English Chess Forum

Just watched 'Innocent Moves' aka 'Finding Bobby Fischer'. Aside from being a very good film in its own rights, I think any parent of a chess- playing youngster should definitely watch it. I was curious as to how well it has translated across from the book, having never read it. There were a few scenes that seemed somewhat embellished.

It's absurd. Ben Kingsley playing poor Pandolfini. And silly melodramatic gestures like sweeping the chessmen from the board. What teacher does that? It's pandering to an American audience instead of educating it, doubtless for reasons of lucre. Waitzkin's book, Searching for Bobby Fischer is, on the other hand, an enjoyable read, looking at a world non-chessplayers don't know about.

i thought it was ok. very predictable, fairly twee, not particularly offensive (unless you are pandolfini, asa hoffman or jeff sarwer).

i think 'fresh' is a much better film involving chess. samuel l jackson gives a great performance.

I asked Asa Hoffman why he allowed himself to be portrayed that way in the film. He told me, 'Well they gave me $500.' He is shown as a lunatic, whereas he is one of the sanest people I've ever met.
The film is good and I recommend all parents and chess-playing children view it together. Ben Kingsley was indeed utterly absurd.
I was told the story of the last, rather ridiculous game where both players lose their queens. A game had been carefully worked out. Then, on the day of the shoot, the director insisted on changes. It was the best Pandolfini could dream up with no notice.

Josh Waitzkin eventually bcame World Champion at a completely different sport.

Do NOT allow children to see the film 'FRESH'. The 13 year old chief protagonist pushes both pawns and drugs extremely expertly.

You can see the silent film 'CHESS FEVER' via a link on chessbase to youtube currently. Although nearly 90 years old, it remains the funniest and most chess-saturated film of all.

Stewart Reuben

If I were Asa Hoffmann I’d have wanted a bit more than 500 to be portrayed like that - the part where he is analysing his game in the corner after the tournament, finds the continuation he should have played then proceeds to have a nervous breakdown, is one of the most embarrassing in the film. It helps to confirm the myth that all Chess players are at best eccentric and at worst insane. Okay there are a few odd balls here and there, but the vast majority of players I meet are perfectly nice and normal.

The actor they got to portray Hoffman does look pretty similar to him, but that’s about it.

I will watch the film occasionally but I must admit to not especially liking it - I’m not a fan of Ben Kingsley at the best of times, but his performance in Innocent Moves is a flat out ham-fest, and he didn’t even attempt to portray the real Bruce Pandolfini - I seem to remember reading that he hadn’t actually clapped eyes on the man himself until about half way through filming, by which time he had “fallen in love with” the random Irish accent

Things especially go down the pan when the kid playing Jeff Sarwer (think he was re-named Jonathan Poe in the film) and his stereotypical evil, English, manager come into it. The director must just have told the young man to pull evil / smug faces and always ware the same white shirt. I challenge anyone to watch the “Trick or Treat” Blitz scene in the park, without cringing and fast forwarding it

Incidentally Jeff Sarwer gave a radio interview on the BBC a few days ago, sadly I missed it, I would have been quite interested to hear that. Anyone catch it, any good?

Link to interview http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0 ... ff_Sarwer/ yes well worth a listen.

Jon Mahony wrote:If I were Asa Hoffmann I’d have wanted a bit more than 500 to be portrayed like that - the part where he is analysing his game in the corner after the tournament, finds the continuation he should have played then proceeds to have a nervous breakdown, is one of the most embarrassing in the film. It helps to confirm the myth that all Chess players are at best eccentric and at worst insane. Okay there are a few odd balls here and there, but the vast majority of players I meet are perfectly nice and normal.

It panders to an uninformed audience by portraying silly stereotypes. As such it does a disservice to the cause of chess. Another stupid American film.