Review of Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) by Morris N — 05 Feb 2013

I figured it would be good when my chess teacher called it "the best movie ever made about chess." It is. It's also a very good movie if you don't care about chess at all. What I really appreciated what the way it asked and gave at least partial answers to the important questions (family, competition, teacher/student, developing skills vs. leading a balanced life, etc.). It also emphasized a truth we need to hear as often as possible: that becoming a winner does not require giving up your compassion. I read the book first, and this movie takes the usual Hollywood liberties (for example, while Josh won the tournament depicted at the end of the movie, it didn't happen that way). The movie nonetheless tells the truth. It is rare to see an adaptation of a book done so well. Kudos to all involved. The cast, the direction, and the script are top flight. All the technical stuff about chess seems to be spot on as well. My only complaint is the score. The music sounds dated (too electronic) and was more what I'd expect from a regular sports film. The game of kings should have caused the musicians involved to imagine a more interesting score.

I recommend this movie for everyone. Don't let the subject matter stop you from seeing this remarkable movie.