alphatrans Reviews

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Exciting characterisation of the world of chess seen through the eyes of one Beth Harmon

[10/10 · 6 January 2021]

The queen's gambit transcends the simple description of an intense show about chess. It is so much more. A complex character study about the effects of child stardom and what it means to cope and survive in a highly competitive environment. The contextualization of a prodigy's life is realized by following the life and struggles of the fictional character Beth Harmon. We follow her whole upbringing from her humble start in a girl's orphanage to her last chess match with the Russian world champion. This is all brought to life through some gorgeous visuals which at many times reflect "unknowingly" the emotional state of the main character and they showcase the glitz and glamor of some of the locations as well as illustrating the excitement and tension of the chess matches. For example, the start of Beth Harmon's life in the tv show is characterized by some drab grey's that show the monotony and sadness and are a result of Beth unexpectedly becoming an orphan after a horrible car crash in which her mother takes her own life. This is all in contrast with the warm colors in the basement where she discovers chess for the first time through Mr. Shaibel the janitor of the orphanage. This is where Beth Harmon discovers her love for the sport and unlocks the true potential of her genius. The mesmerizing visuals are meant to suggest and accentuate the tension in some of the more important chess matches. This can be observed by looking at the end match where the powerful lights showcase the two chess players strategizing and the crowd hidden behind looking attentively trying to decipher and understand the moves involved. The plot is tightly constructed generally easy to follow focusing mainly on the characterization of Beth as well as some of the iconic chess players she comes in contact with. There is of course a lot of talk about chess and strategies but it is presented in a manner that is meant to describe and paint a more complex picture of Beth Harmon as a fictional character. A better understanding is gained when we observe the way Harmon's mind works as she often visualizes the chess board on the ceiling of the orphanage's bedroom trying to replay the matches and strategies she read in numerous books. After the pilot episode the tv show transitions to a more mature Beth about to be adopted by an apparently typical American family. Many problems ensue as she is trying to adjust to her newfound life especially when her adoptive father leaves her alone with her mother. She starts immersing herself even more in the world of chess competing in some local tournaments and she gains notoriety after defeating one of the most appreciated local players, Harry Beltik. This is the starting point in her career as we then see how it develops and evolves through some really tense well directed chess matches. The show is in essence about Beth Harmon as she is trying to find herself through her various interactions in life with other chess players like the aforementioned Harry Beltik and US champion Benny Watts. Beth by immersing herself in chess and after the loss of her mother falls in a sort of "depression" that is fueled by alcohol and the mysterious green pills which facilitate her visualization skills in her early years. Obsession is another prevalent theme in the tv show illustrated by Beth's anger the few times she is defeated and how she desperately tries to find errors in her game and counter strategies. She studies and studies, but in the end, she manages to emerge victorious in her ultimate game against her most intimidating opponent, the Russian Vasily Borgov only with the help and support of her fellow friends and chess players. The soundtrack deservers a mention as well. It helps in constructing an even more authentic image of the 1960s seen mainly through the chess world. The songs are also used as a narrative tool to showcase a more carefree side of Beth and to accentuate the euphoric drug and alcohol induced breakdowns of Beth as she struggles with the pressures of her new found fame. In essence this miniseries is more than a tableau of the 1960s or a technical show about chess matches. It is the story of a young woman that comes from an unfortunate background and that manages to trump all obstacles and emerge victorious not necessarily because she becomes world champion but because she manages to fully immerse and dedicate herself to what she loves most.

La La Land (2016)

Loved the movie it made me dream

[10/10 · 2 March 2017]

To get it out of the way this is the first musical i ever saw in my life.I absolutely loved it.The story was really well made and also well acted. The music oh my god the music is great.Some tracks are lively some of them are really haunting. Emma's Stone performance was amazing and added some depth to the movie.Ryan Gosling also did a great job with his role in this movie. The set piece is great and reminds me of Hollywood's gold era even though the movie takes place in present day.The story consists of two lovers who dream about the future.They sing they dance and simply amaze me. This movie is beautiful.While watching it i simply forgot about everything . I probably loved this movie because i am 'a fool who dreams'.After watching it i couldn't stop thinking about it. The main theme was still haunting me.It truly inspired me and i think it is one of the best movies of the year. An extraordinary masterpiece. I am still dreaming! Really