Mollys family is optimistic about her recovery and wishes her well in the future. Going through a traumatic experience such as a serious accident can be life-changing. While it seemed like a good idea at the moment, this was the point when Bloom broke the federal law. Her story is an inspiration to all of us, showing us that anything is possible if we believe in ourselves and are willing to work hard for what we want. It was a day that changed her life forever. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Her mother was a professional ski instructor and businesswoman, and her father was a clinical psychologist together, they trained Molly to the point of almost representing the USA in the downhill skiing event at the Olympic Games. Nothing was recreational in our family, she writes. If youre new to snowboarding, choosing the right type of board can be a daunting task. She would also stress the importance of setting goals and working towards them, and of seeking support from loved ones and medical professionals. The film follows Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a world-class skier who, following a horrific accident, eventually ended up running one of the most successful underground poker games before everything crashed down on her. Growing up in Colorado, she was a talented skier and spent countless hours on the slopes honing her skills. Molly Blooms life has changed in many ways since her skiing accident. The Bloom Project has already begun working with children in Colorado to create artwork and perform live music. I made these choices. Emily also discovered the emotional impact of an accident. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So I started taking a percentage of the pot like Vegas does. Copyright 2023 washingtonindependent.com. She realized that living in fear of the future and dwelling on the past only hindered her ability to move forward. What was Molly Bloom's punishment? Despite the challenges she faced, Molly remained resilient and used her experience to become a successful author and speaker. Bloom wrote a book and started looking for a way to meet with Aaron Sorkin, and after many failed attempts, she finally managed to do it. It can affect not just the victim but also their loved ones and the wider community. Molly Bloom (born April 21, 1978) is an American entrepreneur, speaker, [1] and author of the 2014 memoir Molly's Game. It was a popular celebrity hangout and is famous for being the location where actor River Phoenix died of a drug overdose on Halloween morning in 1993. It was a chance encounter with a celebrity that first brought Molly into the world of high-stakes poker. She eventually becomes one of the most successful and controversial players in the world. Molly Bloom is an American former professional skier who suffered from scoliosis, a condition in which the spine is curved from side to side. Mollys Game, an Oscar-nominated film about Molly Blooms rise and fall as a high-stakes underground poker game runner, tells the story of the gamblers rise and fall. It was a beautiful day in Park City, Utah when Molly Bloom hit the slopes with her friends. And then ultimately, I also became - I started bankrolling the game and extending credit. The movie jumps to the present time-line. The club had been partly owned by Johnny Depp from its opening in 1993 until 2004. The man, whom she calls Reardon Green in the book, hired her on the spot for a job at his restaurant. According to the true story, another actor took control of the weekly game, and Bloom writes that Maguire was the one who called her and giddily informed her that she had lost the game, as "Player X" does in the movie. MARTIN: In part because you wouldn't name names. Her lawyer also wouldnt have had time to formulate opinions about Bloom based on her book. But its not hard to imagine Sorkin adding that dramatic flourish. But she decided to step away from the sport after winning that bronze medal because, as she says in her book, she wanted to find a new path in life and succeed on her own terms. MARTIN: For people who don't know your story yet, the Poker Princess, just give us a sense of who you were in your early 20s when all this started. Secondly, resilience is key when it comes to overcoming adversity. I want to make a pretty clear distinction here because my experience was of a different sort. The victims family and friends were deeply affected by the incident. Molly Blooms ski accident seemed to end her career and hope for success, but she proved everyone wrong. That film is out nationwide on January 5. And I was a fly on the wall. , 200 hours of community service, and to pay back $125,000 of her profits in fines. Molly Bloom hit a stick while skiing, which caused her to lose control and suffer a serious injury. Her love for skiing was evident early on, and she spent most of her childhood training and competing in ski races. However, Bloom says that, similar to the film, her criminal attorney, Jim Walden, did vouch for her for $250,000 that she didn't have. It can shake you to your core, leaving you feeling lost and uncertain about what comes next. Its not surprising that the movie hews close to reality: Sorkin consulted Bloom throughout his writing process, and the screenplay borrows heavily from her memoir of the same name. Sorkin said he wanted to be able to fictionalize the character to best serve the story and not have to worry about keeping him historically accurate. Take things one day at a time and focus on the small wins. The accident had a significant impact on Molly Blooms skiing career, as she was forced to retire from the sport due to her injuries. In the book Molly's Game: The True Story of the 26-Year-Old Woman Behind the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World, Bloom is careful about who she names, and who remains . As the site's Chief Film Critic, he has authored hundreds of reviews and covered major film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. Just after 11 p.m., outside the Sherman Street Event Complex, where the prom was held in the 1700 block of Sherman Street, Molly was climbing into the Hummer when the driver, Stanley D. Sample,. She eventually wrote a bestselling memoir, Mollys Game, which was later adapted into a hit movie. She has also become a sought-after speaker and advocate for issues such as mental health and addiction recovery. It's somewhat obvious that "Player X" represents Tobey Maguire, who plays the biggest part in Bloom's memoir, but there's not an exact one-to-one correlation between the two. After going through a difficult experience, you may start to realize just how much you have to be grateful for. Ive seen Mollys Game twice now and both times the scene not only grinds the movie to a halt, but also damages everything that came before. She returned to work and began to participate in activities she once enjoyed. But I also never really saw myself as a victim there because, for me, it just felt, you know, like that was a powerless situation. And that was when I crossed over and broke a federal law. At the sentencing, her lawyer, Jim Walden, conveyed to the court that Bloom was in severe debt in part due to giving up $125,000 in poker profits as part of her plea. The accident had a ripple effect, affecting not just the victim but also everyone around her. Soon, her games were attracting stakes as high as $4m per hand, though this led to some rather nefarious characters joining the table, including money-laundering mob members. One day Feinstein told her, "I'm going to need you to help me run this poker game." Its weird for one character to have to explain why another character is great, but the scene works because not only is Elba fantastic at delivering Sorkins dialogue, but also because its a turning point in their relationship. When she initially moved to Los Angeles, Molly had no idea what she would do. In the movie, there is a tragic accident that prevented her from continuing with her skiing on the Olympics. He lost $5 million [of his investors' money] in the game and they came after all of us. Its one thing to have Molly explain how Poker works because some audience members need that, and its efficient. When she is not promoting the movie that was inspired by her life story, she is attending different panels where she can show and promote her new program. I had to write big checks for people that didn't pay. She allowed herself to be vulnerable with her loved ones, and in doing so, she found the support and understanding that helped her to heal. One of the doctors told her after the surgery that she wont be able to continue skiing. Her first book was written after several rejections and manuscripts. All Rights Reserved. Despite her condition, Bloom was a talented skier and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics. .zklaml-syj27z{font-family:adobe-garamond-pro,serif;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant-numeric:lining-nums;line-height:1.45;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:black;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;cursor:pointer;color:white!important;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12px;}.zklaml-syj27z:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.zklaml-syj27z:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | twi.news@washingtonindependent.com | dmca@washingtonindependent.com. She was free. After a battery of tests, Molly received devastating news from her doctors: she had suffered a spinal cord injury that would leave her paralyzed from the waist down. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! As she recovered, she began to realize the true impact of the crash on her life and the lives of those around her. And her life finally started taking a better path. She worked with a team of physical therapists, who helped her build up her strength and regain some of her mobility. Bloom was born on April 21, 1978, and she spent her childhood in Loveland in the northern part of Colorado. Full Bloom, an entrepreneurial womens co-working space, will be opening soon. Aaron Sorkin doesnt name the celebrity players who frequented Blooms game in the film, but Bloom does identify some of them in her book, including Ben Affleck, Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio. One, the Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire, approached Feinstein about hosting a high-stakes poker game out of the clubs basement, and the impresario agreed. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. She is using her platform to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and to advocate for stronger legislation. She spent months in the hospital, undergoing surgeries and rehabilitation. Despite her setback, she is determined to return to work. I had a pretty horrific crash on my Olympic qualifying run. As you read on, youll discover the surprising object that caused Mollys accident, and the devastating effects it had on her life. Her parents successes are well-documented, but to add insult to injury, Mollys brother Jeremy did compete in the Olympics as a skier and also. The stick was hidden under the snow, and she was unable to avoid it in time. And I feel confident that, you know, not looking forward to it but that I could survive a couple of years of jail. He made off with her cash and jewelry, telling her that he had been sent by the mobsters. Like in the movie, she had hired a driver for security reasons. He stole her cash and jewelry and made it clear that he was sent by the men she had met at the hotel. The movie was in production - has been in production long before these current stories came out. Her determination, positive attitude, and refusal to give up in the face of adversity allowed her to overcome incredible odds and achieve remarkable success. In the midst of all that came a court case like no other, with Hollywood stars, sporting legends, and other high-profile figures implicated in a $100m money-laundering suit. In her quickie therapy session, Molly admits that she knew her father cheated on her mother, and in that way, Mollys father was the first man who truly betrayed her. Bloom hid out in her apartment for a week while her bruises healed. "When I took in the personal inventory after the wreckage I had caused, the story itself seemed like the most monetizing asset so that I could be closer to paying these people back." BLOOM: Oh, I think there's a lot of that. Molly Bloom is a fictional character based on the real life figure of the same name. I mean, was it being with all these famous people? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The appeal was access. All rights reserved. What did she hit? Unfortunately, her hopes of being a professional skier were destroyed when she was involved in an accident while trying to qualify for the Olympics. And after a year, I took over the game. The victim had to undergo multiple surgeries and was in constant pain for weeks. She decides to work as a cocktail waitress while waiting to start her next high-pressure career as a lawyer. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She thought that her insurance company would take care of everything, but she quickly realized that they were more interested in protecting their own interests than hers. She discovered a newfound appreciation for life and a desire to live it to the fullest. She is a certified ski instructor with over a decade of experience teaching skiing to people of all ages and abilities. This is in Bloom's memoir. While she is most known for her role in organizing underground poker games in Hollywood, she had a rather impressive career before that. In addition to her work as a ski instructor, Emma shares her knowledge and expertise on all things skiing on her blog. In the movie, Charlie reads the memoir before his first meeting with her. Though Bloom did employ real lawyers, Charlie (Idris Elba) is a fictional character who appears to be basically a stand-in for Sorkin himself someone who is skeptical of Molly at the outset but comes to see her as a heroic figure. Do you understand what I'm saying? In her book, Bloom only mentions the celebrities who had already been outed in the media prior to the book being published. While Bloom was indeed an Olympic-level skiier, she decided to retire from skiing not after an injury but after a personal coup. And then they took it a step farther and said there was discussion about clearing the record. However, Maguire didnt take the game from her like Player X does in the movie another player did. , a hip-and-happening nightclub on the Sunset Strip, and had plenty of connections as a result. The long-term impact of the accident on the victims ability to work and earn a livelihood is still uncertain. Due to her injury, she was unable to continue skiing and had to find her path elsewhere. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. I really didn't experience her as cold. But whats true and whats fiction? And I think that we get our lines crossed oftentimes when we see an ambitious woman and we just label them cold. In the beginning, it seemed that everything was over, and her life was in ruins. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Weve already mentioned that her brothers were also successful sportsmen, and that might be one of the reasons why she decided to quit. When she refused, a man showed up at her door with a gun. Bloom shared her story during an April 18 keynote at Smarter Faster Payments 2023. . Molly was an experienced skier and had been skiing for years. During her time as a billionaire, she organized Texas Hold Em tournaments for Hollywoods elite, but FBI agents later caught her. He also relied heavily on her memoir of the same name (pictured below). The 39-year-old was busted by the FBI in April 2013 and charged along with 33 others over a $100m illegal gambling ring and money laundering operation Bloom has since returned to her hometown. The film tells the story of Molly Bloom, a driven young competitive skier vying for a spot at the Olympics whose athletic career ends in a dramatic wipeout. She was confident and excited to hit the slopes. And, you know, Aaron Sorkin has been criticized in the past for having female characters who weren't fully fleshed out or for feeling as if - there are those who say, look, these are a man's idea of what women are like, OK. And I wonder, did you feel as tough as Jessica Chastain makes you out to be? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The film follows Molly Bloom ( Jessica Chastain ), a world-class skier who, following a horrific accident, eventually ended up running one of the most successful underground poker games. -Vice, "The very worst time I got screwed ended up costing me $250,000, and that really hurt," says Molly. Even after her physical injuries had healed, she still struggled with anxiety and PTSD. And I'm privy to all this inside information about all these different industries. Molly Bloom did not have back surgery. That is so much of the moment right now, we thought we should ask the real Molly Bloom to tell us her story in her own words. And if so, his conclusion is that all of Mollys actions are just a way to get back at her dad? Bloom became acquainted with underground celebrity poker while looking for something to occupy her time before law school. Molly had extensive surgery after receiving critical injuries in the crash, and the Blooms injuries were even more severe. -USA Today, Molly is using her networking experience to reach fellow women and help them become successful. She rejected the offer. No. Today, she wants to inspire women around the world, hoping to help them become successful. Through therapy, she learned coping mechanisms to help manage her emotions and develop a more positive outlook on life. But 13 months after she lost her leg in a prom-night limousine accident, 18-year-old Molly Bloom is able to look ahead. It was this driver who introduced her to his mobster friends. Bloom did meet them in a fancy hotel lobby, and one of the men really did order an apple martini there. After that, Molly gave up skiing entirely and pursued a degree in political science at Colorado State University. There are women who love poker, but we never see female players. Molly Bloom is now a public figure and uses her story to help others. Any claims to the contrary are false. Her persistence paid off. Seeking a new direction in life but seemingly not knowing what to do, Bloom moved to Los Angeles in 2004 and found odd jobs as a bartender and waitress. She hit a tree and was thrown off the trail, which resulted in multiple fractures in her leg. Secondly, the scene already follows a major scene where Mollys attorney, Charlie Jaffey (Elba), has a long monologue singing all of Mollys virtues. . Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com. I tried to circumvent it. Weeks later, a stranger showed up at her door with a gun. This is pretty much exactly how it unfolds in the movie. What lessons did Molly Bloom learn from her skiing accident? While she may have lost all of her money, she still has experience and many life lessons she could teach. She says that she wasn't willing to resort to violence in order to collect, and if she was vetting the players properly, she wouldn't have to worry about not getting paid. Molly Bloom learned several important lessons from her skiing accident, including the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity, the power of a positive attitude, and the value of surrounding oneself with supportive people. I'm interested in you. "I had left a huge mess of my life," says Molly. And I just wanted to take a year off. Instead of shining a light on toxic masculinity, Sorkin merely trades one bad male behavior for another, patronization. They immobilized her and rushed her to the hospital. A few years later, there was a case of bankruptcy that led the investigators to a person involved in an infamous Ponzi scheme. Aaron Sorkins directorial debut would be an incisive look at toxic masculinity if not for a random, patronizing, lazy scene. Shock, fear, and anxiety were prevalent emotions in the aftermath of the crash. The film tells the story of Molly Bloom, a driven young competitive skier vying for a spot at the Olympics whose athletic career ends in a dramatic wipeout. She was raised by parents who valued hard work and perseverance, and she was taught from a young age to pursue her passions relentlessly. And I walked into this room, and I looked around the table at the nine or 10 seats. She decides to work as a cocktail. After more than a year of legal action, Bloom pleaded guilty to one of the lesser charges on the rap sheet and was sentenced to serve. Why Snowboarding Speech: 5 Reasons to Choose It Over Skiing, Discover the Thrill of Ski Jumping in Calgary, Find Out If Michigan Ski Resorts Have Enough Snow, Learn How to Ride a Rocker Snowboard in 7 Easy Steps. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Welcome to Brandon Orthopedics! Obviously Molly Bloom did hire lawyers, but Charlie Jaffey is a fictional character. My other brother is a two-time Olympian, fifth-round draft pick for the Philadelphia Eagles and an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Famous actor Tobey Maguire approached him with the idea, and they asked Molly if she could cater to guests or players at the game. Youll also gain insights into the lessons she learned from this traumatic experience, and how she has moved forward with her life. Despite the bleak prognosis, Molly was determined to regain her mobility. Through her experience, she learned that an attorney can help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Many of them experienced trauma and struggled with feelings of helplessness and guilt. You know, there wasn't this abuse, you know, that we're seeing, but there was just this unfair sort of unjust application of power that I just constantly felt like I was coming up against, from growing up with a hard-driving sort of type A father and coaches and bosses and then players and then government.