Pawn Sacrifice - Bobby Fischer film review by Rick Knowlton - AncientChess.com
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2015
- Pawn Sacrifice is sure to inform many people about the extraordinary moment of Bobby Fischer's rise as chess world champion.
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See AncientChess.com for info on Bobby Fischer's chessmen.
I got a message from Frank Brady, biographer of Bobby Fischer. He worked with Tobey on body language and handling the chessmen -- says that Tobey really nailed it. There seems to be a broad consensus that he's an exceptional actor.
Okay, that's it. We redo the film, and you sir, are its new director/producer! Thank you for speaking my heart.
+dmed ...soon as we get the backers! ... and no cigarette whimmy-whammy!
Thanks for the good comment
Tobey produced the movie...so that was shy he was cast. It was a project for him created by him.
+Justin Leach Yeah, I think that's the bottom line where casting is concerned -- it's Tobey's film. Apparently, he wasn't a chess freak to begin with. I wonder what turned him on to this story
+AncientChess I imagine he came across the script and it hooked him.
from the rumors i know of Tobey. I Think he saw himself in Bobby. They both can be hard to work with.
@@TubeFuzzyCheese This is late, but it's standard these days for a big star to get a producer credit on any film they agree to star in. Very little can be drawn from this fact, and certainly the conclusion that it was his pet project and that he cast himself.
According to Anthony Saidy, my perception of the infamous ...BxKRP move was misguided. Although later analysis indicated Fischer could've pulled off a draw, he himself said he was a "fish" -- meaning it was simply a blunder ...
Last I heard Fischer asked about the move, he simply said he didn't know what he was thinking. It's a bit of a mystery, but it set the tone of the match with a wonderful point of intrigue!
Great review, sir. Pawn Sacrifice hasn't been featured in theatres here in Mexico. Can't wait to see it.
+Rubén Gil Quiñónez Thanks for the comment! I think you will enjoy it
Well said. Very humorous about the cigarette, perhaps it was intentional just to give you a "mind eye" or "glimpse" of the distractions Bobby Fisher could get distracted by. Just a thought. Great review.
You're review is right on. I thought the inaccuracies were inexcusable. The bobbing cigarette was unnecessary. Tobey did an excellent job, but, they could have made a better selection. Spassky's and Lombardy's parts were overdramatized. I also didn't think the profanity was necessary. I don't believe he used that kind of language. I'm not sure the picture will encourage or increase chess activity.
+Paul T Thanks for the good comment. I think that happens a lot -- profanity slips into modern writing where it would have been inappropriate in the original context. We'll see about the popularity of chess. It seems to be on an upswing lately already, especially in schools. I think anything that brings chess to the public's attention is a bit of a plus...
Very good review. I thought the same when I saw the movie
great review, but the one thing that threw me off from this film is the facts they said about Paul Morphy. The Priest said that Paul Morphy had gone insance because of chess, and they had found him in a bathtub after he had commited suicide surrounded by 12 pair of womens shoes.. those facts were false.. Paul Morphy died from what seemed to be a stroke, from walking in the hot sun then taking a cold bath.. and the thing about womens shoes is just a myth. it comes from a small book his niece had written. which is known to be untrue..
but there were countless inaccuracies in this film, I still enjoyed the film, just that Paul Morphy thing really set me off.
Thanks Jack, I hadn't looked into the Paul Morphy issue. I guess it's possible that someone could've told Bobby that story, even though it wasn't true ... but I imagine it was one of the many "unchecked facts" of the film. I would certainly take issue with the assumption that it was chess that drove Morphy crazy. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree, it had much to offer in spite of its inaccuracies (and even the cigarette whimmy-whammy!).
Someone mentioned they are not sure whether they film will encourage chess activity. I think it won't. It might even scare parents that their kid might turn out like Bobby Fischer as far as beliefs and character. But what actually not everyone knows but which I've observed a lot is that is frequently used in video games either as a prop or as plot hook. Recently I saw chess featured as a prop in this year's Batman game. There is a chess board with setup pieces in Bruce Wayne's office and a position one move from a mate from an immortal game is setup.
+StopFear I tend to expect viewers to be more keyed into the excitement and drama of the game, as portrayed in the film, than the larger implications of madness and paranoia ... and I do believe that, where popularity is concerned, any publicity is 'good' publicity. So, I think it will be 'good for chess'. Funny that you noticed that particular position in a batman movie. I'm always interested to see chess making incidental appearances in the media. Of course, it was very big in Harry Potter. In any case, chess does seem to be on an up-swing, I think especially in the schools.
Very good review. I saw the movie today on the last day of its short run at my local theater. I don't know if it will have much impact on the public's interest in chess, but it is a fine drama, and it left me feeling much as you did. I am about the same age as you and I remember those days as a teenager and how much everyone was following the match. I'm glad you pointed out Fischer's total domination of other top players on his way to the championship match and the fact that aspects of his "madness" did not occur until later in his life. However, if the movie had stuck strictly to the facts, it would not have been as dramatic.
Like you, I was interested in the chess sets shown in the movie. I noticed the questionable chess pieces, particularly the Zagreb set that Spassky was using. From what I have gathered on the internet, I don't think the Zagreb design was created until much later.
Also, I think this was in part Tobey Maguire's movie, as he was one of the producers, which would help explain why he played the role. When I saw the trailer, I had a hard time seeing Maguire as Fischer, but after seeing the movie, I think he did a good job of capturing Fischer's voice and personality.
Finally, I thought the cigarette added a bit of humor to that scene and reminded me of certain people I have come across.
+Brad4083 Thanks for the good comments. It sounds like your experience of the film is very similar to mine, the good, the bad and the mediocre. I would not underestimate the significance for chess in general of a film like this coming into the public eye. For us, chess is naturally an important part of life, but for most people it's not even on the radar. I think even a little blip can make a significant difference in consideration of the huge Hollywood audience.
I liked it.
I agree with you, not on the makeup, but definitely about the presence Fischer had. Funny cigarette bit!
+Mootaz Allen Thanks for the good comment. Yes, Fischer's presence was intense and something really worth observing -- didn't really come off in the film. Interesting you should disagree regarding makeup -- to me it really stood out as odd. Maybe we just didn't date the same kind of girls. Good to hear from you though -- comment on my videos any time!
Totally agree with u Sir , and i think that Josh Lucas would have made a “better“ Bobby
+Polo Polo Thanks for the good comment. I can certainly see Lucas as Bobby, seems like it could be a natural fit. Ah well, most of the great movies will never be made. It's nice to see that his legacy is so alive after all these years
I very much agree. But I think you're being too kind to the movie actually.
+StopFear Thanks for the comment. Yes, I think it comes down to how one is affected by the film. I have such an aversion to mainstream films in general that if I find a film to be even 'watchable' I consider it exceptional. Another bias on my part is that I think the film will help put chess in the public eye -- which is good. Share you opinions on my videos any time --
...I couldn’t agree more, the movie paints an inaccurate & overly dramatized & somber picture of Fisher, his entire chess career was summarized in a very short list of exceptional achievements rather than a well rounded & insightful progression of both his chess as he evolved to a player of a different caliber & class on his own as well as a candid portrayal of his true personality and character.
I think a very good biographer of Fischer is Frank Brady. I am especially fond of his book Endgame, where he portrays Fischer in his later years. It's a very touching account
Tobey , who played a jockey in Seabiscuit, was much too short to play 6 foot plus Fischer.
Yeah, maybe good height for a jockey. Good actor but not Bobby-like
The beach scene where Fischer insults and rags on spassky and his group NEVER happened! How crude.
Thanks Barry. You know, this film is basically 'fictionalized', trying to jam a lot of things that 'did' happen into contrived scenes. Can be annoying, I know! But do you think that scene misrepresented something important, like what Fischer really thought of Spassky and the Russians?
I think if they would have used Jim Caviezel as Bobby Fisher instead of Toby. It might have looked better. I could see Jim playing that role quite well. At least Jim has the height needed for the role. Have Jim speak with a New York accent. I could really see him play that role.
+saved03 Thanks, good suggestion. I've also had the suggestion of Nicolas Cage or Ryan Gosling. The terrible reality of course is that these would-have-been movie corrections are almost never made. What's done is done and the one who made the film first corners the market -- sets their view of history 'in stone'. Of course, for those who care, plenty of real footage of the real people is up on RUclips every day. Television footage of Fischer being interviewed before and after the match shows him well. (I especially like the 'interview' he did with Bob Hope!)
No it did not
I thought your argumeant about the pretentiousness of Hollywood to be pretty pretentious in its own right. The film is different to make it more interesting. It's not saposed to be a documentry. It's saposed to grab the audience and make it interesting while capturing the spirit of the story.