Poor Boy’s Game

After the pretentious excess of 2005’s Lie With Me, Poor Boy’s Game certainly marks a step in the right direction for filmmaker Clement Virgo – as the movie, though undeniably overlong, generally comes off as a moving and occasionally riveting piece of work. Rossif Sutherland stars as Donnie Rose, a rehabilitated thug who returns to his old neighborhood after a 10-year prison stint and must subsequently confront the family and friends of the young man he beat into a brain-damaged stupor. Poor Boy’s Game certainly benefits from the almost uniformly strong casting choices, with Sutherland’s superb work matched by costars Flex Alexander, Laura Regan, and particularly Danny Glover. The latter, playing the victim’s conflicted father, offers up a subtle yet powerful performance that anchors the film and effectively sustains the viewer’s interest even through the undeniably flabby midsection. That being said, there’s simply no denying that Virgo loses his way as the movie enters its third act – as the director offers up a few needless twists and a protracted climactic boxing match (the latter of which also suffers from an unexpected development that probably worked better on the page). Still, Poor Boy’s Game is, for the most part, a compelling effort that hopefully marks a new chapter in Virgo’s career.

**1/2 out of ****