The Dark Horse

Whenever somebody at the table asks about an actor with Maori ancestry, I immediately think of Cliff Curtis. On the other hand, I don’t expect such questions ever to be asked at the table because I assume that no more than about one thousandth of the population of our country watch movies from New Zealand, so I’d like to thank Cinemax for offering me a movie experience like this. The Dark Horse is definitely not a bad movie and I would be happy to recommend it to anybody who likes biopics. My three-star review is not a criticism, but rather the reflection of the fact that I didn’t really like the manner in which Genesis Potini’s life-story was told. Cliff Curtis might be putting in as good an acting performance as ever, but if the movie doesn’t properly explain the essence of his character’s mental illness, I can hardly understand the things he does. Fortunately, the movie isn’t only about him. It’s also about how the Maoris form gangs in secluded areas outside of cities that you would certainly not like to meet. I feel that they would scare even hardcore Hell’s Angels from some American Hicktown. (11/30/2015)

Interesting stories are capable of creating life themselves, as evidenced by many destinies. And one such unconventional story is also focused on in the film "The Black Knight". Interesting characters portrayed by interesting actors, lightning-speed chess, a gang, and even a mental illness are not lacking. All of this is presented in a humane and good film. (07/15/2015)