The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse is a rough beauty of a picture.

It might get corny but for Robertson's unaffectedly gritty settings and understanding that modest gains can be enough for checkmate.

Curtis is 100-per-cent watchable as a puffy, mumbling shuffler whose chess lessons double as life strategies.

"Dark Horse" falls into the formula of underprivileged kids challenging the elites at their own game. But the outcome is never certain.

Potoni can't trust his own instincts, let alone convince others to trust him with vulnerable kids. Curtis makes you see that internal tension, raising the stakes on what would otherwise be a conventional inspirational drama.

"The Dark Horse" isn't always easy to watch, but Curtis's quietly powerful presence makes it worthwhile.

This is flat-out one of the most entertaining and moving true life stories I have ever seen on a movie screen. The fact that it is a locally made film just delights me.

Cliff Curtis's superb performance as Gen raises a sometimes saccharine genre, that of the inspirational mentor, to amazing heights...

The end result shows the best of what feature filmmaking can be.

Propped up by good storytelling and powerful performances, "The Dark Horse" is uplifting and moving without falling into the usual traps that occur with other films of its kind.