It has often been commented that the travails facing the parents of an intellectually challenged child and those facing the parents of a child prodigy are - though different - equally prodigious. This movie explores that theme superbly. It's the true story of child chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, who learned chess at 7, forced Gary Kasparov to a draw at 11, and became a National Master at 13.
The cast is outstanding - Ben Kingsley, Samuel Jackson, and Joe Mantegna. But the actor who carries the movie is the incredibly endearing and charming Max Pomeranc, who was 9 years old when he made the film, and was himself among the 20 top US chess players in his age category. His lifelike and restrained performance carries the movie through. Definitely a must-see.
The cast is outstanding - Ben Kingsley, Samuel Jackson, and Joe Mantegna. But the actor who carries the movie is the incredibly endearing and charming Max Pomeranc, who was 9 years old when he made the film, and was himself among the 20 top US chess players in his age category. His lifelike and restrained performance carries the movie through. Definitely a must-see.