Today I watched Life of a King (2014) | Review

Life of a King (2014) Storyline

Life of a king is a story about Eugene Brown an ex-convict who is trying to get his life back on track after spending 17 years of his life in prison.  Eugene Brown apparently was a gang leader involved in drug trafficking unaware of its consequences and had to learn the lesson the hard way as he has to spent rest of his life away from his two kids. But Eugene had a good company in the prison where he met a chess master who taught him how to play chess teaching him various moves as they had lots of time to devote to chess. Now that Eugene was out, Chessman wishes him to change his life with the moves of the chess and spread the knowledge he taught him. Eugene on getting out of the prison settles down for a normal day to day life while failing at finding a decent job due to his criminal record, tries to make amends with his daughter but she now having all grown up and having missed him in her entire life rejects his love as a Father. Eugene also comes to know about his son who was sentenced for selling drugs and tries to amend with him as well but once again finds rejection. While Eugene is trying desperately to get his life back on track his old gang members who got away 17 years back during the bank robbery getting their leader Eugene himself to take the fall, forward a helping hand to join the gang again but Eugene refuses their offer despite tough times finding a job or mending a broken relationship.

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Eugene Brown and the Chessman in Prison where they exchange their lifes of a king via chess

Times start to change when an old friend of Eugene who left the bad world of gang wars long ago shows up. Eugene’s friend invites him to work with him as a school janitor and since Eugene was so desperate for a job he immediately takes the job.  Meanwhile a group of teenagers held in the school detention room behave badly with their detention monitor getting her to quit the position, while school principal is looking for a new monitor she in a desperate situation momentarily makes Eugene in charge and is surprised to find out everyone acting disciplined under Eugene’s presence. The Detention class mainly consisted of few kids consisting of a super smart kid Tahime, than the bad guy Clifton and then the good and innocent guy Peanut. Meanwhile the school principal having unable to arrange a substitute for detention monitor’s post offers the position to Eugene who seeing the opportunity takes the job with a certain lie of no felony. Eugene starts his position as a detention monitor quite impressively and mingles with everyone while  Tahime and Clifton refuge to be part of the class while Eugene teaches everyone how to play chess. Peanut seems to have gotten interested in the game and starts paying more attention to Eugene’s teaching. 

Eugene Brown trying to teach students how to make better choices in life using chess

During the chess teachings during the detention hour Eugene discovers the natural talent of Tahime, the ability to foresee opponent’s move beforehand and to counter attack them. While Eugene applauds Tahime yet Tahime still considers the game stupid and doesn't pay attention. While everyone is getting more involved in the chess, Clifton who is a drug supplier is planning to rob big bucks while involving Tahime and Peanut along with him. But due to Eugene’s effect on the detention class suddenly his drug sales are down as everyone, suddenly is more interested in chess rather than drugs. The Drug dealer who also happens to be ex-partner of Eugene gets mad and leaks the news about Eugene being an ex-convict to the school’s principal who is forced to make Eugene leave the position devastating everyone’s hope about the chess classes. 

Tahime with the hidden natural talent for chess showcasing his skills

However Eugene finds a ray of hope in Peanut and makes him the president of the chess club while they operate outside the school in a small house and name it as the Big Chair Chess club which quickly finds many students coming in. Even Eugene’s daughter is impressed by her father and starts accepting him. But just when things were going to good for Eugene and the chess club, things go wrong with the death of Peanut who was dragged into a robbery by Clifton and Tahime and was shot dead. Tahime who used to think Clifton as the tough guy and used to follow him finds his best friend Peanut dead all because of silly schemes of Clifton to get rich. Tahime is devastated and so is Eugene whose hope for the future of chess club is all gone with Peanut, but Tahime shows up for the chess club who promises to play for the club for the sake of his best friend Peanut and coach Eugene. Tahime quickly picks up the game and wins the local chess competitions as well but is disqualified from the tournament for forging the official papers to enter the tournament.

Coach Eugene Brown and Chess master Tahime with the runner up's trophy in Washington DC chess open

Meanwhile Eugene meets Tahime’s mother and tries to convince her to let him play as her son has great talent to become a chess master. Tahime soon starts to get into the mantle of the game in wake of coming chess tournaments in Washington DC chess opens. Meanwhile Eugene gets united with his two kids after they come to know about their changed Father trying to amend for his past mistakes by changing and inspiring lives of school students. Tahime displays an amazing show at the tournament as he reaches the final to face the undefeated chess wizard (J. Thomas Gaines) who has been undefeated ever since he was 15. Tahime manages to give the champion some goosebumps during the game but fails to win the game against the prodigy, yet wins the champions and everyone’s heart. After the tournament Eugene’s big chair chess club comes into notice of many prestigious colleges as Eugene extends his services in many schools of US and producing many great chess champions through his chess club which started off from scratch, while the bad guy Clifton learns his lesson the hard way as spends his time in prison for his bad ways despite several attempts by Eugene to realize him the consequences of his choices. In short it’s all about getting back after a hard fall and making the right choices in life despite many hardships just like Eugene which happens to be a true story. It's all about making the right moves when an opportunity shows up to truly live the life of a king.

Life of a King Trailer

Movie Cast & Crew

• Director: Jake Goldberger
  
• Writers: Leeotis Burgess (music and lyrics), Jake Goldberger, David Scott, Dan Wetzel
• Stars: Cuba Gooding Jr., Dennis Haysbert, LisaGay Hamilton, Blake Cooper Griffin, Kevin Hendricks, Malcolm M. Mays, Rachae Thomas 
  

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