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Drama

Searching for Bobby Fischer

- Every journey begins with a single move.

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

Release Date : 1993-08-13

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Mirage EnterprisesScott Rudin ProductionsParamount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Max Pomeranc

Character Name : Josh Waitzkin

Original Name : Max Pomeranc

Gender : Male

Joe Mantegna

Character Name : Fred Waitzkin

Original Name : Joe Mantegna

Gender : Male

Joan Allen

Character Name : Bonnie Waitzkin

Original Name : Joan Allen

Gender : Female

Ben Kingsley

Character Name : Bruce Pandolfini

Original Name : Ben Kingsley

Gender : Male

Laurence Fishburne

Character Name : Vinnie

Original Name : Laurence Fishburne

Gender : Male

Michael Nirenberg

Character Name : Jonathan Poe

Original Name : Michael Nirenberg

Gender : Male

Robert Stephens

Character Name : Poe's Teacher

Original Name : Robert Stephens

Gender : Male

David Paymer

Character Name : Kalev

Original Name : David Paymer

Gender : Male

Hal Scardino

Character Name : Morgan

Original Name : Hal Scardino

Gender : Male

William H. Macy

Character Name : Tunafish Father

Original Name : William H. Macy

Gender : Male

Vasek Simek

Character Name : Russian Park Player

Original Name : Vasek Simek

Gender : Male

Dan Hedaya

Character Name : Tournament Director

Original Name : Dan Hedaya

Gender : Male

Laura Linney

Character Name : School Teacher

Original Name : Laura Linney

Gender : Female

Anthony Heald

Character Name : Fighting Parent

Original Name : Anthony Heald

Gender : Male

Steven Randazzo

Character Name : Man of Many Signals

Original Name : Steven Randazzo

Gender : Male

Chelsea Moore

Character Name : Katya Waitzkin

Original Name : Chelsea Moore

Gender : Male

Josh Mostel

Character Name : Chess Club Regular

Original Name : Josh Mostel

Gender : Male

Josh Kornbluth

Character Name : Chess Club Regular

Original Name : Josh Kornbluth

Gender : Male

Tony Shalhoub

Character Name : Chess Club Member

Original Name : Tony Shalhoub

Gender : Male

Austin Pendleton

Character Name : Asa Hoffman

Original Name : Austin Pendleton

Gender : Male

Tom McGowan

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Tom McGowan

Gender : Male

Ona Fletcher

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Ona Fletcher

Gender : Male

Kamran Shirazi

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Kamran Shirazi

Gender : Male

Roman Dzindzichashvili

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Roman Dzindzichashvili

Gender : Male

Jerry Poe McClinton

Character Name : Park Player

Original Name : Jerry Poe McClinton

Gender : Male

Matt De Matt

Character Name : Night Park Player

Original Name : Matt De Matt

Gender : Male

Vincent Smith

Character Name : Washington Square Patzer

Original Name : Vincent Smith

Gender : Male

Jerry Rakow

Character Name : Washington Square Patzer

Original Name : Jerry Rakow

Gender : Male

William Colgate

Character Name : Statistician

Original Name : William Colgate

Gender : Male

Tony De Santis

Character Name : Jounalist

Original Name : Tony De Santis

Gender : Male

R.D. Reid

Character Name : Final Tournament Director

Original Name : R.D. Reid

Gender : Male

Anthony McGowan

Character Name : Park Dealer

Original Name : Anthony McGowan

Gender : Male

Katya Waitzkin

Character Name : 82nd Girl

Original Name : Katya Waitzkin

Gender : Male

Ryder Fleming-Jones

Character Name : Petey

Original Name : Ryder Fleming-Jones

Gender : Male

Harris Krofchick

Character Name : Running Chess Kid

Original Name : Harris Krofchick

Gender : Male

John Bourgeois

Character Name : Gym Parent

Original Name : John Bourgeois

Gender : Male

Maria Ricossa

Character Name : Gym Parent

Original Name : Maria Ricossa

Gender : Female

Caroline Yeager

Character Name : Screaming Mom

Original Name : Caroline Yeager

Gender : Female

Andrew Sardella

Character Name : Josh's Syracuse Opponent

Original Name : Andrew Sardella

Gender : Male

Nathan Carter

Character Name : Josh's Teammate

Original Name : Nathan Carter

Gender : Male

Nicholas Taylor

Character Name : Birthday Friend

Original Name : Nicholas Taylor

Gender : Male

Jonathan Fazio

Character Name : Birthday Friend

Original Name : Jonathan Fazio

Gender : Male

Nicky Mellina

Character Name : Birthday Friend

Original Name : Nicky Mellina

Gender : Male

Philip Neiman

Character Name : Birthday Friend

Original Name : Philip Neiman

Gender : Male

Elizabeth Gropman

Character Name : Birthday Friend

Original Name : Elizabeth Gropman

Gender : Male

Joel Benjamin Mowdy

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Joel Benjamin Mowdy

Gender : Male

Bobby Fischer

Character Name : Himself (archive footage)

Original Name : Bobby Fischer

Gender : Male

Reviews

F

Filipe Manuel Neto

@FilipeManuelNeto

2022-12-31

**The intricate world of chess, in the shadow of one of its most controversial masters.** There is, in the world of sport – and for all intents and purposes, competitive chess turns out to be like a sport – a certain obsession with the stars, and their replacement when they go away. This is perhaps most visible in football: Messi has often been described as the new Maradona, to give you an example of what I'm talking about. This film follows a bit of the same logic: after having a chess grand master who won an important world tournament against the unbeatable Russians (and in the middle of the Cold War), the film takes us to the world of junior chess, following the steps of a young prodigy who could eventually be the “successor” to that famous player, Bobby Fisher. Little note: being a genius doesn't mean being a good person or a person you'll like. Bobby Fisher is already dead, and he died relatively young, but he guided his public life and his career by unpredictable behavior, enormous eccentricity and statements to journalists that are controversial, to say the least. He held quite radical world views, he was, it seems, anti-Semitic and a Holocaust denier. Fisher's statements about the US, his home country – which he left many years ago – are truly incendiary and critical. All it takes is a little internet research to verify this. I don't know how popular chess is nowadays, but here in Portugal it is common and very popular at school level, more as a recreational activity, not as a competition. I remember, in my school days, leaving the classroom and spending almost every break playing chess against my friends. And we took the game seriously, with pleasure and enthusiasm. We were aware of the complexity of the game, but we never worried about being ferociously good, just having fun. But I think anyone who knows how to play chess understands how challenging a game it can be. The film has an excellent cast. Max Pomeranc, despite being very young, is a likeable protagonist who seems torn between genius and normality. It makes him approachable and gives him a fascinating weakness for someone so obviously smart, and the young actor had the ability to understand the character in this way, and balance himself in this rich personality. Next to us, we have two great actors – Ben Kingsley and Joe Mantegna – who give us very successful jobs. For me, this film is one of Mantegna's best. Joan Allen also does a satisfying but less interesting job, and Laurence Fishburne could have been better used. Steven Zaillian had the brains to give us a film filled with intellect, intelligence and good feelings. The script is well written, and the dialogues are quite good. The choice of filming locations, sets and costumes, all help to build a familiar, friendly, very elegant film. There are no great effects, the film doesn't require them, but there is an effective soundtrack, very discreet, and reasonably well done cinematography.