Searching For Bobby Fischer
"A wonderfully acted, heart-warming family film!" -Rita Kempley, The Washington Post
If you've been searching for a "stand-up-and-cheer movie" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), a film "not only to enjoy but the cherish" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times), look no further -- you've found Searching For Bobby Fischer.
Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc) is a typical seven-year-old who happens to be a chess prodigy. Joe Mantegna stars as Josh's father, a sportswriter determined to see his son become a champion. Searching For Bobby Fischer is about their heartwarming journey of discovery, as a father and son learn the one thing neither can afford to lose: their love for each other.
Laurence Fishburne and Ben Kingsley deliver powerful supporting performances in this uplifting film that's rich with all the promise and wonder of life.
Member Reviews
worth seeing - ziggotto
The movie is similar to "Akeelah and the Bee" which I liked more - I think it was better directed. I would've liked to see how Josh became a great chess player rather than showing him all of a sudden in his prime as a child, and this just by looking at the chess panzers in the park. Max Pomeranc is very cute in this movie and Ben Kingsley is always great.The Chess Part is Largely Irrelovant. - cathyottawa
It could just as easily have been a sport, like baseball, or a musical instrument, like violin.
This is about realizing you have a child prodigy, and learning how to nuture a natural talent. It shows the dangers of becoming a "stage parent" or "sports parent", who pushes their kid too hard, and demands nothing but success.
Josh is a naturally talented chess player. He likes the game. It's fun. But his teacher (Ben Kingsley) wants him to develop a killer instinct - to hate his opponent and want to win above all. He's not evil, like the descriptor makes him seem, he just believes that to not prepare Josh fully is to set him up for painful failure.
His father struggles with wanting to push him to succeed, and remembering that he's just a seven year old kid.
His mother never forgets that his emotional health is paramount, and if he's not having fun, there's no point.
Lawrence Fishbourne gives a great supporting performance as a "street chess" player, who takes Josh under his wing.
Finally there's Josh, who loses his joy for the game when he becomes afraid of losing, and has to find it again with the help of his parents.
A beautifully told story with a great cast about good sportsmanship, and playing for the right reasons.Josh Waitzkin - KOBA
Josh recently gave up playing chess professionally (he didn't make it to Grandmaster, which must have been a disappointment to him). However the uplifting story of his rare chess ability makes for one of the more enjoyable family films ever made. The young star is not very self-aware for a child actor, which works surprisingly well. Lawrence Fishburne and Ben Kingsley play fantastic roles as divided mentors with the same goal.
Member Reviews
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worth seeing - ziggotto
The movie is similar to "Akeelah and the Bee" which I liked more - I think it was better directed. I would've liked to see how Josh became a great chess player rather than showing him all of a sudden in his prime as a child, and this just by looking at the ...The Chess Part is Largely Irrelovant. - cathyottawa
It could just as easily have been a sport, like baseball, or a musical instrument, like violin.
This is about realizing you have a child prodigy, and learning how to nuture a natural talent. It shows the dangers of becoming a "stage parent" or "sports ...Josh Waitzkin - KOBA
Josh recently gave up playing chess professionally (he didn't make it to Grandmaster, which must have been a disappointment to him). However the uplifting story of his rare chess ability makes for one of the more enjoyable family films ever made. The young ...