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From:Max Pomeranc , Joe Mantegna , Joan Allen , Ben Kingsley , Laurence Fishburne , Team Marketing , Steven Zaillian , Paramount ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#3585 |
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1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 Endearing tale of a prodigy, 2007-07-25
I was happy to see this movie released on DVD so I could add it to my collection. SFBF is an endearing tale, based on a true story, of the discovery of a chess prodigy (who was otherwise a very normal kid) and his learning about the harsh realities of competition. Joe Mantegna does his usual excellent acting job, lending a particular humor and humanity to the role of the father, but the young actor they sourced for the role, Max Pomeranc, is an acting prodigy. He's a cute kid, no doubt, but he evinces a certain pathos not normally seen in children his age. He steps into the role very well. Primarily a drama/slice of life movie, there are some excellent bits of comedy throughout as well. The chess scenes are done quite well so you don't get bogged down in it, and even if you've never heard of chess you won't be lost in this movie. Released in 1993, you'll recognize a lot of other folks in earlier roles (I'd forgotten Laura Linney was in it). My only complaint is the "reality" of some profanity, but you can't escape that it seems, but be forewarned if you're showing it to your own kids who are Max's age in the movie.
Searching for Bobby Fischer, 2007-07-13
Warm, intelligent film boasts a powerhouse cast (including Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Laura Linney, and David Paymer in support), and sends an important, often unheeded message about handling competition: the will to excel and win should always be counter-balanced by other interests, to cultivate a broader, balanced life perspective. For a touching, involving, and relevant family movie, search no further.
Should Be Required Viewing For All Teachers & Parents, 2007-06-25
Coaches, teachers, and parents of kids often make one of two errors in competitive activities:
1. They try to convince their kids that winning is the only thing that matters.
2. They instill in their kids a great fear of losing.
Josh Waitzkin is a young 7-year-old boy who enjoys playing the game of chess. He's also a very nice, sweet kid who never feels comfortable or even enjoys "beating" an opponent. He simply loves the game. When he first plays his father in a game of chess, he doesn't try his hardest. He's afraid of beating and hurting his father's feelings. This part of the film lays the foundation for the entire rest of the film. His mother has to tell him, "it's okay if you beat him. You won't hurt his feelings." Only then does Josh play at his best and wins.
Fred Waitzkin (Joe Mantegna) represents the first fear that I listed. He's an extremely supportive father who is very proud of his son. "He's better at this than anything that I will ever do in my whole life," he says of Josh. While has passion and support are strong, he falls into the trap of living vicariously through his son. Winning is the most important thing to him. When Josh loses a match to an "inferior" opponent, Fred is upset and can't understand why Josh lost. He doesn't realize that Josh loves his father and only wants to please him. It isn't until then that Fred realizes his mistake, and he finally encourages Josh to play for fun.
On the other side is Josh's chess teacher, Bruce (Ben Kingsley). He represents the second fear that I listed. He is afraid of Josh losing. Bruce is a man who is so scarred by his own losses that happened long ago, that he more or less "hides out" in an old chess room. At first, Fred Waitzkin has to talk him into taking his son as a student. While Bruce's demeanor is somewhat cold, it's obvious that he truly loves Josh, and can't bear the thought of Josh going through the pain of losing a match. It isn't until the end that he realizes that Josh is really in no danger of this, even if he did lose. Josh isn't greatly affected by either winning or losing. He only likes to play. But, Bruce tries to tell Josh that he needs to hold his opponents in contempt. That type of notion simply doesn't exist in Josh.
"Bobby Fischer held the whole world in contempt," says Bruce. Josh responds, "I'm not him." Josh already knows who he is, and he isn't trying to be the next Bobby Fischer, no matter how much everyone else wants him to be. He only wants to be himself.
There are two characters in this movie that already know Josh's heart, and they give him the positive values and support that Josh needs.
First, his mother (Joan Allen). She is so enamored by Josh's good heart, that at one point, she threatens her husband. "He's not weak. He's decent. And if you or Bruce or anyone else tries to beat that out of him, I swear to God I'll take him away."
Second, is his friend Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne), a man that Josh meets in Washington Square where Vinnie spends his time playing speed chess with other people who are mostly transients. Josh quickly makes friends with him, even though Bruce doesn't like it. But, Vinnie holds the wisdom of competition that Bruce fails to give to Josh. "You're playing not to lose, Josh. You have to risk losing. You have to play on the edge of defeat. That's where you want to be!"
I can't stress the performance of young Max Pomeranc (Josh Waitzkin) enough. He seems to know exactly who Josh is, and he plays him with a gentle sweetness that can't be ignored or overlooked. You see it in his eyes and facial expressions. He looks at his opponents not as enemies, but simply another kid sitting across from him who could easily be his friend. Josh has a well-balanced life. Chess isn't everything to him. He enjoys doing other things. Perhaps this is a testament to why his character is so strong. His opponent at the end, Jonathan Poe, thinks of only chess, and we quickly find that he is a very unhappy and miserable kid. He's the kind of player that Bruce tries to make Josh, and we are thankful that Josh never goes down that road.
Competition is so strong in our culture. Most parents, teachers, and coaches fall into these two fears without realizing it. We push and push, we forget that they are children, and that we need to stress the importance of having fun, being a good sportsman, and being gracious in victory and defeat. It's truly amazing to find that Josh Waitzkin already realized this at the tender age of 7. Hopefully, we can begin to pass these values on to our own kids.
Note* - Look for the real Josh and Vinnie during a scene when the movie Josh and Vinnie are playing chess in the park. The real Josh Waitzkin and Vinnie are talking just in front of Ben Kingsley and Joe Mantegna.
Great film for the achives of any home library. good values and lessons., 2007-06-21
As one reviewer who happened to winess much of this first hand has pointed out, yeah, hollywood may have taken some liberties with the characters for theatrics, but hopefully overall the message is transmitted, Winning is not everything, and more training and isolation on one task does not alway make a better player. Other factors come into play, heart and feeling should also. Based on a true story, Josh, a seven year old, picks up chess from the park (washington square) near his home, on his own. To the suprise of his parents, one day he asks to play at the park, and does well for the first time. From their, his father becomes involved, who is at first amazed at his son being so good, but then turns into an the classic Overbearing pressuring parent pushing josh into "always winning". Along the way young josh stuggles with what to do, fearing dissapointing his dad, as well as feeling forced to change his approch to something that brings him no joy. Alas, can Josh ever find his way, what will his dad do if he looses, and will he really be the next bobby fisher? Great movie, decent for the family and discussion.
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
 I Was There, 2007-06-10
I am longtime chess player who also grew up playing chess in the New York chess scene of the 70"s (as a youth). I grew up playing in the streets of the "Time Square" area. A black chess hustler by the name of Bobby Dee originated setting up chess tables on the streets. Players would man the tables and challenge bystanders to a game. He set-up outside of Nathan's on 42nd street. He started this because he had been kicked out of the 42nd street Chess House. This was the 1st time I met "Vinny" (played by a miscasted Laurence Fishburne in the film). His name was Vincent Livermore and he was a preppie type. They all called him Livermore. He didn't have a bald head (in fact his hair was always neatly cut), and he always gave me the impression that he had just come from class. Asa Hoffman (a white chess hustle miscasted in the film} was a highly respected master who was not the neurotic type portrayed in the film, but an accomplished master full of confidence. He always stayed upstairs in the chess house because he had regular customers coming by. Charley (who was Bobby Dee's brother-in-law) worked in the area; and after work he also set up a single board in front of the building where he work (where the New Years Day ball comes down). When Bobby Dee died of aids,(being very popular with hookers from 8th ave.), another Bobby (called sweetpea) started setting up. The police never bothered Bobby Dee (as he was a well-known exboxer, and they knew him at the precinct). After awhile Nathan's complained and Sweetpea mover around the corner to the outside of Bryant Park. Those that set up (now) inside the park came much later and charged much more money to play. Sweetpea continued to charged what Bobbie Dee had charged for the house (fifty cent for each 5 -15 min. game, and a dollar for slow games). What ever money you played for was between you and the play. The flee market started setting up outside of Bryant Park also. The chess playeers started getting harassed by the cops. Two of the one's playing for Sweetpea (a white fellow name Doug and another fellow) decided to set up in the Wall Street area. It was the other fellow's idea (a black guy whose name I've forgotten). Sweetpea gave it up after awhle and started playing in Washington Square Park where "Vinny", and other chess hustlers made their headquarters. "Vinny" was very popular, and white kids from the area got to be good friends with him. He was a preppie with character (who could also be intimidating when playing masters or grandmasters). It was well-known that he was gay. He wasn't flamboyant (and no one ever brought it up), but he never hid the fact either. He was openly gay in an environment where the issue only came up during his absence. That's some of the histoy of the otherside of chess. As for the movie; it's very good otherwise. I've given you a view from the inside out. "Vinny" later died of aids, but Sweetpea was still there, the last time I looked. You see him in some of the park scenes (they use the park guys in the film). The Russian master in the park who talks to himself (who Josh's mother pays a sum of money to play her son a game) was at some point taken to a care facility by some of the neightbors of the park. In those days it was only beginning to look depressing (that's why I stop going there to play). You can sight Sweetpea in the following park scene. Josh is playing "Vinny" on one board while Sweetpea (in a blue sweater with light blue shirt collar) plays a white guy (in black leather coat). Vinny is talking loud while playing Josh. He saids "That's what I'm talking about...Make him run. What can I do...? By the way the guy who saids "A young fischer." is none other than Josh's real life chess teacher Bruce Pandolfini making this comment to Ben Kingsley (who is portraying him in the film). Enjoy.
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