DO YOU KNOW MISS
SLOANE?
Jessica Chastain’s new movie Miss Sloane is getting a roasting from the critics who appear to
have missed the whole point of the film. Despite its apparent focus on the
unethical political maneuvering of Washington lobbyists and the hot button
issue of gun control in America, Miss
Sloane is about one thing only—Miss Sloane.
Chastain is an intense actor and she brings every Machiavellian
emotion she has ever encountered to manifest her portrayal of a single-minded
individual, with a twisted labyrinth for a mind, who is fanatically dedicated
to a single cause—winning. There are touches to her performance that pull her character
back from the edge of full blown sociopathy, but it’s a dangerous balancing
act. Miss Sloane isn’t about politics, lobbying, or gun control...it’s about
character, one single solitary devious beyond imagination character put under
the microscope.
This is Jessica Chastain’s film from start to end, but she
is ably buoyed by the supporting cast, especially Mark Strong as the likable
boutique law firm owner who sets everything in motion, but quickly finds
himself on the wrong end of what he wished for. He is the counterpoint to
Chastain’s character that provides perspective.
***SPOILER ALERT***
Many of the reviews who rant on and on about the amoral and
unrealistic politics of the film (as if there is any morality and realism in
current politics) leading to a fantasy conclusion again miss the point. As I
watched Miss Sloane work her way through a film filled with rapid-fire Sorkin-like
dialogue, Chastain’s performance sucked me into it’s wicked, convoluted heart,
and gave me the biggest dose of climactic film satisfaction since The
Accountant. I wanted Miss Sloane to win…I wanted her to bring a vengeance of
comeuppance to every single one of her legion of enemies. When her final
earthquake begins to shake I had a huge smile on my face and a black cheer in
my black heart.
Don’t be put off by the reviews and the naysayers. Don’t be
put off thinking this is a political film or a message film. It isn’t any of
those things. Go and see this film for its sharp performances, sharp script,
and the anticipated, yet slam bang, perfectly in character ending.
***END SPOILER
ALERT***
Miss Sloane gave me exactly what I want in a film—smart characters,
intelligent dialogue, a storyline where the first scene comes back around in
the last scene, and a satisfying experience that had me leaving the theatre
with a smile while chattering with friends about the brilliant performances,
the nuances of the script, and the mechanics of the film itself.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comment will be reviewed by the administrator before being posted...