Rotten
Solid performances-especially from star Cuba Gooding Jr.-elevate the film slightly above the familiar trappings of its genre.
Christy Lemire, RogerEbert.com
Life of a King
The endgame is the only thing that'll set you free.
2013 · 1h 41m · PG-13
Drama
Directed by
Jake Goldberger
Overview
The true story of one man's mission to give inner city kids of Washington DC something he never had - a future. After being incarcerated for eighteen years, Eugene Brown established the Big Chair Chess Club to get kids off the streets and working towards lives they never believed they were capable of. This is his inspirational story.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
38%
Tomatometer
Fresh
An effective, even heartwarming, tale of one man's commitment to teaching that playing by the rules is more important than winning.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Rotten
The furious energy with which Mr. Gooding stifles his own intensity becomes a fascinating subtext in what is otherwise a forgettable film.
Miriam Bale, New York Times
Rotten
Gooding gives a strong performance, but viewers might be better off seeking out the...documentary Brooklyn Castle, which focuses on the championship chess team at an inner-city New York middle school.
Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
Rotten
Even if the story is faithful to the way the events played out in real life - and the official description is that the picture is a "dramatic retelling" - Life of a King couldn't feel more formulaic.
Sherilyn Connelly, Village Voice
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