Themes: Mentors, Child Prodigies, Fathers and Sons
Main Cast: Joe Mantegna, Max Pomeranc, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 110 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Searching for Bobby Fischer was inspired by the life of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, as written by his father Fred Waitzkin. Josh (Max Pomeranc) is a "regular kid" who begins evincing signs of being a genius at chess. His father (Joe Mantegna) encourages this, hoping that it won't fundamentally change his son's healthy outlook on life. But Josh is taken under the wing of cold-blooded chess instructor Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley), who indoctrinates the boy in the "Bobby Fischer" strategy. Unfortunately, Pandolfini emphasizes all of Fischer's negative traits, especially his contempt for his opponents. Josh is in danger throughout the film of sacrificing his essential decency, but in a rousing conclusion, the boy is able to successfully blend ruthless competition with good sportsmanship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
An extraordinary examination of child genius and all that comes with it, this stirring first directorial effort by ace screenwriter Steven Zaillian succeeds by simply letting everything in the movie's compositions speak for itself. Chess would not initially appear to be the most cinematic of events, but Zaillian and masterful cinematographer Conrad L. Hall find an enticing visual means of representing not only the sport, but also the emotions of its richly drawn characters. Every time the film threatens to become yet another routinely uplifting melodrama about child prodigies, it surprises with its effortlessly decent and moving, yet unsentimentalized, assuredness. Max Pomeranc is remarkable as the young protagonist, subtle and genuinely childlike, and Joe Mantegna has perhaps his most accomplished role to date as his protective and loving father. Even the "final showdown" manages to eschew convention, as the film is more interested in how it affects the people involved than in manipulating the viewer. Overall, the film is a glorious achievement, reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's early work in its triumphant exploration of young minds and the promise they hold. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Michael Nirenberg - Jonathan Poe; Robert Stephens - Poe's Teacher; David Paymer - Kalev; William Colgate - Statistician; Tony de Santis - Journalist; Jared Harris; Anthony Heald - Fighting Patient; Dan Hedaya - Tournament Director; Laura Linney - School Teacher; William H. Macy - Tunafish Father; Anthony McGowen - Park Dealer; Austin Pendleton - Asa Hoffman; Steve Randazzo - Man of Many Signals; Maria Ricossa - Gym Parent; Tony Shalhoub - Chess Club Member; Vasek Simek - Russian Park Player; Shelley Winters; Caroline Yeager - Screaming Mom; Tom McGowan - Reporter; Josh Mostel - Chess Club Regular; Jerry Rakow - Washington Square Patzer; Vincent Smith - Washington Square Patzer; Avy Kaufman; Hal Scardino - Morgan; R.D. Reid - Final Tournament Director
Credit
Gregory Keen - Art Director, David Wisnievitz - Co-producer, Julie Weiss - Costume Designer, Burtt Harris - First Assistant Director, Walter Gasparovic - First Assistant Director, Tony Gittleson - First Assistant Director, Steven Zaillian - Director, Wayne Wahrman - Editor, Robert Jones - Editor, Sydney Pollack - Executive Producer, James Horner - Composer (Music Score), Linda Gill - Makeup, David Gropman - Production Designer, Conrad L. Hall - Cinematographer, William Horberg - Producer, Scott Rudin - Producer, Steve Shewchuk - Set Designer, Bob Hall - Special Effects, David Lee - Sound/Sound Designer, Steven Zaillian - Screenwriter, Fred Waitzkin - Book Author
Searching for Bobby Fischer is an acclaimed 1993film based on the life of prodigychess player Joshua Waitzkin, played by Max Pomeranc. Adapted from the book of the same name by Joshua's father Fred, the film was written and directed by Steven Zaillian. In the United Kingdom the film was released under the title Innocent Moves.
In this film, Josh Waitzkin's family discovers that he possesses a gift for chess and they seek to nurture it. They hire a strict instructor, Bruce Pandolfini (played by Ben Kingsley) who aims to teach the boy to be as aggressive as Bobby Fischer. The title of the film is a metaphor about the character's quest to adopt the ideal of Fischer and his determination to win at any price. The main conflict in the film arises when Josh refuses to adopt Fischer's misanthropic frame of reference. Josh then goes on to win on his own terms with the kind of gracious sportsmanship that Fischer rejects.
Some famous chess players have brief cameos in the film: Joel Benjamin, Roman Dzindzichashvili, Kamran Shirazi, along with the real Joshua Waitzkin, Bruce Pandolfini, and Vincent Livermore. Chess masterAsa Hoffman is played by Austin Pendleton; the real Hoffman did not like the way he was portrayed (his dialogue is taken almost verbatim from the nonfiction book, but the manner in which he delivers his line is different). Chess expert Poe McClinton, still a park regular, is seen throughout the film. Pal Benko was supposed to be in the movie, but his part was cut out. Waitzkin's real mother and sister also have cameos in the film.
The Russian player in the park, played by Vasek Simek, who holds up the sign "For $5 a photo or a game with the man who beat Tal," was based on the real life of Israel Zilber.[1][2] Zilber, Latvian chess champion in 1958, defeated the teenage Tal in 1952,[3] and during most of the 1980s was homeless and regarded as one the top players in Washington Square Park.
Waitzkin versus Sarwer match
At the end of the movie, Josh is seen playing a tough opponent named Jonathan Poe in the final tournament. The character Jonathan Poe was not the actual name of Josh's opponent, however. His real name was Jeff Sarwer (a boy younger than Josh). Near the end of the game, where Josh offers Poe a draw, Poe rejects the offer of a draw and play continues. Sarwer rejected the draw in the real world as well. Josh played Sarwer to a draw (the two kings were the only pieces left on the board), and they were declared co-champions. The actual moves are available here.
Poe-Waitzkin
The position in the film before the draw is offered.
Waitzkin versus Poe endgame
Depicted to the right is the position of the game, as depicted in the movie, before Waitzkin offers Poe the draw. The position did not occur in the real Waitzkin-Sarwer game; it was contrived by Josh Waitzkin and Bruce Pandolfini specifically for the film. The following moves are executed:
In the October 1995 issue of Chess Life, GrandmasterLarry Evans stated that the position and sequence were unsound; Poe could still have drawn (note the double question marks after White's move 7, signifying a serious blunder). White could have drawn the game by advancing his pawn on move 7 instead of taking the knight.
Reception
The book and the film have both received mostly positive reviews from critics. Waitzkin's book was praised by GrandmasterNigel Short,[4] as well as chess journalist Edward Winter, who called it "a delightful book" in which "the topics [are] treated with an acuity and grace that offer the reviewer something quotable on almost every page."[5] Screenwriter and playwright Tom Stoppard called the book "well written" and "captivating."[6]
The film currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 24 reviews.[7]Roger Ebert gave the film a score of four stars (out of four), calling it "a film of remarkable sensitivity and insight," adding, "by the end of [the film], we have learned [...] a great deal about human nature." [8]James Berardinelli gave the film three stars (out of four), calling it "an intensely fascinating movie capable of involving those who are ignorant about chess as well as those who love it." [9]
