Marina Antunes [Film Festival 12.07.16] drama



In an awards season peppered with movies with strong social and political messages, it doesn't get more political than Miss Sloane. Movies don't get made overnight and the fact that this, a movie about the back room brokerage deals that happen every day in political circles from Washington D.C. to afar, is coming out at a point when the US is dealing with some pretty heavy political issues, is too well timed to be pure coincidence.


The fact that Miss Sloane is opening this week certainly gives the movie a sense of urgency that likely wouldn't be there if it was released in March of April but it plays only a minor role in the movie's effectiveness.


Jessica Chastain stars as Elizabeth Sloane, a hard nosed, no nonsense lobbyist working at one of the largest firms in the country. When the company is approached to fight a gun bill, Sloane goes against her boss George Dupont (played brilliantly by Sam Waterston) and basically tells the gun guys to bugger off. And then she gets an offer to join a smaller firm, fighting for the opposition and tougher gun registration requirements, taking with her most of her team of strategists to help her fight the biggest battle of her career.



If it sounds preposterous, it's probably because there's a big whiff of that in the air. When it comes to lobbying, I find it hard to believe anyone would truly walk away from the gobs of money the NRA and pro gun groups have to push around but Miss Sloane is not so much about the fight, though it doesn't shy away from it, but about the woman herself. There's a reason the movie is titled what it is and it's particularly effective because we see the battle though as outsiders. We see her struggles, her ups-and-downs, her take downs and the collateral damage she leaves in her wake, all in the pursuit of winning at any cost but it's never quite clear if she's fighting for the cause so strongly because she believes in it or because she hates to lose. She keeps that knowledge to herself and the audience is forced to follow along without the insight of what the character is thinking and it works to great effect.


First time writer Jonathan Perera creates a powerful character who also happens to be a woman. This is clearly not an instance where a woman was cast in a role originally written for a man. Every inch of the story clearly hinges on the fact that Sloane is a woman; one who is just as capable, if not more so, than any man. Sloane is a richly detailed character capable of being ruthless when necessary without losing her humanity and occasionally showing vulnerability.


I thought I knew where Miss Sloane was going but one of the highlights of the movie is the final act which reveals the audience isn't privy to all of the information making the final few moments that much more effective and elevating a movie that was already good to a movie that is really great.



Recommended Release: Thank You For Smoking

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Michael (8 months ago) Reply

Total bomb. America is tired of Hollywood lib BS.

uncleB (8 months ago) Reply

I agree with Mike,Liberal BS

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