A Little Game (2014)

From my favorite movies..

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film is about a ten year old girl in Greenwich Village in New York City named Max. Her parents are played by Ralph Maachio and Janeane Garofalo. They're working class people. Her father is a building superintendent and the mother is a chef at a restaurant. Her grandmother was played by Academy Award winner, Olympia Dukakis who rarely gets to play Greek-American roles. Max gets accepted into a private school uptown where she tries to fit in. The film has a lesson about life through the game of chess. F. Murray Abraham played the unlikely older man who helps Max learn the game and rules about life. The film looks like it was shot entirely on location in New York City.

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.

This movie is such a delight. I love playing this "little game"! I also play the Chinese version (not checkers) of this "little game" as well.Makenna Ballard played her character as though she has been living in front of the camera. I adore all of the relationships between her and her surrounding characters, especially irresistible with YaYa (Olympia Dukakis).A game taught in such a way puts someone in a different state of mind, rather than focusing on what is going on in this wonderful story of growing up and dealing with "inevitable change", one might start to drift off thinking and reflecting upon his/her own experiences in life.The other relationship, with the teacher, Norman (F. Murray Abraham) who teaches us about being curious. Though I must say that he drives me impatient. But then, I think of swimming. What is to be able to swim? Is it simply "by constantly moving in any sort of motion, one would surely be able to stay afloat, and eventually get across to the other side"? One stroke at a time... one breath at a time.Like R B mentioned, the relationships at school and at home are all rather familiar, however some of the fantasies have a tendency to take away a certain intellect.To put readers in further curiosity, and perhaps even confusion, here's a metaphor for you: "the unforgettable flight of stairs".I recommend this movie for most of the messages to both children and adults.

This is a light hearted wonderful family movie. The newcomer, Makenna Ballard, takes to the film like she has been on camera her whole life and without IMDb, it would not be easy to tell this is her first project. The cast is spot on for most of the characters and the heavy weights don't let you down, (F. Murray Abraham and Olympia Dukakis). The fantasy elements seemed unnecessary and tripped up the pacing and impact of Abraham's lessons. If they would have just played it straight instead of the fantasy elements the story would have had a deeper impact with it's message of using your brain to find your way out of situations, but they relied on fantasy to help out her brain instead. The childhood rivalries are familiar, but that's because they ring true, and what is more familiar than the truth? It's a fun movie and many of the messages are good for kids and good to be reminded of for adults.