The movie Molly’s Game captures the world of high stakes clandestine poker games and the bitter rivalries of underworld gambling connections. But what is the story behind the movie, and how does it differ from what is in the hit film?  
Molly’s High Stakes World on Screen  
In Molly’s Game, the big personalities, wins and losses of American gambling circuits are shown in intense colour.  In his directorial debut, Aaron Sorkin brings his distinctive narrative style to the story of Molly Bloom, the so-called ‘poker princess’, played by Jessica Chastain.
The Dramatic Points of the Film, Molly’s Game
The film follows Molly as she starts off as a bar waitress, and then becomes the organizer of prestigious poker games, and ultimately, the target of an FBI sting. The fact she did all this at such a young age – Molly was only 26 when she set up her own business for hosting poker tournaments – is a huge part of the story. Here are some of the outstanding chapters in this intriguing movie.
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Fact vs Fiction – The True Story that Inspired Molly’s Game
Molly’s Game came out in 2017 and is largely based on the autobiography of the same name. The film is largely true to the book but strays in a few details. The most noticeable  thing to many Hollywood fans is that the film does not specifically name the actors and celebrities that she does in her book. One of the most notorious players in the film is the brash and uncharismatic chancer ‘Player 
X’ brought to life with precision by Michael Cera.  In Bloom’s biography, this unlovable miscreant, who at one point in both book and film orders her to ‘bark like a seal’, is named as Tobey, and is widely understood to be partly based on the former Spiderman star and cardsharp Tobey Maguire.  
Whether Molly’s story has had anything to do with Maguire’s subsequent career is up for debate, but it points to the dramatic intensity of the world that both characters occupied. One thing is for sure, Molly’s life in the gambling circuit was shared with other stars and celebrities. Along with Maguire, the biography names Leonardo di Caprio and Ben Affleck by their first names, as well as baseball star Alex Rodriguez and tennis legend Pete Sampras. 
Other differences between film and book include:
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From Making Waves on the Gambling Circuit to Inspirational Public Speaking  
While Molly’s Game focuses on high-end poker games which aren’t accessible to the 
average person, the glamorous nature of the film has inspired plenty of new players (unfortunately the movie is not currently available to view on Netflix New Zealand, 
however the thrill can be experienced online at a huge range of platforms as shown here ).
But aside from the glitz of venues and clubs, Molly’s real-life story of switching from 
professional gambling fixer with underworld connections to author and public speaker 
imparts a striking lesson. In the film, as in her life, Molly swerved around a world of powerful men with strong ambition 
and destructive tendencies. The fact is, she managed to live through this incredible life and 
learn from it. 
Viper Rooms and Hornets’ Nests 
The atmosphere of clandestine poker clubs is brilliantly brought to life in the film. The 
promise of big money entertainment, rivalries and in-fighting that are revealed are at the

heart of its success.  But Molly remains the most important character throughout; both film and book relate the central figure’s sheer toughness and drive so vividly. It is a testament to what can be achieved by moving with ambition and belief that makes her story so powerful. 

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