Again - thank you RT.
SYNOPSIS
Though he's only seven, Josh looks at a chessboard and anticipates moves that mature chess players don't even see. He's a malleable young boy with an incredible talent for the game of masterminds. When Josh begins honing his talent, playing a speedy version of the game called "blitz" with hustlers and hobos, his father decides to take him to world reknowned coach Bruce Pandolfini, who claims Josh may well be the second coming of chess legend Bobby Fischer. But family struggles ensue when the mother worries that in cultivating the genius, they may be hurting the child.
Okay, I played competitive tournament chess during my junior high, high school, college and mid-adult life. This movie captures the feel of that environment extremely well - especially the side of the parents being total jerks. I lived through that a bit myself - it's unreal.
Great story imo - a very well written screenplay. The acting wasn't totally great, however, Max Pomeranc does a fantastic job at playing Josh and Joan Allen does an outstanding job as his mother - Bonnie. I think pretty much anyone could have played the part of Ben Kingsley, Laurance Fishbourne or Joe Mantegna.
Being a fan of chess, I did like seeing all the real-life chess personalities in the movie playing themselves.
Shawn
SYNOPSIS
Though he's only seven, Josh looks at a chessboard and anticipates moves that mature chess players don't even see. He's a malleable young boy with an incredible talent for the game of masterminds. When Josh begins honing his talent, playing a speedy version of the game called "blitz" with hustlers and hobos, his father decides to take him to world reknowned coach Bruce Pandolfini, who claims Josh may well be the second coming of chess legend Bobby Fischer. But family struggles ensue when the mother worries that in cultivating the genius, they may be hurting the child.
Okay, I played competitive tournament chess during my junior high, high school, college and mid-adult life. This movie captures the feel of that environment extremely well - especially the side of the parents being total jerks. I lived through that a bit myself - it's unreal.
Great story imo - a very well written screenplay. The acting wasn't totally great, however, Max Pomeranc does a fantastic job at playing Josh and Joan Allen does an outstanding job as his mother - Bonnie. I think pretty much anyone could have played the part of Ben Kingsley, Laurance Fishbourne or Joe Mantegna.
Being a fan of chess, I did like seeing all the real-life chess personalities in the movie playing themselves.
Shawn