# Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

### reviewed by
Pedro Sena

    FILM TITLE:               SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISHER
    DIRECTOR:               STEVEN ZAILLIAN
    COUNTRY:                USA 1993
    CINEMATOGRAPHY: CONRAD L HALL
    MUSIC:                     JAMES HORNER
    WRITTEN BY:            STEVEN ZAILLIAN
    CAST:                       Ben Kingsley ( Bruce ), Joe Mantegna ( Fred
    W. ), Lawrence Fishburne ( Vinnie ), Joan Allen ( Joanne ), Michael
    Nirenberg ( Jonathan Poe ), Max Pomeranc (Josh), David Paymer, William H.
    Macy and several well known names in the Chess world.
    SUPER FEATURES:  Excellent story and beautifully done film.

              !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISHER is the story of Josh Waitzkin, a young man who has an ability to play chess that draws some comparisons to the Grand Master Bobby Fisher. Where Bobby Fisher was known to be an eccentric, that disliked the circles of the chess playing community, the young Waitzkin has all the makings of another man that will play chess forever, and become either a good player with all the trappings for failure, or a good player, who is also a good person behind it all. This is what the film is really about.

The young Josh, gets the inclination to play chess in his young days, and sets out to learn the game on his own. And at a certain point, he decides he wants to check out the chess bums in the park, who seem to have a daily thing going for a few dollars. Josh takes a liking to Vinnie, a black young man who may be a good player, but does not have the upbringing to take his game to another level. But what Vinnie lacks in upbringing, he has in his ability to play like a cat... he is quick, and he is clever, and he knows how to set up an opponent, something which the streets of Brooklyn are surely full of.

In due time, Josh's father decided to take the young man Josh to a chess school and get him some instruction on the game, perhaps a chance to get better. In the school he meets some of the well known chess players in the world, and the teacher first shows his disdain for the inner discipline that many of them lack. The young man Josh now has to come to grips with something which is difficult to do for him, which is to project far enough ahead in order to play a better game, something which people his age do not do.

Eventually, the young Josh starts playing tournaments, but he lacks the killer instinct that is sometimes necessary in order to survive these slaughter houses. He plays well, but he has found the closest thing to an enemy, which he is afraid to face. His deliberations take him back to the park for some fun chess ( for him ) and back to the teacher, who is not very happy with the young man's forays into the area where chess is not an art, but just a game.

During this time, the Josh's family begins having a few problems. The well meaning father, has accidentally drawn up plans for his genius son. But the mother is concerned that the child is missing out on his childhood. And this battle has an effect on the young man who is just trying to play to indulge his ability to think, and have some fun with it. And in the final tournament, in Chicago, Josh comes to meet his nemesis for the first time. He is a rich kid, that has been supported by an older line of chess players, and his style is dry, and quiet, and just play on... ruthlessly. But the kid does not know how to enjoy the game. Josh finds himself trapped, and loses a major piece. Vinnie immediately states that Josh is setting him up, much to the chagrin of the instructor who does not like games. And when all seems lost, Josh finally sees that he has got his opponent where he wants him, even if it isn't true. The young man does not know how to lose and challenges Josh to continue. And the real battle really begins, and Josh finally traps the king. Before this, Josh had offered a draw, because he knew that he could trap his opponent, who was good at set games, but not very good at free play... or at playing the style which the parks in Brooklyn had taught him.

A fabulously well directed film, with one outstanding factor that is immediately visible. The film is shot, in its entirety, with single lights for highlight, and also a very real effect. It has shadows ( like every corner of your house and room ) and the camera deals with it. It adds a lot of suspense, and thinking to any shot, and helps isolate each character in their own little world. The concept is not new. It is very old, and the one that we live with everyday. But it is rarely used in many American films whose tradition is steeped by the television styles, which is overly lit, and is not real. It makes for a moody film, but in this case, it is not a brooding film, but one that tries to help us define that little space, where the character sits, or stands. CONRAD L HALL's vision is now clear, and set. And the director Zaillian knew how to work with it. The concept was well thought out previously, and Mr. Zaillian must have been well aware of the way this film needed to be shot. ( See the film VISIONS OF LIGHT for Conrad's discussions on his use of lighting.. or lack of. )

This film is very well cast, and Ben Kingsley is very good. But the character most interesting to watch, is Lawrence Fishburne playing Vinnie, in a role where he can be his street person, and street smart. It helps the kid grow up, but it also helps him be a kid, because it is fun. This is always in contrast to the brooding, and very serious chess teacher. Vinnie never touches a chess piece indoors, and Bruce never touches one piece outdoors. And Josh becomes the best of both worlds, because he mixes the two.

A very well done film, with a very nice little story line that goes beyond the world of chess. Josh has another little friend, and he takes him aside towards the end. He may lose a chess game, but he still has a friend to play with, and that is more important. The ending line, with his little friend, is so very satisfying, and one of the reasons which makes this film so pleasing to anyone, chess fans or not. A great kid story. And a real nice look at an outcast from the chess world, which Bobby Fisher is. More of a renegade against a stuck up system than anything else is the point that the film seems to wish to make.

Worth seeing, and with some electrifying performances, and moments of very nice tension. Few film directors can draw up such a well done piece of work, but it may have been the eye of the cinematographer that made this film the excellent piece of work that it is. Right from the start.

    4.5 GIBLOONS
    Copyright (c) Pedro Sena 1994

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