Miss Sloane
Common Sense says
- R
- 2016
- 132 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Miss Sloane is a drama (with some thriller elements) that centers on a mega-successful lobbyist (Jessica Chastain) who doesn't think twice about skirting the law to get her clients what they need. The movie deals with heavy, mature themes and material, including lobbying restrictions, political and corporate machinations, and gun control, as well as addiction. Expect plenty of swearing (including "s--t" and "f--k") as well as drinking, pill popping, a steamy love scene, and plenty of frank talk about sex.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Predictable, shove the message down your throat movie
Bechdel Test
For anyone with a decent brain
Love love love this great film!
What's the story?
Lobbyist Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) didn't get where she is -- courted by clients and feared by opponents -- by being shy, retiring, or easily defeated: MISS SLOANE aims to win. That's what motivates her the most. But then Elizabeth decides to leave an established firm and join an upstart outfit fighting for gun control laws, an issue for which she was previously recruited to fight by pro-gun politicians. This makes her no longer the hunter, but the hunted. Her enemies won't rest till she loses and is humiliated, possibly even in jail. Who will prevail?
Is it any good?
Chastain is singularly responsible for elevating this film from a just-OK political drama/thriller to a compelling one. She expresses so much with just a quiver of her eyelid or a deep breath. When she's onscreen, you can hardly take your eyes off her. Never mind that sometimes the wonky dialogue gets so dense that you need a weed-whacker to get through it, or the scene plotting so circuitous that you really could use a map.
These complaints aside, Miss Sloane is supremely watchable, albeit confusing in parts. The strong ensemble helps, led by the confident Mark Strong as Elizabeth's boss and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a new colleague with something to hide. And in the end, the story feels urgent, relevant, and, yes, necessary.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how Miss Sloane depicts the business of lobbying. Is there any benefit to it? Do you think it's portrayed honestly/fairly?
Is Elizabeth Sloane a hero or an anti-hero? What's the difference? If her character was a man, do you think he'd be under the same microscopic scrutiny?
Parents, talk to teens about Elizabeth's dependence on pills. Does the movie glamorize her substance use?
What role does sex play in the story?
Movie details
- In theaters: November 25, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: March 21, 2017
- Cast: Jessica Chastain, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alison Pill, Sam Waterston
- Director: John Madden
- Studio: EuropaCorp
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language and some sexuality
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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