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Poster for the movie Dark Horse
Poster for the movie Dark Horse

The Dark Horse,

directed by James Napier Robertson

(R, 124 minutes)

Highly regarded by critics and audiences, The Dark Horse -- a challenging drama that's as tough to watch as it is inspirational -- is based on the real-life story of brilliant, troubled Genesis Potini (Cliff Curtis), a Maori speed-chess champion who seeks to find purpose and direction despite his lifelong battle with bipolar disorder.

After periods spent in a New Zealand mental institution, Genesis seeks to set a new course and gain redemption by volunteering to teach underprivileged young members of the Eastern Knights chess club, which attracts the attention of his timid nephew Mana (James Rolleston), who has challenges of his own: He hopes to find a way out of a violent street gang led by Genesis' older brother Ariki (Wayne Hapi).

There are plenty of underdog tales out there, but most buckle under the weight of their contrived happy endings. This film takes a more realistic approach; its honesty makes it sometimes difficult to take, but all the more convincing.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (PG-13, 151 minutes) Too long, too noisy, too complicated with subplots and too full of ridiculous speeches, this highly hyped standoff between Gotham City's favorite vigilante and Metropolis' savior is an abject failure when it comes to qualifying as entertainment. With Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne; directed by Zack Snyder.

Mother's Day (PG-13, 118 minutes) The late Garry Marshall's last film is a cameo-loaded ensemble comedy that entwines stories concerning Mother's Day and proves that famous faces can't overcome lame writing and a nearly total lack of humor. With Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Timothy Olyphant.

Elvis & Nixon (R, 86 minutes) A charming, absurd whimsy with sociopolitical overtones in which The King, aka Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon), shows up in full regalia (jeweled sunglasses, silk scarf, gold belt) on the lawn of the White House in December 1970, where he proceeds to request a meeting with President Richard M. Nixon (Kevin Spacey). With Ashley Benson, Evan Peters, Alex Pettyfer, Colin Hanks; directed by Liza Johnson.

A Perfect Day (R, 106 minutes) A dark comedy that emphasizes the fantastic difficulty of achieving peace concerns super-tough, no-nonsense war zone rescue workers struggling to resolve a desperate crisis in the armed conflict zone that is the Balkans in 1995. With Benicio del Toro, Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko, Melanie Thierry; directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa.

Miles Ahead (R, 100 minutes) Don Cheadle puts his heart into directing and starring in this unconventional, moody and sometimes challenging bio-pic of jazz musician Miles Davis. With Emayatzy Corinealdi, Ewan McGregor, Michael Stuhlbarg, Keith Stanfield.

Demolition (R, 100 minutes) A decent, pokey drama with little emotional depth in which a competent investment banker (Jake Gyllenhaal) finds his life is falling apart following the loss of his wife in a car crash. Reassembling himself requires demolishing the person he once was. With Naomi Watts, Heather Lind, Chris Cooper; directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

The Perfect Match (R, 96 minutes) A lightweight, forgettable romantic comedy in which pretty playboy Charlie (Terrence Jenkins), convinced that he's incapable of love, meets his match and reconsiders his casual approach to relationships when he meets gorgeous Eva (Paula Patton). With Cassie Ventura, Donald Faison; directed by Bille Woodruff.

The Dresser (not rated, 105 minutes) A showcase for the gifted cast, this intelligent, well-designed, funny and touching drama concerns a renowned Shakespearean actor known as Sir (Anthony Hopkins) who, working during World War II, suffers from mental and physical deterioration and relies more and more on a devoted dresser named Norman (Ian McKellen), who prepares him for his nightly performances. (This is a TV remake of the 1983 film that starred Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay.) With Emily Watson, Edward Fox, Sarah Lancashire; directed by Richard Eyre.

MovieStyle on 07/22/2016

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