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Title: Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 |
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. Written by Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org>
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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)