Will ‘Molly’s Game’ Best ‘Rounders’ Among Poker Films?

• Hard to Top ‘Rounders’: Vanessa Rousso says it’s the only film that’s ever captured the energy and tension in the game
• ”Molly’s Game” could be heading to Cannes
• Molly Bloom hosted high stakes poker games for some of the biggest names in Hollywood including “Spider Man” star Toby Maguire, who she calls “the worst tipper”
• Aaron Sorkin to make his debut as Director

Purple Revolver asks the question if the upcoming poker flick “Molly’s Game”, which will feature big name film stars participating in illegal mobbed up high stakes poker games, might end up garnering more critical acclaim from the player community than the cult classic “Rounders”.

The ingredients are all there: celebrities behaving badly, a busty hot poker host (that would be Molly Bloom), a seedy criminal element a la the Russian Mob and, of course, plenty of poker being played.

“Rounders” came out in 1998 with little fanfare but would later become a cult classic amongst those familiar with the game.  It’s what “Bull Durham” is to Baseball, “Rudy” is to Football fans and “Raging Bull” is to boxing fans.

Female poker pro and reality star Vanessa Rousso said ‘There have been a lot of movies about poker, but only Rounders really captures the energy and tension in the game. And that’s why it stands as the best poker movie ever made’.

Until now perhaps.

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From Purple Revolver:

Barely a month since the project came together and Sierra/Affinity have taken the pitch to Cannes and sold out its international territories.

The film is based on a true story, one that has featured prominently on the pages of Gambling911.com over the years. 

Molly Bloom, a talented skier denied the chance to compete in the Winter Olympics, begins running underground high stakes poker games with millions on the table and attendees the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Alex Rodriguez and – by Molly’s account at least – the “worst tipper”, “Spider Man” star Toby Maguire.  One will likely see Maguire portrayed in a negative light here.  The Observer once wrote a piece entitled “Four Ways Molly’s Game Pulverizes Toby Maguire”.  Need we say more?

Molly was eventually taken down by 17 feds, placed on a year’s probation and fined $125,000.  She ultimately wrote her memoirs for which the film is based off of: “Molly’s Game: from Hollywood’s Elite to Wall Street Billionaires Boys’ Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker”.

It doesn’t hurt that one of the best screen writers, Aaron Sorkin (“Steve Jobs”, “The Social Network”), is behind the project, taking on his first role as Director.  Sadly he has stated that the film will not "embarass any of the Hollywood stars" like Maguire.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com