Conference bookie::movies

    
    There was a piece on this movie on "All Things Considered"
    yesterday evening.  The actor playing the chess prodigy
    has little or no acting experience.  The director said the
    child was chosen for his chess skills, his eyes, and his
    messy hair.  The director went on to say that he tried to
    portray an extended family in the movie -- a family that
    includes not only the child and his parents but the
    child's chess teachers.  The interview with the director
    made me want to go see the movie as soon as possible...
    
    Ron

It got a scathing review in our local paper which called it the Rocky of chess.
They stated that it never moved out of the standard sports genre film where
person A works with a great of the game and you can predict the ending of the
great  tournament a mile away.

Metz

The Boston Globe gave this a very good review. Joe Montegna stars as the
kid's father, and Ben Kingsley plays the chess master who teaches him.

alan

    Referring to the All Thing's Considered review, the following excerpt of 
    dialog gave me a good chuckle and made up my mind to see this film...
    
    Not really a spoiler:

    The reviewer was discussing the father-son chess games in which the father,
    hunched over the board in obviously total concentration would be 
    routinely and offhandedly, drubbed by his son.  
    
    The scene:  Father at board, son in bathtub, far removed.  You hear the
    two calling back and forth (dialog approximate).
    
	Father:	"OK, it's your move."
        Son:	<splash, splash>  "Did you move that pawn?"
        Father: "I moved *a* pawn."
        Son:	<splash, splash> "Yeah, that one..."  "Move my horse in front
		 of my king."
	Father:	"You mean knight."
        Son:	<splash, splash>  "Yeah....    Did you move it yet?"
        Father: "Yes"
        Son: 	<splash, splash>  "Can we go now?"
        Father: "But the game's not over yet."
        Son:	<splash, splash>  "Yes it is..."

    Might an 11-year-old kid enjoy this movie? Ours is quick to pronounce
    something "boring" if it doesn't grab her right away. The fact that
    it's about a boy might be another point against it... maybe we should
    just go to "The Secret Garden" :-)
    
    					Val

    In the reviews I heard/saw critics claim is it very pace paced and they
    do lots of quick camera movements....don't let the subject matter fool
    you.
    
    Joyce

    
     My wife and I saw this movie at a sneak preview last week. We loved
    it. The theater was full of young children and it looked like they were
    having a great time. It does help if one has some understanding of
    chess (though it is not required). As the Boston Globe reports, the
    lead character who plays the chess prodigy dominates the movie. The 
    expressions in his eyes are worth more than a thousand words. Ben
    Kingsley (oscar winner for "Gandhi") also does a great job in the
    movie.
    
      The outcome of the final game may be predictable - but what is more
    interesting is how the various influences in Josh's life (the chess
    prodigy) play out in that game.
    
      The two 11-12 year old girls sitting next to us thought that the
    movie was very "cute". I agree.
    
     Nitin (who loved Little_Man_Tate also and dreams of being the father
    of a child prodigy !).

>It got a scathing review in our local paper which called it the Rocky of chess.
>They stated that it never moved out of the standard sports genre film where
>person A works with a great of the game and you can predict the ending of the
>great  tournament a mile away.

5% Rocky.  Not enough to hurt.  Anyone who allows himself to be put off by
that aspect of it will be missing a real treat.  I don't think I've seen a 
better movie this year.

Bob

    This is out on video now, and I finally saw it.  Just a lovely, lovely
    movie.  While we do have the "fight for victory," that's not the
    primary theme.  This is really about the affect of competition on the
    human spirit.  His father pushes him to win; his teacher tells him to
    have contempt for his opponents.  Serious stuff for a seven-year-old. 
    His mother stands up for him, and I'm pleased that the movie doesn't
    show her as being soft or wanting to make her son a "sissy."
    
    I liked that they avoided some obvious moves.  The "traditional"
    teacher (Ben Kingsley) never had some confessional scene where he
    admits his failed past and urges Josh to be his redemption.  He and the
    "non-traditional" teacher (Laurence Fishburne as a speed-chess player
    in the park) never have a confrontation scene, either to upbraid the
    other for his affect on their mutual pupil or to demonstrate hard-won
    respect for the other.
    
    The performances were all just great.  Max Pomeranc is wonderfully
    natural, not at all actor-ish.  Laurence Fishburne was exciting, but
    then, his was the most dynamic character.
    
    Definitely worth renting.

    We rented the movie this weekend, and the whole family
    (including a 13 and 10 year old) loved it. I enjoyed
    watching the relationships between the Josh and his
    Dad and his two teaches grow, change, and mature. I enjoyed
    seeing a strong Mom who tries to keep her son in balance.

    Comments on the movie after the form feed...




    My kids loved the final chess match with jonathon and kept
    replaying the part from where Josh moves out his queen till
    the "good game" line. The interplay of scenes was really
    exciting.

    I also enjoyed watching the interview with the real Josh, his
    Dad, and Bruce at the end. Did anyone notice the real Bruce in
    the scenes in Washington Square?

    Just saw it on video too. 
    
    I *loved* this movie. It had my interest every moment from beginning to
    end. Looks like we missed out on the interviews with the real
    Josh/Dad/Bruce here though! Bummer!
    
    Rob