviewer desperately tries to speak Sorkin fast, and fails miserably.
The way this movie handles the psycological exchange between Molly and her father, from that standpoint, this is a masterpiece.
"You know what makes me feel ok about losing? Winning." Come on, this is just bad lol.
They can't all be winners lol
The reason why I didn't like this film is because of the way Molly's character was written. She was egocentric and she actually really thought she was smarter and more emotionally intelligent than everybody else in the movie even though she really isn't. She was missing that naïveté that the real Molly Bloom had which would have added a much needed vulnerability to her character.
And yet Aaron knows Molly better than you do.
KissMyAsthma Interesting, however, I don‘t want to debate her IQ or whatever, but I think the entire point was that Molly actually WAS the smartest person in the room and the real tragedy lied within her constant need to be competitive and the best, which was mainly caused from her having received a more or less toxic upbringing. She was definitely smarter than most of the people who participated but her downfall ended up being her greed and drug abuse...
Isn't that Sorkin's trademark? All his characters are egocentric and think they're the smartest person in every room.
David B Jacobs That sort of writing is believable for socially awkward genius types who had a significant impact on human history like Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein et al. But if you try the "Sorkin style" on someone more average like Molly Bloom, it will come across as bland and desperate, particularly if you don't give it a good dose of comedy, which come to think of it would have benefitted the film greatly if they incorporated it.
But she is a genius. And she's never portrayed as average. She's a former olympic athlete, that's not average. Her backstory is about how her entire life is dedicated since birth to doing this one thing better than anyone, and then that one thing is taken away from her. Molly is placed in a world she doesn't belong, with people who don't know who she is. She wants them to know.
I don't see that drive toward perfection as being so unrelatable either. It's a common human trait to want to be the best. "Pride" is considered one of the seven sins precisely because it's common. At least with Molly, she isn't stamping on all her rivals to make us hate her like with Jobs or Zuckerberg. She's actually a likable person who makes a series of easily understandable mistakes.
wait till you see the trial of chicago 7
I loved the movie and I loved the script. And I loved the directing! :(
All new movies have seemed very boring to me recently except for this one.
It’s just not that interesting a story, hot chick runs illegal card game, gets caught. She’s a weak character because her crimes are fairly low brow for a Sorkin project.
I completely disagree with you about this movie for 2 reasons.
2:37 Micheal Cera was Spiderman?
im shocked to hear that u are bored of the movie. then again, its your personal opinion.
It’s his directorial debut so it’s his only movie you chumps
I disagree
Kind of getting burnt out on video essays. Everyone is Nerdwriter/Every frame a painting now.
Yes, this movie was bad. I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought that.
Not a great fan of Sorkin's work, but yeah, Molly's Game is still easily the bottom of the barrel stuff for me. I did not care one bit about that woman, one way or the other. Boring.
no. you are wrong.
Because Aaron Sorkin is a mediocre director and Scorsese is one of the great ones.
Really sounds like the problem you are putting forward is that he directed it... The same voiceover over different images would solve your problem.
There are different ways to make movies and different types of movies for different types of people. While everything you put forward here is perfectly reasonable and they could have reworked the film as you suggest and it would have been different and better for some people. (obviously yourself included) but Scorcese and Fincher-esque films while being great are not for everyone and I do feel that the way this film throws subtlety out the window and opts to hit you hard and fast with exactly what it means brings in an audience that Scorcese and Fincher tend to push away. These people deserve well written films too.
Now I wanna' see the movie without the narration
I actually enjoyed the voiceover, I felt like I was watching a unique film for once, and helped me keep up with what was going on
this isnt mediocre, this was bad
Good god dude, Molly is boring? seriously you need to get out and see the world more.
Bad editing and terrible cinematography throughout the entire film
Why this is your weakest video.
Because he directed it. There you go. No need to watch the video
Classic comment :P
I'm sure Sokin will be better next time
Something of a anti Nolan incentivizing screenplay structure and dialogue over visual breath and diversity
When done right it’s a breath of fresh air that’s easy to follow and digest.
When done wrong it quickly becomes a slog.
When Nolan loses the story at least it’s still fun to look at.
And you didn't, did you
Welp, this video is just filled with incorrect statements. You get a dislike for this one, pal. Great movie~
Cynima Rapscallion having an opinion is not incorrect you fucking buffoon
Cynima Rapscallion care to elaborate what these incorrect statements are? Or do you simply disagree with this guys opinion?
@@paulmcpherson4918 Other than that it's a movie, everything he was was wrong.
@@starkingbiker Gravity doesn't exists. I'm not wrong, because that's my opinion. See how stupid you sound, you fucking buffoon?
According to your theory, The Shawshank redemption is the shittiest movie ever.
Whoosh
Shawshank is a bland movie tho
I called this the best Podcast I had ever seen in theaters.