Molly’s Game – Review

Molly’s Game – Budget of $30 million – 2 hours and 20 minutes

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Molly Bloom survived a 63-degree curve in her spine to become an Olympic hopeful.  And with a frozen branch, her path to life took a dangerous, illegal, and drug-addicted turn.  She started working as a cocktail waitress at a nightclub at night and a director’s secretary in the day.  With a high LSAT score, the best college education, and a head for numbers, Molly knew her boss’s company was failing.  However, he was still making money.  Molly didn’t know how until he told her to contact a list of numbers for an underground poker game he ran.  As Molly collected the buy-in, took tips, and cashed out the players, she studied every term, play, and every player to become the “Princess of Poker”.  But no princess could ever do what she did.

Based on the novel Molly’s Game by Molly Bloom, this movie goes at a pace as fast as a poker game (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  Molly explains how she got in the business, why she got in the business, and who she is outside the tabloid headlines.  She remained clean and even paid taxes, but the last 2 years were a downward spiral with drugs, attacks, and illegal rake taking.  She doesn’t lie about who she is or what she did.  However, she protects the players who have not been exposed.  Even with a million dollars on the table and no money to her name, she refuses to give up her players.   She is a stand-up woman in a man’s game.  This is a movie to watch twice and see if you can keep up.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars

The United States of America versus Molly Bloom. I like to bet on the heavy favorite – Molly

You choose now to read The Crucible – Charlie

I like to destroy people’s lives – Player X (Michael Cera)

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The Greatest Showman – Review

The Greatest Showman – Budget of $84 million – 1 hour and 45 minutes

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Phineas Barnum was a tailor’s son.  Although his father made and fix clothes for the rich, Phineas still had holes in his shoes.  During a job, he meets Charity and made her laugh causing her to spit out her tea.  Phineas was slapped and Charity was sent to finishing school.  Although the two were separated and living vastly different lives, they continued to write each other letters.  When she comes back, he is waiting to present her with a ring.  Several jobs and 2 kids later, Phineas has lost his job and believes he has failed his family. Although Charity tells him she is happy, he wants to give them the life he believes they deserve. So with fake paperwork, he secures a loan from the bank to create a Museum of Oddities. He has no takers until his girls given him an idea. They tell their father he has too many dead things in his museum. If he wants people to come, he has to have things that are alive and spectacular. P. T. Barnum collects the oddest humans he can find to create the Greatest Show on Earth. With his success will P.T. ever be taken seriously or just another act in his “freak show”?

From the opening number to the final song, you will feel chills with each performance. Admiring one person on the screen cheats yourself of all the stunning performances on the screen. Like P.T.’s Circus, there are 5 different things happening on the screen at one time. If you do not see this movie in the theater, you can not understand the true beauty and awe of each performance. The songs will ring in your head and become a soundtrack to get you out of hard times in your life. You will feel a connection to each oddity on the screen. As stated in the film, P.T.’s ability to put people of different sizes, backgrounds, races, creeds, religions, and stations in life together on stage was a celebration of humanity.  Not a freak show.  Come and enjoy this movie/musical of inclusion and acceptance with the whole family.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

I wish for happiness like this forever – Charity

What happened to thriving off of controversy – Ann

I have to go – P.T.

You’re here – Phillip

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All the Money in the World – Review

All the Money in the World – Budget of $50 million – 2 hours and 13 minutes

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In Rome 1973, Paul “Paolo” Getty walked up to some prostitutes to find a good time.  After being rejected for his age, he is kidnapped and held for $17 million dollars.  Now to some, this is a large sum of money but Paul is the grandson of John Paul Getty.  John is the richest man in the history of the world.  He discovered a way to get oil out of Saudia Arabia and created a shipping company to get the oil to the US.  He is a billionaire a few times over.  He can make the ransom in interest alone.  But when asked by the press, John believes the price to pay is nothing.  He has 14 grandchildren and believes paying the ransom will put them all at risk.  However, behind the scenes, John has hired Fletcher Chase; his #1 deal maker.  Fletcher has to strike a deal with the kidnappers and handle his toughest obstacle: Gail Getty, Paul’s mother.  John has refused her request to see or speak to him about helping her son.  She has been broke since she divorced her husband (John’s son) and got full custody of the kids due to her husband’s drug addiction.  This mother will stop at nothing to help her son, even go after an empire publicly.

Based on the novel Painfully Rich by John Pearson, you will leave being disgusted and saddened by John Getty (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  It’s understandable to see his concern about how ransom payment will make his family victims.  But how much money is enough for one person?  And when is the money controlling you?  John valued things not people and could hold grudges for years.  Gail was the polar opposite of John.  She valued her family and was determined to go to every extreme to get her son back.  While the world believes she was rich, she only got the Getty name, not the money.  She will take the empire to task and you will cheer for her each time she stands up to John.  The biggest turn around in the entire movie is Fletcher.  He will go from one of John’s henchmen to Gail’s biggest supporter.  This is one to see and experience.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

If you can count your money, then you’re not a billionaire – John Getty

We’re not poor, we’re broke. There’s a difference – Gail

There you go, using that word again ‘joke’ – Fletcher

You should give me a discount on account of my age – Paul

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