Chalk

Difficult but rewarding.

Chalk is not the kind of movie many people will appreciate at first viewing. You have to understand who Nilsson and his actors are, and give some thought to the style, to appreciate it.

A sparing use of exterior shots during the mesmerizing buildup to the match heightens their impact, while invasively tight close-ups put the actors to the test.

Has unusual visual vitality in a John Cassavetes vein. For the adventurous, it's worth checking out.

Finally fails to escape the conventions of the Hollywood cinema it so proudly deplores.

An impressive low-whistle, hardscrabble look at the world of pool sharks and the people who crisscross their lives.

Emerges as an artful, courageous, experimental work that is as compelling as it is impaired.