Actress Jessica Chastain delivers a commanding performance in Molly’s Game as Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin makes his directorial debut.

Chastain is joined by a strong ensemble cast that includes Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Bill Camp, Chris O’Dowd, Brian d’Arcy James, and Graham Greene.

In taking a stab at directing, Sorkin brings the true story of Molly Bloom (Chastain) to the big screen.  Bloom grew up with Olympic dreams at skiing and the film’s first ten minutes alone delivers so much backstory but it’s important to keep up with.  With her dreams expired, Bloom puts law school on hold and enters the world of underground poker.  Her new lifestyle isn’t the most healthiest and she’s soon asking defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Elba, playing a fictionalized version of her attorney) for help.

It’s interesting that Sorkin decides to tackle a story that–while protecting the guilty–includes people that he’s worked with or wants to work with.  The other thing is this: as good as Chastain is, she looks nothing like Bloom.  It’s another case of Jewish erasure and I’d like to see a version of this film that stars someone who–not to take anything away from a commanding performance–resembles Bloom like Mayim Bialik.

Following its world premiere this past September at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, STX Films releases Molly’s Game on December 25, 2017.