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Searching for Bobby Fischer | 
| Director: Steven Zaillian
Actors: Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Max Pomeranc, Joan Allen, Laurence Fishburne
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $11.49
You Save: $3.49 (23%)
New (30) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $7.98
Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 3584
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: TM2620
ISBN: 6305910340
UPC: 097363267348
EAN: 9786305910343
ASIN: 6305910340
Theatrical Release Date: August 11, 1993
Release Date: July 11, 2000
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Josh Waitzkin is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father at chess and wins. Showing unusual precocity at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh's parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce, who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way Josh becomes tired of Bruce's system and chess in general and purposely throws a match, leaving the prospects of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.
Amazon.com
Steve Zaillian, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Schindler's List, made his directorial debut with this critically acclaimed but little-seen drama based on the nonfiction book by Fred Waitzkin, about a father (Joe Mantegna) who discovers that his seven-year-old son (Max Pomeranc) is a genius at playing chess. The boy plays chess for fun, but when he's tutored by a former champion (Ben Kingsley) and entered into high-pressure competitions, an enjoyable pastime becomes a source of tension and resentment, forcing the father to reconsider his parental priorities. A poignant study of the difference between parental idealism and proper parenting, the movie is also an observantly witty portrait of a precocious child who is still, after all, a child, and still eager for the joyful discoveries of youth. While offering a fascinating look into the world of competitive chess, the movie's dramatically engrossing and extremely well-acted by a brilliant cast that also includes David Paymer, William H. Macy, and Dan Hedaya in memorable supporting roles. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 100 more reviews...
My favorite movie. October 31, 2008
SIGUY
This is my all-time favorite movie. There is not one wasted scene or false note. The performances are excellent. I am not alone in my opinion: Ben Kingsley said in an interview I watched, that this was his favorite of all the movies he's done. If you are a chess expert and expect this to be a technically correct in every way depiction of the game, it's not. If you are not interested in chess and think this is about just chess, it's not. It's about relationships: mainly a father, son, and teacher relationship. No profanity, no blood, no sex, some tears and laughs, minor reference to drug use. It does not closely follow the book it's based on (a true story written by the real life boy's father) which is fine. It's not a documentary.
sterling September 29, 2008
David Meyer (Ukiah, CA United States)
Throughout the past few years, I have never seen this movie fail to highly motivate children to play chess. A combination of a great sound track, fabulous cinematography, a great director, and an experienced cast produced a classic film.
a movie you can watch more than once July 18, 2008
C. Johnson (tennessee)
a movie you and your family can watch more than once. Excellent acting and character development.
Excellent July 5, 2008
John Kuczmarski (Calabasas, CA)
I bought this film for a friend whom I played over 50 chess games with (2 of which I one and he tutored me on chess theory throughout) as a graduation gift. I hadn't even heard of kinsley and didn't even recognize fishburne when I first saw this, nowadays I'd recommend the movie just for those actors alone, but even without the "good acting" the movie pace and plot has a mesmerizing feel. This -- along with a lot of kingsley's acting -- just has an incredible flow to it. Excellent film.
 One of my guilty pleasures May 21, 2008
Roderick Deweever (New York, NY)
Having seen this film in the theatres when it first came out, I've always had a fondness for this film. So there is no need for explanation about why I've seen this film at least six times. It's got a marvelous cast, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Joan Allen, Laura Linney, Dab Hedaya, William H. Macy, the list goes on. And what seals the deal is a breakthrough performance from first time actor Max Pomeranc, who shines as the seven year old Josh Waitzkin. The script was wonderful. But what else would you expect in 1993 from the screenwriter who penned Schindler's List? What was amazing though was that Zaillian also directed the film with as much panache and grace with which he wrote the screenplay. And to top it off, Zaillian found a way to shoot chess and make it exciting! I was so glad to finally buy this film, I'm going to show it to all my friends and show them what really good filmmaking looks like.
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