Miss Sloane review: Dir. John Madden (2017)

Miss Sloane review: Chastain mesmerises as she takes on American gun culture, but does the powerful message translate overseas?

Miss Sloane review by Luke Ryan Baldock.

There’s something painfully obvious while watching Miss Sloane, and that’s the fact that despite its December 2016 release in the USA the film was almost completely ignored on the awards circuit. In hindsight this should be seen as quite the travesty because, if nothing else, Jessica Chastain deserved so much more than just a Golden Globe nomination. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that Chastain towers large above her peers, with only Amy Adams (another Oscar snub this year) holding a candle to her. So why the neglect for Miss Sloane? Well, tackling America’s gun culture is always going to divide the domestic audience, and add to that a bunch of purposefully unlikable protagonists fighting for a good cause for potentially dubious reasons, and you have a film that is going to infuriate and anger quite a few people.

Scripted by newcomer Jonathan Perera, a man who clearly enjoys his Aaron Sorkin and John Grisham (Sloane is even seen reading one of the latter’s books), we are quickly thrown into a world of speedy talkative lobbyists and political mumbo-jumbo that could make your head spin. Thankfully the screenplay is so relentless on this front that before pausing to question what is going on, it all starts to sink in. Elizabeth Sloane (Chastain), is being grilled by Senator Sperling (John Lithgow) in a hearing set to decide whether Sloane has in anyway broken the law whilst lobbying for certain bills. We then flashback to three months previously, and find Sloane walk from her job at a very respected firm to oppose a firearms bill that will increase background checks for buyers.

Sloane is a magnificent character, and one that Chastain relishes playing. She is cold and bitter, striking a sense of fear into her colleagues and audience members alike. What makes her most dangerous and compelling is that you’re never quite sure where she’s coming from or what she believes. As the film reveals twist after twist, we start to see that Sloane is usually ahead of the game, and when she shows moments of vulnerability, you await to see if her tears are just another charade. Chastain keeps Sloane’s insecurities locked up tight, but does allow them to show in brief moments where her mask slips.

Sloane’s mistreatment and exploitation of colleagues is bizarrely admirable and dispicable all at once. As Sloane and her team (headed up by the always reliable Mark Strong) take on the pro-gun, anti-extended background checks lobbyists, all sides will be morally confused while watching. Sloane is horrible at times, yet she’s fighting to save lives, or is it for her career or just the pleasure of winning? These themes are certainly what have probably split opinion in the US, and there’s no doubt that even with complex characters on the one side, the film is still very one-sided.

Talky and thought-provoking, Miss Sloane is still a very tightly paced film that continues to impress. There are moments when the script strays away into less grounded reality, with even characters noting that it gets a bit ‘James Bond’ at times; cockroach spies do raise a few eyebrows. Perera also fits in so many twists, that instead of being shocked you end up just waiting for the next one. Thankfully director John Madden shoots with such confidence that such quibbles are relegated to after viewing thoughts. Miss Sloane is questionably brilliant, but what is never in doubt is the pure ferocity of Chastain in the lead.

Miss Sloane review by Luke Ryan Baldock, April 2017.

Miss Sloane will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 12th May, 2017.