Queen of Katwe

This year looks like one of the most-packed Oscar seasons I can remember. It's inevitable that more than a few films will slip by audiences and Academy members. One film that shouldn't be ignored is Queen of Katwe. Its great cast of stars and newcomers make this a memorable biopic.

Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) lives with her mother, Harriet (Lupita Nyong'o), and her siblings in the Ugandan slum of Katwe. They make their daily bread by selling maize at market. One day, she and her brother, Brian (Martin Kabanza), meet a youth minister named Robert Katende (David Oyewelo). Katende introduces them to a game called Chess. Despite her poor background, Phiona finds herself proficient at the game. A real pro.

Katende invites the siblings to his program. Phiona's skills help the group qualify for big league tournaments. These tournaments even take them outside of Uganda. Many setbacks threaten Phiona's path to the top of the board. But her family and mentor are there to help.

Screenwriter William Wheeler based his screenplay on Tim Crother's ESPN Magazine article and book. Director Mira Nair tells Phiona Mutesi's story in a captivating 124 minutes. Whatever inspirational biopic cliches it has are not a detriment. In fact, I can think of one cliche it thankfully averts: exaggerating a character into full-on villainy. The main antagonists these characters have are their living conditions and hopelessness. The film makes you care about them all as they overcome their hardships. They all feel like people rather than characters.

Editor Barry Alexander Brown makes the chess games involving. It's enough to make one not want to throw in the towel so easily. He also excels in building Katwe's bustling nature, where accidents happen at random. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt's imagery is also amazing; the slums are immersive and Moscow is ever-so frigid. Alex Heffes score is good, but the songs featured are more memorable. Especially catchy is the jingle #1 Spice, which appears in a music video in the credits.

Don't hesitate. Queen of Katwe is a worthwhile family drama. It's also a compelling examination into the world of chess. Its characters speak for the movie as a whole. It doesn't need to exaggerate in order to win Oscar praise. It just needs to be itself. Hopefully, it will be remembered come January 27th.

Checkmate.