As previously mentioned, narration is a perfect filmmaking device that enables the audience to consistently follow the main character’s stream of consciousness throughout the film. What Molly portrays to those around her is contradictory to the way she feels inside. On the outside, she is a pretty-face, collecting people’s drinks, welcoming them in at the door, and making appropriate playlists for the atmosphere. On the inside, however, Molly is constantly thinking of ways to improve the game, raise stakes, make more money, and improve the players’ performances. After a one on one with her boss Dean, who tells her he will be lowering her pay, she decides to create her own exclusive poker game, and essentially steals his fellow players from him. As Molly now holds all the cards (metaphorically and literally) she hires waitresses, raises buy-in prices for the games, and moves the location of the games to a lavish hotel room where only the wealthiest of the wealthy can be found. As with most of Sorkin’s films, the protagonist finds themselves in over their head, trying to navigate the rough waters they made their way into.

lighting

Lighting is a very powerful tool in filmmaking which Sorkin uses expertly to convey the film’s complex tone. Low-key lighting is crucial in creating the correct atmosphere during the poker games. Though the games (at first) are completely legal, they represent the dark underbelly of greed that is found in people from all walks of life. The famous players involved in these secret games become increasingly corrupt and the stakes are continually raised. There was an ever-present need to conceal the secrecy involved in these high-risk high-reward matches. The low-key lighting not only conveyed the literal darkness of the underground club, but also showed how it was exclusive and secret.

On the contrast, her scenes in her lawyer’s office are noticeably brighter, potentially symbolizing how she was able to come out of the darkness and piece together a somewhat normal future. Sorkin uses a lot of natural light in the film as well. In these scenes, Molly looks out of place and lost. She has been consumed by a superficial lifestyle, so any instance of her in normal life appears jarring to both Molly and the viewer.

editing

Editing plays a very important role in this film. On a basic level, editing the poker games down to quick clips is essential because in real-time, poker games can be very long. Editing techniques such as eye-line matching during the poker games help the audience to follow each hand and to see which player is up against which. In the beginning of the film, when Molly is learning about the level of serious competition she has been thrown into, there is a series of shots editing together to convey how quickly the game can change. The camera cuts to Molly pouring drinks, to someone dealing cards, to someone observing their hand and pushing all of their chips into the center of the table, confidently saying, “all in”. In a matter of seconds, the audience is thrust into the fast-paced atmosphere just like Molly. She’s overwhelmed by this underground poker ring, and Sorkin’s quick cuts help the audience feel the same way. Additionally, quick close-ups of Molly’s face and her computer screen as she searches the meaning behind poker terminology creates a visceral tension for the audience. Just as Molly is keeping up with the nature of the games, the audience is unpacking the fast plot.

Sorkin tells the story from distinct time periods in Molly’s life. For the majority of the film, he juxtaposes scenes from her in the beginning, learning the ropes of the business, to her meeting with her lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba) in the present-day, explaining all she went through up to that point. Telling a narrative out of order is a tool that filmmakers use to show how different a character is at different points of the story. For example, after several scenes of her in the dimly-lit basement of the club, befriending the players and being in control of the game, Sorkin cuts to a close up of her at her lawyer’s office, wearing more professional clothes and looking lost. This editing technique effectively pairs the harsh reality she found herself in with how quickly something can disappear from your control.

Camera Angles

As emphasized in Sikov, camera angles help the filmmaker tell their specific story. Molly's Game is Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut, so there isn't any visual patterns to look for in this film. One observation is that he positions the camera at a mid-level angle facing the characters' profile. This compliments the dialogue very well. It enables the audience to follow the emotion of both actors in the scene while avoiding too many abrupt cuts back and forth between the characters. Furthermore, we are able to see the rest of the surroundings that contribute to the scene's tone. Below are some examples.