Queen to Play (2009)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

No need for my redundant review of this engaging French drama, driven (as the first-time director admits) by a desire to showcase the brilliant actress Sandrine Bonnaire, but the film's earliest scenes immediately had me wondering. Why didn't star Kevin Kline bring his better half Phoebe Cates with him to Corsica to play the enigmatic role of L'Américaine (portrayed instead by Jennifer Beals) in this film?Like many a fan from the '80s, I've long awaited Phoebe's return to the screen (apart from the indulgent "The Anniversary Party" featuring her whole family with Kline), and here would be a perfect opportunity: just as Charles Bronson's wife Jill Ireland, after her own successful career, later appeared in roles of varying sizes in nearly two dozen Bronson vehicles, Cates would have been a showstopper here, not that Beals is deficient in any way. It would have at least taken away the cryptic nature of Beals showing up at all -with Cates we'd know why.After this popped into my head during the first reel, I remembered that I had, by mere happenstance, had the pleasure of watching movies in theaters in NYC back in the '80s sitting next to both of these great beauties: at an Italian new filmmakers showcase held at the Quad Theater (Beals) and at a Times Square screening room (Cates). So I'm the Kevin Bacon, just like Kline, connecting the two, as trivial a fact as you will ever want to know or more likely not know about.

There are movies about baseball and swimming and even pool and poker. This one is about chess. And it is a superb film, one of the few I've rated ten. Where to start? The rich photography and the stunning scenery? The captivating, believable characters? The subtleties that Europe does so well but Hollywood doesn't even understand? Perhaps the thing I liked best was the wonderful facial expressions. Anyone can learn a line. It takes much more talent to convey a story with a raised eyebrow, a cunning smile, an expression of shocked surprise. The movie is a winner even if you don't know the difference betaken a pawn and a rook. But if you play chess and understand its culture, it is especially engaging. Chess is wrongly regarded as a slow and boring game. Here it has the excitement of a bobsled run. Just a heluva great movie!

For those who like to see character transformation, this movie is for you. When we first meet Hélène she cleans houses and hotels to help her family (husband and teenage daughter) make ends meet. Hélène's daily life is routine--she is ignored by her husband and disrespected by her daughter. Seeing an attractive couple playing chess as if it were foreplay, Hélène is excited by the idea of the game and buys a computer chess game. She becomes absorbed by the game but can only make limited progress with the computer. She cleans house for a widowed American Dr. Kröger who just happens to be a chess player. She asks Kröger to play and he finally agrees to a game. I thought I knew where the story was going from there, but it did not go there.The main theme touched on is how a passion can change a life. Through her passion for chess Hélène's life is transformed as is the life of her family. Hélène proves false the stereotype that a mere cleaning lady could not be good at chess, or for that matter that a woman should not have talent for the game.The relationship that develops between Hélène and Dr. Kröger is at the heart of the movie. The excellent performances of Kevin Kline as Dr. Kröger and Sandrine Bonnaire as Hélène are what put this movie over the top. They are a delight. The scene where they play a game only by voicing the moves is about as intimate as any love scene.I had a little difficulty believing that Hélène's skill could advance as quickly as portrayed, particularly her learning the game in middle age. I would think that the latent talent required would have expressed itself in some manner at an earlier age.For a much more believable chess story, see "Searching for Bobby Fischer." Based on a true story, the kid's development in that movie is exceedingly well presented. A movie that treats the same theme of a passion surfacing at a later age is, "Everlasting Moments." The passion there is photography and again I found the development in that movie more believable, probably due to the fact that that movie is based on a true story. "Queen to Play" is a fictionalized conflation of these two fact-based movies.The gentle musical score makes a good accompaniment. Corsica, where this was filmed, makes for good background scenery.Although there are elements bordering on fantasy, I found this movie engaging and well worth seeing.

On some levels this movie works. Its' slow paced, languid, and the characters draw you in – particularly Sandrine Bonnaire. It's about the addiction of the game of chess and its appeal. So if you feel nothing for the game then you have been warned! The scenery on the island of Corsica is very colourful.However it's also a somewhat self-indulgent film – it's about addiction after all. There are many long and lingering shots of Sandrine and Kevin staring at each other and then at chess pieces. Sandrine's family is so very much accommodating to her new found passion. There is certain lack of logicality – it takes years with many different chess partners to become a solid player and then participate successfully in a tournament. Still the movie does dreamily captivate.