Director / John Madden (THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, THE DEBT, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE)
Stars / Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Waterston, John Lithgow, Jake Lacy and Alison Pill

Something rare to occur in the film industry happened to MISS SLOANE, a fast-paced and tense political drama that is utterly engrossing from beginning to end. Screenwriter, Jonathan Perera, was the only writer to work on the script, which happens to be his first-ever too. This stroke of good fortune is indeed a blessing for the sophisticated and sharply written script is absolutely one of the key reasons as to why MISS SLOANE is such an enthralling film.

Jessica Chastain gives a towering, Golden Globe nominated lead performance portraying titular character Elizabeth Sloane, a lobbyist that knows what it takes to be the best at her job. As she so precisely communicates via an immediately alluring opening spiel to open MISS SLOANE, lobbying is about foresight and being able to anticipate your opponent’s moves and devise counter measures. The winner plots one step ahead of the opposition and it’s about making sure that you surprise them and that they don’t surprise you.

Elizabeth Sloane is there to win and will use any resource necessary and available to her. So when the toughest opponent of her career emerges, just how far will she go to earn victory?

Letting the audience in on her strategy from early is of great benefit to the film for the next two hours. As mentioned, we already know Elizabeth intrinsically thinks ahead of others and doesn’t lose. Therefore, possessing this knowledge and witnessing her words becoming actions throughout is gratifying to watch to the highest degree. Make no mistake, MISS SLOANE is here to walk that talk.

This top-five ranked screenplay from Hollywood’s 2015 Black List is one of the best written works we’ll see on the big screen this year. Much of the dialogue discoursed here is so intellectually fulfilling, the snubbing of an Oscar nomination for the original screenplay is puzzling. The superb writing work certainly doesn’t limit itself there either, with strong characterisation grounding out the opening act. Furthermore during these earlier scenes, the political landscape the characters of MISS SLOANE occupy is potently depicted. Then once Elizabeth’s formidable opponent arrives, the development of proceedings is nothing short of being tantalising to watch.

Although I have not yet seen the acclaimed TV series “House of Cards”, I hear from reliable sources that if this popular show is right in your ball park, then you’re guaranteed to have a field day watching MISS SLOANE on the big screen.

Highly recommended!

4 stars

Viewer Discretion/ M (coarse language and sex scene)

Trailer / MISS SLOANE

Moviedoc thanks Village Roadshow and Village Cinemas, Jam Factory for the screening invite to this film.

Review by Moviedoc / “LIKE” on Facebook – Moviedoc

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