Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Director:

Steven Zaillian

Writers (WGA):

Fred Waitzkin (book)
Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Every journey begins with a single move.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Chess | Prodigy | Champion | Sportsmanship | Pressure

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Max Pomeranc	...	Josh Waitzkin
Joe Mantegna	...	Fred Waitzkin
Joan Allen	...	Bonnie Waitzkin
Ben Kingsley	...	Bruce Pandolfini
Laurence Fishburne	...	Vinnie
Michael Nirenberg	...	Jonathan Poe
Robert Stephens	...	Poe's Teacher
David Paymer	...	Kalev
Hal Scardino	...	Morgan
Vasek Simek	...	Russian Park Player
William H. Macy	...	Tunafish Father
Dan Hedaya	...	Tournament Director
Laura Linney	...	School Teacher
Anthony Heald	...	Fighting Parent
Steven Randazzo	...	Man of Many Signals

Also Known As:

Innocent Moves
À la recherche de Bobby Fischer (Canada: French title) (France) (video title) [fr]
Das Königsspiel (Germany) [de]
En busca de Bobby Fischer (Spain) [es]
In cerca di Bobby Fischer (Italy) [it]
Kuningaspeli (Finland) (video title) [fi]
Lances Inocentes (Brazil) [pt]
Oikeat siirrot (Finland) (TV title) [fi]
Oskyldiga drag (Sweden) [sv]
Sotto scacco (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements.

Runtime:

110 min | Canada:93 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Spain:T | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Mirage Entertainment

Trivia:

The film's star, Max Pomeranc, was chosen because he is in real life a chess player (or was at the time of the film). The producers wanted someone who would be at ease and "correct" playing chess. None of the film's other stars played chess in the beginning, but eventually Joe Mantegna learned.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: "Errors" such as the McDonalds cups seen in the movie being from the early 90s and not mid-80s are not goofs. Although the real life events happened in the mid-80s, the movie makes no attempt at all to stay in period. The cars, computers, clothes, etc., are contemporary to the film and not from the 80s.

Quotes:

Bruce Pandolfini: Paraphrase: Look at the board, can you see it?
Josh Waitzkin: I can't see it.
Bruce Pandolfini: [violently knocks pieces on the floor] Can you see it now?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Weird Science: Searching for Boris Karloff (#4.1)" (1996)

The thinking man's "Rocky".

Chess is a challenging game that hasn't been given its due in the art of cinema, so it's a pity "Searching for Bobby Fischer", one of the few "chess movies" out there, offers an unconvincing, Hollywoodized treatment of the subject. This is one of those completely conventional, crowd-pleasing entertainments that make everything look too easy (it almost argues that one doesn't need to practice or study to become really good at something, as long as he has a natural gift for it; I'm sure the real Josh Waitzkin would dismiss all that as pure baloney), and rely on a predictable "Rocky"-type final showdown (in this case, against a mean-spirited little chess whiz). Nonetheless, with such a splendid cast (including an excellent performance by newcomer Max Pomeranc), it would be impossible for this film not to have its interesting and affecting moments. (**1/2)