A Little Game (2014)

My 4 year old son loved this movie so much, he wanted to learn how to play chess because of it! It captured his attention, as it was the first full length movie that held his attention from beginning to end. He now plays chess...at four! In addition, the way the main character carried herself and responded to opposition, meanness and being different was a good example for my son to see. The story was heart-warming, innocent and fun. It's a wonderful family movie. Disappointed to see IMDb relegate the main character to the 19th spot on their listing of characters (even after the bully of the movie). Shame on you. You should revise that IMDb. Makenna Ballard did a wonderful job and deserves the credit for her work. We loved this movie!

I am very impressed by the acting of the kidThe movie is interesting, but not especially amazing. Above average. I believe it's quite enjoyable for people who like this style of movie though. It slightly reminds me of Matilda, maybe due to comedy elements and smart girl.Garafalo is a bit under utilized. I have been a big fan for years and think she's great. But of course the movie is about the girl, so it's to be expected that she's under utilized.There's some funny lines in the movie. For example the mentor remarks, in response to a question, 'Is it bigger than a breadbox?' And the girl says 'XBox"? And he says 'What's an XBox". And she says 'What's a breadbox'. Very funny gender gap commentaryIt's not a good chess movie IMO. If you want more about chess, see something else, IMO. I feel like this movie misrepresents the game a bit and how one would learn about it.

We found this nice small movie on Netflix streaming. It is set and filmed in Manhattan, it centers on a very bright and grounded 10-yr- old girl named Max. During the first 15 minutes or so my wife wondered out loud if this is a good movie, setting the stage for everything else took a bit of time. But once it got going there was never a dull moment. Well-written and well-acted, it is very entertaining and has a great message about living the life you are in and not worrying too much about what happens after. Or 5 Billion years into the future when the Sun is supposed to destroy the Earth.The star is newcomer Makenna Ballard as Max Kuftinec. Her acting style and delivery of lines reminded me of a miniature Shailene Woodley. Her dad is the building superintendent and her mom is a chef at a nearby restaurant. She also has a very cute younger sister. She is very bright and her parents want her to be challenged so they make arrangements for her to enter a new, more prestigious school. It is more expensive than her public school and the parents have to make sacrifices.The chess theme comes in when a teacher suggests that since Max is a Math whiz she would probably be good at chess, but Max knows essentially nothing about it and obviously can't play. But one day walking home from school she notices the chess players in the public square and enters into a deal for one of them to teach her.Played by F. Murray Abraham, his method is unique. Instead of simply telling Max how to play the game he has her go into the city and seek clues. His point is the game isn't just played on a board, it is a metaphor for the city and you have to use chess strategy the same way you use strategy to get around the city.This is a very satisfying movie and the young actress that plays Max is really good in this role.

Starring Makenna Ballard in her first credited role ever apparently, she stands out among a heavy hitting cast that are clearly enjoying themselves. A little Game tells the story of Max a 10 year old city girl growing up in NYC with ethnic parents who work hard at jobs that don't pay nearly as well as they should. Max is a gifted student who is not challenged by her current school and her parents sacrifice to get her into a special private school for others like her.Told from within the bubble of Max's understanding of normal, challenging, right & wrong, the film follows her experiences as she seeks to find her own place when she asks one of the old men playing chess in the park to teach her the game. Her family and friends drift in and out of the story as they intrude on her private thoughts and immediate life.Olympia Dukakis as Max's grandmother sets the tone when she tells her not to let life happen to her but that she should happen to life.An interesting insulated slice of life in New York, the movie shines a light on the more imaginative escapist life of a gifted child with great accuracy and gentleness without ever wandering into the darker corners that would have changed the light nature of this wonderful film. Suitable for both children an adults, A little game compares favourably with The World of Henry Orient. Some of the fantasy elements do interfere with the narrative, but not so much as to ruin the story.I'll gladly watch this one again any time it comes up.