Did you know that lobbyists care only about their agenda? That the cause they’re fighting for means nothing to them, so long as it deems them victorious? Even those who believe in their cause are corrupt individuals who’ll refute facts and manipulate the media and their opponents in favor of victory? Is it a surprise to discover that both sides of the political spectrum don’t have the interests of the public in mind, but only their own? Will your mind be blown that they circle over tragedies like vultures, picking away the raw emotion to cultivate their message?
If any of these revelations are indeed shocking to you, then “Miss Sloane” will have you captivated. If these revelations are anything but, you’ll most likely struggle as I did to get fully invested into the story. My appreciation for John Madden’s craftsmanship and my investment in Jessica Chastain’s powerful performance weren’t enough to propel the film to dizzying heights. For the twists and turns weren’t all that surprising, the weight of the subject matter crumbling beneath a shoddy structuring. Madden puts all of his eggs in the basket of ignorance; a poor calculation.
(Front row left to right.) Grace Lynn Jung, Noah Robbins (Center at desk.) star, Jessica Chastain (Second row left to right.) Ennis Esmer, Douglas Smith, (Second row fourth to right.) Raoul Bhaneja and (Second row far right.) Sam Waterston star in EuropaCorp’s “Miss Sloane”.
Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
© 2016 EuropaCorp Ð France 2 Cinema
The titular Miss Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is recruited by Rodolfo Schmidt (Mark Strong) to combat her current employer, George Dupont (Sam Waterston), in the war on gun control. The latter has enlisted the assistance of gun lobbyists to bolster their profits, believing that Elizabeth Sloane will win over the hearts of the female voters whom have shunned gun ownership. When she rejects, she is immediately approached by Rodolfo and joins his crew, taking half of her staff with her. Her two strongest proponents, Pat Connors (Michael Stuhlbarg) & Jane Molloy (Alison Pill), stick with the right-wing, giving her stiff competition. Just the way she likes it.
What ensues is two hours of political manipulation and tomfoolery, ensconced in the belief that what is revealed is groundbreaking. It is not shocking, however, to discover that both parties are driven by greed, whether it be financially or emotionally. For Elizabeth, the desire to prove her naysayers wrong and overcome insurmountable odds is her driving factor and she’ll do whatever it takes to secure her power trip. If that means deviating from the script and throwing colleagues under the bus, then so be it. Her underlings consistently bring up this trait, so it’s puzzling why they’re so surprised she goes against their settled upon rebuttal. How could they not see this coming? I can buy into their shock and dismay when she utilizes another colleague’s personal tragedy for political gains against their will, but not the expected divergence they had painstakingly pointed out consistently.
(Left to right.), Raoul Bhaneja, Allison Pill, Sam Waterston, and Michael Stuhlbarg star in EuropaCorp’s “Miss Sloane”.
Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
© 2016 EuropaCorp Ð France 2 Cinema
If I can give praise to Madden’s direction, it’s that he’s determined. This determination helps keep the film focused, so even when it’s doling out weak admission, the story itself doesn’t crumble entirely. I was never bored during the duration of the film, even when I was underwhelmed by the dissemination. It moves along at a brisk pace, supplanting the drama with humanity via quippy dialogue to keep the characters grounded. It follows the pattern of a refined thriller, its structure at first confounding, but making sense in the end. Briefly cutting back and forth from Sloane’s congressional hearing headed by Senator Ron M. Sperling (John Lithgow) seemed inconsequential at first, but was rather cleverly orchestrated in the long run. Despite my knowledge of most of the twists, the final one caught me off guard, even when the pieces made it obvious. Good on Madden for keeping me on my toes.
Good on Jessica Chastain, as well, for carrying the film on her shoulders. While the performances as a whole are fine, hers is exemplary! She exudes the confidence necessary to embody the strong-willed Miss Sloane, building up even the most eager of subplots. Her interaction with an escort by the name of Forde (Jake Lacy) is poorly implemented to highlight her disconnect from reality (and cheaply aid a twist at one point). And yet, she handles the forced drama with verve, making me feel for her emotional plight. She steamrolls through some of the on-the-nose exposition found in Jonathan Perera’s screenplay, making it seem earnest instead of trite. Her struggles with insomnia and loneliness don’t feel compulsory but honest, even though they are just that.
John Lithgow stars in EuropaCorp’s “Miss Sloane”.
Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes
© 2016 EuropaCorp Ð France 2 Cinema
Alas, Chastain’s performance and Madden’s skilled direction can’t uphold the drama. John makes the mistake of buying into the hype, believing the revelations alone would sustain the thrills. Thanks to this, the impact isn’t felt, diminishing the thriller’s power. Had he focused more on the traditional elements of the thriller or provided more insight into the political game, the film could’ve been a success. As it is, it’s an admirable thriller tarnished by a feeble allegory.
Final Rating: C+