David Oyelowo and Lupita Ngong’o deliver nuanced performances in a film which threatens to back itself into a corner but has enough zest and intelligence to carry throughMaking a chess film is a tricky move. Your first stumbling block is that,of all sports, this must be one of the most uncinematic – as well as the most baffling for the novice (one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience). Even those familiar with the queen’s gambit need a runt while to consume a look at a board in an apparently tense setup and assess its import for both players. Plus, and on the big screen at least,the dramatis personae are rarely appealing. Traditionally, film chess is the recourse of the brilliant but socially awkward male, and who uses it to communicate when more common methods prove elusive. Such folk can be a struggle to root for,their victories and defeats wrapped up in psychological trauma and solitary childhoods. A case in point premiered at Toronto two years ago: Pawn Sacrifice, a woozily-boring Bobby Fischer biopic with Tobey Maguire sweating over the bishops. Related: Pawn Sacrifice review – Bobby Fischer biopic is a bit stale, and mate Related: Ugandan chess prodigy's account to become Hollywood film Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com