As Oscar season heats up (forgive that tired cliche) we’re getting a look at the contenders bit by bit. It’s just been announced that Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game will play at Toronto. It is based on the true story of Molly Bloom – who made a whole bunch of money running high stakes poker games with Hollywood royalty, sports stars, and even the Russian mob until the FBI tracked her down and arrested her. It looks like the point of this is whether or not she would rat out her clients to save herself.
Sorkin’s dialogue has a way of getting into your head. It’s already apparent from the trailer that this one will be no different. The film opens November 22 and puts Chastain once again in the consideration zone, as she often finds herself every year. She’s already got the Zookeeper’s Wife released earlier in the year but this is the big get.
Other actresses who might have the stuff to go all the way include Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water, Judi Dench in Victoria and Abdul, Jennifer Lawrence in Mother, Meryl Streep in The Papers, Salma Hayek in Beatriz at Dinner (here’s hoping), Carey Mulligan in Mudbound, etc.