janesbit1's Full Review: Searching for Bobby Fischer
I was feeling nostalgic tonight. I used to coach a chess team and play in tournaments, yet I knew that the game was more than a mere game -- it represented Life itself. Searching for Bobby Fischer knows this too.
Based on the true life story of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin, the film will appeal to non chessplayers as well. It contains family values at its core, as young Josh strives for a balance between competing to be the best while simultaneously seeking the love and acceptance of his father. Josh does receive unconditional love from his mother (Joan Allen), and unconditional acceptance from Vinnie (Lawrence Fishburne), a Washington Square chess hustler who teaches Josh wild, tactical chess. Contrast this with his father (Joe Mantegna), who wants Josh to excel and takes him on the chess tournament circuit, and with Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley), a chess master who teaches Josh solid, strategical chess.
While Vinnie and Bruce represent two contrasting views of chess, there are other interesting comparisons made in the film. Another contrast is set up between the likeable Josh, and the obnoxious chess prodigy John Pope. This too is based on a real life character; only the name has been changed to protect the snotty kid. Chess players will recognize the type, even if they've forgotten the actual player -- it's the cocky kids who walk around other chess players and laugh at their moves.
Actually the cocky "villain" of the story, John Pope, parallels the legendary Bobby Fischer, who appears in some fascinating black and white newsreel footage at various points in the story. Pope is very much like Fischer, since he has dropped out of school very young and has devoted his entire life to mastering the royal game -- to both Fischer and Pope chess is everything -- losing is unthinkable.
At one point Josh muses "Maybe it's better not to be the best--you can lose, and it's OK." Perhaps this is what caused Bobby Fischer to disappear from the chess world, after becoming the World Champion in 1972 -- there were no further chess goals for Fischer to conquer; there was only the danger that he could lose, and that was unacceptable. There has been a palpable mourning for Fischer ever since his pre-mature retirement and self imposed exile from the game. Pandolfini expresses this eloquently in the film when he explains that chess is an art, and that Fischer robbed the chess world from his genius.
Is it possible that young Josh has the same chess gifts as Fischer? When Fischer sought the world championship, he had to face his "demons" by overcoming the Russians. Now Josh has his own fears to conquer, symbolized by young Pope. Searching for Bobby Fischer approaches Josh's fears and self doubt very effectively and does so with a lot of heart. You will probably need a few tissues to wipe the sweat from your eyes at a few points. This is a true family film that pulls at the heart strings.
I could point out a few inaccuracies in some of the chess sequences themselves, but I understand that the film is looking for dramatic flare and simplistic symbolism. On the other hand, two moments particularly ring true to me. One is the scene where the father comes into Josh's room and tells him that it's OK to quit and that chess is just a game. Josh pauses a bit, and replies firmly, "No, it's not!"
Serious chess players know what Josh means here. A chess world exists that operates completely oblivious to the rest of the world. It is a field of battle in which you continually test yourself to find out who you are. There are no justifiable excuses for losing on the chessboard -- luck has no part -- you are either superior to your opponent, or you're not.
Another moment in the film that I know exists is when Josh is contemplating a very deep and crucial move, and ... after a long pause... Pandolfini states that Josh "has it." Everyone else is asking how he knows, but he does. That scene brings tears to my eyes every time because I have known those same moments during my chess coaching days. But enough of the chess specific items.
The film works on a very human level without having to know how the knight moves or the pawn "en passant" rule. It shows how we must face our fears, how to compete fairly, and how to balance our lives. In many ways this film parallels The Karate Kid as our hero searches for the balance.
Josh says that he's no Bobby Fischer, and fortunately for him he's not -- Josh already knows that there is more to Life than the small 64 square universe that he faces in the tournament halls. Josh is a well rounded kid, a kid who makes friends, plays games, soccer, and takes time out to fish.
It's a "secret" that continues to elude Bobby Fischer.
Though he's only seven Josh looks at a chessboard and anticipates moves that mature chess players don't even see. He's a malleable young boy with an i...More at Family Video
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