"I, Tonya," "Molly's Game," and the Idea of the Modern Olympic Movie

Scene from I, Tonya

*Note: Spoilers for I, Tonya and Molly's Game

If a sports movie is supposed to be a triumphant vision of the self, then an Olympics movie should be something grader; like the combination of athletes competing for the gold medal in an Avengers-esque story. After all, it is a journey on the world stage where many countries have risen to the challenge and the country is sometimes more important than the individual. It's the type of logic that has fueled Olympic movies like Best Picture winner Chariots of Fire before, depicting the strength of a country in time of need. With the Pyeonchang Olympics set to begin this weekend, it seems like a chance to see triumph on film. So why then are the films currently available (and Oscar-nominated) a bit more of a down note? While there have been upbeat stories in recent years (Eddie the Eagle, Race), there's a sense that an Olympic movie in 2018 isn't about the competition, but a metaphor for self-identity. The films I, Tonya and Molly's Game depict this struggle in different ways - often with Olympics being the last thing on their mind - but come clear on one point. The Olympics are a game of personality politics, and these two films capture it in the news media age.

Review: "Molly's Game" is a Whirlwind of Acting Charisma with Some Minor Snags

Scene from Molly's Game

There is an electricity to the first moments of Molly's Game, acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut. It's the moment that changed skier Molly Bloom's (Jessica Chastain) life. She's at the Olympics taking account of what "the worst sports moment" is before tumbling into an injury, bitterly saying that those who claim losing is the worst anyone can do is an idiot. Within the brevity of this scene and its brisk editing and writing, Sorkin has established himself as a powerhouse capable of making his words mean more than even the best director on The West Wing. However, he's only good at the intense moments that require actors to pontificate. It's when he's required to be a more dynamic filmmaker that things get dicey and keep this from being a runaway hit.

"Molly's Game" Welcomes Aaron Sorkin to the World of Directing

Jessica Chastain

Over the past few years, Jessica Chastain has had an interesting career in the wake of Zero Dark Thirty. In some ways, it still feels like she's chasing the success of that performance by playing tough-as-nails women. While it can be argued that she's very good at them, roles like A Most Violent Year and Miss Sloane haven't exactly gotten her Oscar nominations. Still, every new film promises something new and exciting, especially in the wake of her recent comments at Cannes where she decried the poor choices of female roles out there. With Molly's Game, she returns to the tough-as-nails formula with the directorial debut of acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin. While the writer is known for busy scripts, let's just hope that whatever this movie is is a little bit more focused than what the trailer provides, even Chastain having a promising and seductive role.