![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/109\/2013\/05\/FischerPoster.jpg\" "\\"FischerPoster\\"")
<\/a>The Story:<\/strong><\/h2>\nChess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.<\/p>\n
The Stars:<\/strong><\/h2>\nJoe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne<\/p>\n
Release Date:<\/strong><\/h2>\n1993<\/p>\n
Rating:<\/strong><\/h2>\nPG<\/p>\n
Our Take:<\/strong><\/h2>\nDespite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, Steven Zaillian\u2019s Searching for Bobby Fischer<\/em><\/a>has stuck more firmly in my memory than most other \u201creal-life\u201d films I\u2019ve seen. Even now, some twenty years and countless biopics and adaptations later, it remains my favorite, and by a wide margin.<\/p>\nBased on writer Fred Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> first-hand account \u2014 \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the film tells the story of young chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> meteoric rise in the strange world of competitive chess, and of his family\u2019s struggles to find a balance between the pressure (and fame) of high-profile competition and their son\u2019s desire for a normal childhood.<\/p>\nAt first, Josh\u2019s (Max Pomeranc) fascination with his new pastime \u2014 discovered almost in passing \u2014 is matched only by his extraordinary aptitude, and by his father\u2019s (Joe Montagna) excitement. Eventually, Fred\u2019s desire to nurture that baffling talent leads him to replace his son\u2019s strongest (and most enjoyable) chess influences \u2014 the brash speed demon Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne) and the blitz-chess denizens of New York\u2019s Washington Square Park<\/a> \u2014 with renowned coach and taskmaster, Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley).<\/p>\nThe inevitable clash between Vinnie\u2019s trash-talking, improvisational style and Pandolfini\u2019s calculating, dispassionate one increases the pressure on Josh and his father, forcing the youngster to choose between the two, and forcing his father to come to terms with what exactly he\u2019s encouraging in his son (and most importantly, why he\u2019s encouraging it).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/109\/2013\/05\/Fischer.jpg\" "\\"Fischer\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe film is well-acted and beautifully shot \u2014\u00a0Conrad Hall\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0amazing artistry has never been more evident than in the film\u2019s unforgettable \u201cChess in the Rain\u201d sequence, and look at that close-up of Pomeranc, for goodness sake! \u2014 and while the story might seem a bit formulaic \u201con paper,\u201d the cinematic reality is rich and vibrant. Particularly worthwhile is the film\u2019s focus on a question with which all parents must grapple at some point in their children\u2019s lives: How much of one\u2019s motivation in helping them succeed is driven by a desire to see them achieve the full measure of their potential, and how much by one\u2019s own ambitions and desires?<\/p>\nBe Aware:<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe film is rated PG for \u201cthematic elements,\u201d and suffers from what I like to call \u201cLittle League Syndrome: Parents Behaving Badly at Their Children\u2019s Events.\u201d There is a bit more competitive intensity than one might expect from a film that revolves around chess, and since most of that intensity is connected to parents placing undue expectations on their children, younger viewers might be troubled by those scenes.<\/p>\n
Appropriate for Ages:<\/strong><\/h2>\nWith the above caveat noted, I would be comfortable showing the film to viewers aged 7 and up. Check\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more.<\/p>\nRelated Material:<\/strong><\/h2>\nBased on \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess,\u201d\u00a0the book Joshua\u2019s father, Fred Waitzkin, wrote regarding his son\u2019s experiences in the world of\u00a0competitive\u00a0chess.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/109\/2013\/05\/FamilyMovieNight.png\" "\\"FamilyMovieNight\\"")
<\/a>This is the latest in our Family Movie Night series, in which Patheos writers bring you weekly \u00a0recommendations for a film to watch together as a family. All our recommendations can be found by visiting the Family Movie Night page<\/a>.<\/p>\nAttribution(s):<\/strong> All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of Paramount Pictures<\/a>\u00a0and other respective production studios and distributors<\/a>, and are intended for editorial use only.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Story: Chess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. The Stars: Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne Release Date: 1993 Rating: PG Our Take: Despite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1286,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-movies"],"yoast_head":"\n
Searching for Bobby Fischer \u2013 Family Movie Night<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Story: Chess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. The Stars: Joe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/summathissummathat\/2013\/05\/searching-for-bobby-fischer-family-movie-night\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Searching for Bobby Fischer \u2013 Family Movie Night\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Story: Chess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. 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1993<\/p>\n
Rating:<\/strong><\/h2>\nPG<\/p>\n
Our Take:<\/strong><\/h2>\nDespite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, Steven Zaillian\u2019s Searching for Bobby Fischer<\/em><\/a>has stuck more firmly in my memory than most other \u201creal-life\u201d films I\u2019ve seen. Even now, some twenty years and countless biopics and adaptations later, it remains my favorite, and by a wide margin.<\/p>\nBased on writer Fred Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> first-hand account \u2014 \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the film tells the story of young chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> meteoric rise in the strange world of competitive chess, and of his family\u2019s struggles to find a balance between the pressure (and fame) of high-profile competition and their son\u2019s desire for a normal childhood.<\/p>\nAt first, Josh\u2019s (Max Pomeranc) fascination with his new pastime \u2014 discovered almost in passing \u2014 is matched only by his extraordinary aptitude, and by his father\u2019s (Joe Montagna) excitement. Eventually, Fred\u2019s desire to nurture that baffling talent leads him to replace his son\u2019s strongest (and most enjoyable) chess influences \u2014 the brash speed demon Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne) and the blitz-chess denizens of New York\u2019s Washington Square Park<\/a> \u2014 with renowned coach and taskmaster, Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley).<\/p>\nThe inevitable clash between Vinnie\u2019s trash-talking, improvisational style and Pandolfini\u2019s calculating, dispassionate one increases the pressure on Josh and his father, forcing the youngster to choose between the two, and forcing his father to come to terms with what exactly he\u2019s encouraging in his son (and most importantly, why he\u2019s encouraging it).<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe film is well-acted and beautifully shot \u2014\u00a0Conrad Hall\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0amazing artistry has never been more evident than in the film\u2019s unforgettable \u201cChess in the Rain\u201d sequence, and look at that close-up of Pomeranc, for goodness sake! \u2014 and while the story might seem a bit formulaic \u201con paper,\u201d the cinematic reality is rich and vibrant. Particularly worthwhile is the film\u2019s focus on a question with which all parents must grapple at some point in their children\u2019s lives: How much of one\u2019s motivation in helping them succeed is driven by a desire to see them achieve the full measure of their potential, and how much by one\u2019s own ambitions and desires?<\/p>\nBe Aware:<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe film is rated PG for \u201cthematic elements,\u201d and suffers from what I like to call \u201cLittle League Syndrome: Parents Behaving Badly at Their Children\u2019s Events.\u201d There is a bit more competitive intensity than one might expect from a film that revolves around chess, and since most of that intensity is connected to parents placing undue expectations on their children, younger viewers might be troubled by those scenes.<\/p>\n
Appropriate for Ages:<\/strong><\/h2>\nWith the above caveat noted, I would be comfortable showing the film to viewers aged 7 and up. Check\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more.<\/p>\nRelated Material:<\/strong><\/h2>\nBased on \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess,\u201d\u00a0the book Joshua\u2019s father, Fred Waitzkin, wrote regarding his son\u2019s experiences in the world of\u00a0competitive\u00a0chess.<\/p>\n
<\/a>This is the latest in our Family Movie Night series, in which Patheos writers bring you weekly \u00a0recommendations for a film to watch together as a family. All our recommendations can be found by visiting the Family Movie Night page<\/a>.<\/p>\nAttribution(s):<\/strong> All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of Paramount Pictures<\/a>\u00a0and other respective production studios and distributors<\/a>, and are intended for editorial use only.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Story: Chess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. The Stars: Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne Release Date: 1993 Rating: PG Our Take: Despite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1286,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-movies"],"yoast_head":"\n
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Despite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, Steven Zaillian\u2019s Searching for Bobby Fischer<\/em><\/a>has stuck more firmly in my memory than most other \u201creal-life\u201d films I\u2019ve seen. Even now, some twenty years and countless biopics and adaptations later, it remains my favorite, and by a wide margin.<\/p>\n Based on writer Fred Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> first-hand account \u2014 \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the film tells the story of young chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin\u2019s<\/a> meteoric rise in the strange world of competitive chess, and of his family\u2019s struggles to find a balance between the pressure (and fame) of high-profile competition and their son\u2019s desire for a normal childhood.<\/p>\n At first, Josh\u2019s (Max Pomeranc) fascination with his new pastime \u2014 discovered almost in passing \u2014 is matched only by his extraordinary aptitude, and by his father\u2019s (Joe Montagna) excitement. Eventually, Fred\u2019s desire to nurture that baffling talent leads him to replace his son\u2019s strongest (and most enjoyable) chess influences \u2014 the brash speed demon Vinnie (Laurence Fishburne) and the blitz-chess denizens of New York\u2019s Washington Square Park<\/a> \u2014 with renowned coach and taskmaster, Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley).<\/p>\n The inevitable clash between Vinnie\u2019s trash-talking, improvisational style and Pandolfini\u2019s calculating, dispassionate one increases the pressure on Josh and his father, forcing the youngster to choose between the two, and forcing his father to come to terms with what exactly he\u2019s encouraging in his son (and most importantly, why he\u2019s encouraging it).<\/p>\n The film is well-acted and beautifully shot \u2014\u00a0Conrad Hall\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0amazing artistry has never been more evident than in the film\u2019s unforgettable \u201cChess in the Rain\u201d sequence, and look at that close-up of Pomeranc, for goodness sake! \u2014 and while the story might seem a bit formulaic \u201con paper,\u201d the cinematic reality is rich and vibrant. Particularly worthwhile is the film\u2019s focus on a question with which all parents must grapple at some point in their children\u2019s lives: How much of one\u2019s motivation in helping them succeed is driven by a desire to see them achieve the full measure of their potential, and how much by one\u2019s own ambitions and desires?<\/p>\n The film is rated PG for \u201cthematic elements,\u201d and suffers from what I like to call \u201cLittle League Syndrome: Parents Behaving Badly at Their Children\u2019s Events.\u201d There is a bit more competitive intensity than one might expect from a film that revolves around chess, and since most of that intensity is connected to parents placing undue expectations on their children, younger viewers might be troubled by those scenes.<\/p>\n With the above caveat noted, I would be comfortable showing the film to viewers aged 7 and up. Check\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more.<\/p>\n Based on \u201cSearching for Bobby Fischer: The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess,\u201d\u00a0the book Joshua\u2019s father, Fred Waitzkin, wrote regarding his son\u2019s experiences in the world of\u00a0competitive\u00a0chess.<\/p>\n Attribution(s):<\/strong> All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of Paramount Pictures<\/a>\u00a0and other respective production studios and distributors<\/a>, and are intended for editorial use only.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Story: Chess prodigy\u00a0Josh Waitzkin\u00a0refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer. The Stars: Joe Mantegna, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne Release Date: 1993 Rating: PG Our Take: Despite laboring in relative (and surprising) obscurity when compared to many of its \u201cBased On a True Story\u201d counterparts, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1286,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-movies"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a><\/p>\nBe Aware:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Appropriate for Ages:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Related Material:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>This is the latest in our Family Movie Night series, in which Patheos writers bring you weekly \u00a0recommendations for a film to watch together as a family. All our recommendations can be found by visiting the Family Movie Night page<\/a>.<\/p>\n