Miss Sloane [2016] is a suspenseful political thriller about the tough-talking and successful lobbyist Elizabeth Sloane. When she decides to take on the ever powerful gun lobby, her perfectly put together world starts to fall apart.
Liz the Lobbyist. Elizabeth Sloane is played by the ever enthralling Jessica Chastain. Her character is brusque, aggressive and definitely at least part sociopathic. She is successful and has garnered a name for herself as one of the top lobbyists in Washington. The firm she works for recruits a big client who is part of the gun lobby, trying to shoot down a bill which pushes for stricter gun control measures. Rather than getting the easy win, she decides to leave and instead joins an ethical lobbying group to fight against the powerful gun lobby for what will be her biggest career win. Liz thrives with a challenge and seems to always be one step ahead of her opponent. You are constantly on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next twist in her scheme. She is ruthless but sometimes surprises you with moments of vulnerability.
Her Ragtag Team. Her team is made up of her new colleagues and some of her old team. The film doesn’t explore their character profiles as much as it good and I was left desperately wanting to get to know them more. Mark Strong portrays Liz’s new boss Rodolfo Schmidt as a strong personality but there is an air of mystery around just how far he is willing to go to win. He did, after all, hire Sloane. Liz’s right hand Esme, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, starts the movie as this beautifully idealistic woman but her character gains substance as the story moves along. Her relationship with Sloane is perhaps the most fascinating plot device.
Twists Galore. This film is written so that you are on the edge of your seat at all times. Chastain’s performance is impeccable. It is fascinating for a non-American to watch as she draws you into the crazy world of American politics and lobbying. Director John Madden and screenwriter Jonathan Perera have done a fantastic job of telling Sloane’s story, but you don’t get a full picture of exactly who Sloane is. You make assumptions about who she is but with each plot twist, that assumption is undone and you have to start again from scratch.
Miss Sloane is a fast-paced political thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more… Maybe a bit too much more.
