The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse brings Cliff Curtis back home, and he gives a performance that’s transcendent in more ways than one.

The cinematography is evocative – rainy, rich, gritty and raw, for this inspiring but not always pretty story – and Curtis is 100-per-cent watchable as a puffy, mumbling shuffler whose chess lessons double as life strategies.

Cliff Curtis is staggeringly good as Gen.

The heartfelt telling of a truly extraordinary true story with a mesmerising central performance.

There are several excellent performances, including Wayne Hapi as Potini’s hardened brother. But Curtis is the most memorable part of The Dark Horse.

James Napier Robertson's film combines several potentially tired subgenres — the inspirational-teacher drama, the mental illness drama, and the gang thriller — but, helped immeasurably by Curtis's performance, makes something new out of them.

The script could have done without the odd bout of heavy-handed chess symbolism (“a king for a king”) but it’s a solidly entertaining drama with an intriguingly unconventional lead.

The Dark Horse shows how powerful and dark this horse (Genesis Potini (Cliff Curtis)) can be. I have never experienced a movie about chess that can be so dark and energetic at some times.

A slightly overlong but otherwise-engaging biopic about the life of Maori speed chess champion Genesis Potini, who battled bipolar disorder while coaching proteges from troubled backgrounds. Despite some intermittent pacing issues and some horrendous sound quality problems during the first 30 minutes, the film delivers on all other fronts, with superb performances from its excellent ensemble cast (especially protagonist Cliff Curtis) and a nuanced script that tackles its complex story line on multiple levels. A heartrending, inspiring tale for more than just fans of the game.

Something positive to focus on. It is considered as one of the best Kiwi films ever. Inspired by a real person with the severe bipolar disorder. The story centres on the character Genesis Potini, a chess prodigy. Despite his mental issue, he forms a chess club called the Eastern Knights where the underprivileged kids are trained. The film follows his own struggle, as well as his fight for other Maori descent youngsters not to fall prey for the wrong paths. In that perspective, it was very well told tale. It is not another 'Once Were Warriors', but it had its moments. Especially the Maori people with their struggle between the good life and bad life was boldly revealed. Honestly, I did not enjoy much, but won't deny it is a nice film with a good message. I'm happy that I picked it, except I'm not the audience for it. Because the large portion of the film remained dull due to the 2 hour long stretch. I would have been very happy if it was around a 90 minute narration. So the actors were the plus point. Some of them had no prior experience, but did well and was recognised widely. Whatever it is, Cliff Curtis is the man of the film. He won a couple of International awards for the role he played. Like I said the first half was boring, but once the chess theme come into play, the scenario changes and lots of good things happens. I feel it is an inspiring film at a different level. Worth a watch, but it is not a very cheerful screenplay. So I don't think everybody would end up happy, despite a very interesting theme. 6/10