In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought after and formidable lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Known for her cunning and her track record of success, she has always done whatever it takes to win. But when she takes on the most powerful case of her career - a bill that requires extensive background checks on anyone who wants to purchase a gun - she finds that winning may come at too high of a price.
Miss Sloane is a very interesting film, and one that has only come to exist because of our current political landscape regarding gun control. Because of the material it tackles, and how the issue is portrayed on both sides, this is sure to be a polarizing film. While I don't think that it ever ascended past what many political thrillers of the past have done, Miss Sloane is still a very engaging and well-made film in its own right.
The driving force behind this film is Miss Sloane herself. Jessica Chastain was great in this role, and how she portrayed the obsessively driven lobbyist was always interesting. There was a definite coldness to every one of Sloane's action, and every move was calculated far in advance. I really like seeing characters in movies be the very best at what they do, especially when it involves something I know very little about, because it can be very informative. How Sloane navigates her various political wheelings-and-dealings to gain more support for her client is the core of the story, and the efficiency with which she does it makes her all the more compelling as a protagonist.
The other aspects of Sloane's personality were interesting enough, but she was at her best when she was cold and focused. The film dipped in quality a bit when her emotions started to become more important to the story, because it all felt a bit clichéd. One subplot in particular, involving a male prostitute, just felt unnecessary. It was executed exactly as you would expect it to be; she seems like she doesn't care but she really DOES. But seeing her in her element, especially in the climax of the film, was always exciting, because it was unclear exactly what her plan would be. No other actor in the film stood out as much as she did, although there wasn't any performance that I would necessarily call bad.
The side characters were also very capable, and seeing how the teams on both sides were working together and trying to out-maneuver each other was a fascinating process. I was a big fan of this film's script, which gave almost every character a moment to shine. The dialogue is very snappy, and keeps the pace of scenes moving along in a very Aaron Sorkin-esque manner (this film was very clearly inspired by his style). The characters - at least those who ended up being more important - were established very clearly and concisely. There were quite a few moments that really hit home, and gave the story a lot of weight, especially because they weren't too obviously telegraphed.
The film was well-shot for the most part as well, even if the cinematography never stood out as particularly memorable or unique. The film used handheld cameras and smoother, still movements in ways that fit different scenes very well. The editing was solid as well, and made every scene flow as smoothly and consistently as the script does. The film's score was also effective through its simplicity, underscoring the story with a series of light, electronic tracks that contributed to much of the film's tension.
The movie takes a clear political stance, but never fully vilifies the other side. Gun control is a very topical issue today, and the film doesn't say that either extreme opinion is necessarily a bad thing. There were some heavy-handed lines from a few side characters, but the two viewpoints exist alongside each other in the film as they do in real life. For every argument one side might have, there's a counter from the other side, which helps to explain why people believe what they do. The film definitely leans more towards the viewpoint that there need to be further checks and balances when someone is buying a gun, and it stays true to that message throughout. Later on, though, corruption within the political system and how people in power can be manipulated is also addressed, and those ideas are essential to the discussion about the gun lobby. Miss Sloane isn't a simplistic film, but everything is presented very clearly.
Miss Sloane is the kind of film that works really well when you're watching it, but when you look back on it afterwards, not a lot jumps out. Jessica Chastain definitely deserves some recognition for her work, and John Madden's direction was very strong. While the film works very well on its own, the stand-out elements of it don't fully elevate it to where it could be. It's still a very competent film, and one that tells a very relevant story, even if how things end feel like wishful thinking on the part of the screenwriters. It never quite steps into a state that I would define as "preachy", but it approaches that line quite a few times. Nonetheless, there's no better time that this film could have come out, and while I don't know if it's going to prompt any further discussion on its issues, it presents issues that should be discussed in an entertaining, engaging way.
The driving force behind this film is Miss Sloane herself. Jessica Chastain was great in this role, and how she portrayed the obsessively driven lobbyist was always interesting. There was a definite coldness to every one of Sloane's action, and every move was calculated far in advance. I really like seeing characters in movies be the very best at what they do, especially when it involves something I know very little about, because it can be very informative. How Sloane navigates her various political wheelings-and-dealings to gain more support for her client is the core of the story, and the efficiency with which she does it makes her all the more compelling as a protagonist.
The other aspects of Sloane's personality were interesting enough, but she was at her best when she was cold and focused. The film dipped in quality a bit when her emotions started to become more important to the story, because it all felt a bit clichéd. One subplot in particular, involving a male prostitute, just felt unnecessary. It was executed exactly as you would expect it to be; she seems like she doesn't care but she really DOES. But seeing her in her element, especially in the climax of the film, was always exciting, because it was unclear exactly what her plan would be. No other actor in the film stood out as much as she did, although there wasn't any performance that I would necessarily call bad.
The film was well-shot for the most part as well, even if the cinematography never stood out as particularly memorable or unique. The film used handheld cameras and smoother, still movements in ways that fit different scenes very well. The editing was solid as well, and made every scene flow as smoothly and consistently as the script does. The film's score was also effective through its simplicity, underscoring the story with a series of light, electronic tracks that contributed to much of the film's tension.
The movie takes a clear political stance, but never fully vilifies the other side. Gun control is a very topical issue today, and the film doesn't say that either extreme opinion is necessarily a bad thing. There were some heavy-handed lines from a few side characters, but the two viewpoints exist alongside each other in the film as they do in real life. For every argument one side might have, there's a counter from the other side, which helps to explain why people believe what they do. The film definitely leans more towards the viewpoint that there need to be further checks and balances when someone is buying a gun, and it stays true to that message throughout. Later on, though, corruption within the political system and how people in power can be manipulated is also addressed, and those ideas are essential to the discussion about the gun lobby. Miss Sloane isn't a simplistic film, but everything is presented very clearly.
Miss Sloane is the kind of film that works really well when you're watching it, but when you look back on it afterwards, not a lot jumps out. Jessica Chastain definitely deserves some recognition for her work, and John Madden's direction was very strong. While the film works very well on its own, the stand-out elements of it don't fully elevate it to where it could be. It's still a very competent film, and one that tells a very relevant story, even if how things end feel like wishful thinking on the part of the screenwriters. It never quite steps into a state that I would define as "preachy", but it approaches that line quite a few times. Nonetheless, there's no better time that this film could have come out, and while I don't know if it's going to prompt any further discussion on its issues, it presents issues that should be discussed in an entertaining, engaging way.
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