CRITICAL THINKING

US, 2020, 115 minutes, Colour.

John Leguizamo, Michael K.Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Jorge Lendeborg Jr, Ramses Jimenez..

Directed by John Leguizamo.

At its heart, this is a film about chess, chess play, moves, the critical thinking needed to win a chess, competitions.

However, it is also set in Miami, the world of high schools, but also the world of drug dealing and crime, the students are at high school becoming involved, some of them trapped, students under suspicion and interrogated by the police.

John Leguizamo has appeared in many films over the decades that this is his first directorial film. And he plays the teacher who coaches the chess playing students, some of whom have great talent, but the principal is not interested in supporting a chess team, rather promoting football. However, the teacher works with the students, appreciates their skills.

But one of the students becomes entangled with the drug dealers in the city, is erratic in his presence with the chess team, but ultimately comes to the final tournament – but also is confronted eventually by the criminals and we see his violent reaction. On the other hand, another player with talent joins the group. At the finals of the competition, the student plays the reigning champion, some drama with the clock, timing, the reaction of the champion – but the perseverance of the new student and the team winning the title.

At the end, there are scenes with the actual chess team.

1. Title? The name of the elective course? Chess and thinking? Planning, strategies, tactics? The critical thinking for Latino and African-American communities?
2. The Miami settings, school, the classroom, the chess competitions, homes, bars, streets? The venue for the state championship? California and the national championship? The musical score?
3. For audiences who love chess? For audiences who don’t know how to play chess? The lessons, the explanations of strategies, the practice, the games in competition, the atmosphere of the games, the clocks, the timing, the tension, acknowledging defeat?
4. Mr Martinez, the elective, his love for chess, the interactions with the principal, her criticisms, lack of support, change of heart? With the students, those who loved chess, willing to participate, the others who were there just to sleep? The aims of the elective? Martinez and his personality, the story of the death of his son, his talking about going to rock bottom, building up again? His manner with the students? Reaction to the student who was shot in the street? The various problems of each of the students? The encounter with Marcel and his skills, the blind winning of his game against the others? Ambitions for competitions, the first competition and victories? The issue of raising money, giving his own? The next tournament, the state? The cakes, chocolate and hash? His rebuking the boys? The car wash, the interview with the television? The bonding? The principal, change of heart, the support from the airline? Travel, communication, support? The finale in Marcel’s win?
5. The range of characters, Sedric and life at home, his girlfriend, death of his mother, his father’s lack of ambition, looking down on his son, rebuking him, taking the money? Sedric anger, moving out, his girlfriend in the street? Participation in the games, his skill? The contrast with Ito, his job, running for the bus, late, sleeping, the reaction of Mr Martinez? His skill at the game? Losing his job, upset, the drug dealers, his dealing in the street? The threats, the police interrogations? His coming for the state championships, winning? His decision about whether to inform the police or not? Gino, the clashes with Sedric, the appeal to him and come and participate, his success? Rodelay, his place in the group, enthusiasm, friendship, skills, the interview with the media?
6. Raising money, the chess games in the park, the game with Marcel, his winning? His background, Cuba, techniques, his notebook, the blind test, accepted, part of the group? In the competitions, playing off the champion, the champion upset in the suggestion of a draw, his letting time pass, equal time with his opponent, winning?
7. A true story, the photo of the group during the final credits, and the interviews with Mr Martinez, Gino, Ito?
8. A morale booster?