Molly’s Game(2017)

Submitted by Julio M

Oscar Nominee – Best Adapted Screenplay

Short pooper:
Molly (Jessica Chastain) is eventually ratted out and raided by the FBI, indicted for illegal gambling, publishes a book about her experiences, and timidly reconciles with her overbearing father Larry (Kevin Costner). High-profile lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) agrees to represent her and negotiates a deal for her, by which she would go free and return her money in exchange for her lengthy records she kept of the people involved in her gambling ring; she, however, not wanting to expose anyone, instead pleads guilty and ends up with a fairly light sentence of probation, community service and a fine.

Longer version:
Things take a decidedly dark turn for Molly when Russian and Italian mobsters get involved in her very profitable gambling circuit -the latter even threaten her and her mother-, and she becomes heavily addicted to drugs. Unexpectedly, the FBI zeroes in on her and raids the location, seizing her assets and leaving her with nothing. It turns out Douglas (Chris O’Dowd), the same man who had introduced her to the Russians, out of spite for unrequited infatuation and to protect himself, betrayed her to the Feds.

She returns to live with her mother, and writes and publishes a book about her experiences, where she makes a brief mention of just a few of the characters who were part of their games. Two years pass, as Molly is awaiting trial under the charge of illegal involvement in gambling with the Mafia, she seeks the representation of reputed New York lawyer Charlie Jaffey. During this time, Molly’s father, Larry -who had been overbearing with her, almost to the point of abuse, and who was somewhat responsible of the injury that prevented her from her Olympic qualification-, reaches out to her, admits his mistakes in his ways based on the fact that he knew Molly was aware of his philandering, and apologizes; she reluctantly reconciles with him.

Charlie becomes seriously interested in Molly’s case when he reads her book, learns that she had gone lengthy ways to protect innocent people who had been affected by the gambling ring, and figures out she has not committed a crime serious enough to earn her prison time. He manages to negotiate a deal for her, which requires her to turn over evidence in the form of her digital records and hard drives in exchange for no prison and recovering all her assets. Molly, deterred by the fact that knowing those she had been protecting would be publicly exposed and potentially endangered, she refuses the deal and chooses to plead guilty. Judge Foxman (Graham Greene), understanding she has not committed a truly serious crime, rules a sentence of 200 hours of community service, a year of probation and a $200,000.00 fine.