As a championing lobbyist for gun-control, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) guns ahead with her foresight on her own will to prove a majority on a Government bill whilst keeping a keen sight on opponent's moves. Seemingly, more than her own people come for blood - both on the bill and hers.
Playing a game of chess much like poker, she paraphrases her game strategy as to go notches beyond oneself to tell and prove something real - where "own interests are best served by doing the right thing for society as a whole". So, come the motive being browbeaten, threatened, publicly humiliated - what does one do?
The film astounds with the depiction of how lobbying seems corporate-like - in good way and otherwise. At times, the motives depicted seemed blurred in plain sight with pacey dialogues and deluded. Confusing as it may seem, still maybe that's how films treat our minds - we feel enough to stay. Who knows, in the process we may also end up appreciating human virtue. Hence, even though it's easier said than done - "principles actually mean something when they are inconvenient to be followed". Headstrong, hardboiled and you name it, our lady doesn't bend
Thankfully, big words, come along with bigger action. This film has an intricate screenplay (from first time screenwriter Jonathan Perera) sprawling with minute details on government lobbying for pushing bills into laws with articulate moves to thrust heroics of maneuvering the debates and people alike. The screen-acting by the cast, though simple, comes as the grand motivation to not set this film down. In specific, Chastain is the reason that I wanted to watch this film and I am beyond glad to have done so.
Also, glad enough to have remembered what could be best put in a quote from "The Contender" - "Greatness... sometimes it comes in the form of 'sacrifice' - that's the loneliest form."
Playing a game of chess much like poker, she paraphrases her game strategy as to go notches beyond oneself to tell and prove something real - where "own interests are best served by doing the right thing for society as a whole". So, come the motive being browbeaten, threatened, publicly humiliated - what does one do?
The film astounds with the depiction of how lobbying seems corporate-like - in good way and otherwise. At times, the motives depicted seemed blurred in plain sight with pacey dialogues and deluded. Confusing as it may seem, still maybe that's how films treat our minds - we feel enough to stay. Who knows, in the process we may also end up appreciating human virtue. Hence, even though it's easier said than done - "principles actually mean something when they are inconvenient to be followed". Headstrong, hardboiled and you name it, our lady doesn't bend
Thankfully, big words, come along with bigger action. This film has an intricate screenplay (from first time screenwriter Jonathan Perera) sprawling with minute details on government lobbying for pushing bills into laws with articulate moves to thrust heroics of maneuvering the debates and people alike. The screen-acting by the cast, though simple, comes as the grand motivation to not set this film down. In specific, Chastain is the reason that I wanted to watch this film and I am beyond glad to have done so.
Also, glad enough to have remembered what could be best put in a quote from "The Contender" - "Greatness... sometimes it comes in the form of 'sacrifice' - that's the loneliest form."