Do you know about the movie titled Miss Sloane ?
It is a political thriller film released in 2016, directed by John Madden and written by Jonathan Perera. The film stars Jessica Chastain in the lead role as Elizabeth Sloane, a tenacious and formidable lobbyist in Washington, D.C. The story follows her as she takes on the most challenging battle of her career: fighting for gun control legislation.
I’ve watched this movie countless times. It’s one of my favorite movies.
(The following contains spoilers.)
There were a few things I didn’t get right after the first watch, though. For example, I didn’t understand the meaning of a note Rodolfo wrote and gave to Sloane, and later Jane gave to Pat when she resigned from the firm. The note read “A conviction lobbyist can’t only believe in her ability to win.” What was the point of this note? (I think this was partly because only half of this quote was translated into the Japanese sub.)
That quote speaks to the idea that a lobbyist who is driven by strong convictions or beliefs must have more than just confidence in their skills to succeed. It suggests that belief in the cause itself, the moral or ethical reasons behind the lobbying efforts, is crucial for genuine success. In other words, it’s not just about the strategy and tactics of winning; it’s about truly believing in the righteousness or importance of what one is fighting for.
Rodolfo, and later Jane, pointed out that for Sloane to be truly effective and fulfilled in her role, she needed to be motivated by a deeper sense of purpose beyond just winning battles. This adds a layer of complexity to Sloane’s character and highlights the ethical and emotional dimensions of lobbying.
On the other side of the note, Rodolfo wrote “For services rendered Peterson Wyatt offers you $0.” He did so because he believed that Sloane should fight not only for money but also for her cause.
Rodolfo recognized Sloane’s exceptional skills and strategic mind, but he wanted to ensure her motivations aligned with the deeper ethical implications of the cause they were fighting for. By offering $0, he challenged her to see beyond the monetary rewards and focus on the value and impact of their work. This underscores the film’s theme that true conviction and dedication to a cause drive meaningful change, rather than just winning for the sake of winning or for financial gain. And I think the scene where Jane finally revealed what was written in the note to Pat, was very dramatic and unforgettable.
Sloane must have plotted all of her complicated strategies the night Rodolfo recruited her. Though I also didn’t immediately get why Sloane called Jane several weeks after she left Cole Kravitz & Waterman, and had a mental breakdown, now I know that her call to Jane was a go-signal for them, to set the final plan into motion, to sacrifice her own career and win the battle.
It is hard to believe that this was Jonathan Perera’s first screenplay. His script truly captured the intensity and complexity of the characters and their motivations, and his ability to create such a compelling and intricate story right out of the gate is impressive.
A 5-star. ☆☆☆☆☆