Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 9, 1993 TAG: 9310090032
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There is one difference, though. The sport in this one is chess, so the film rates fairly low on the rock-'em-sock-'em action scale. That's not to say that it's not suspenseful or involving - it is - and despite some unfortunate flaws, it's surprisingly effective.
Young Josh Waitzkin (Max Pomeranc) appears to be an average, bright 7-year-old until he discovers the game of chess. Then his father, Fred (Joe Mantegna), a New York sports writer, and mother, Bonnie (Joan Allen), are amazed to learn that they're the parents of a prodigy. Josh has an instinctive understanding and mastery of the game. But how should he develop and use his talent?
Should he follow the example of the flashy street player (Laurence Fishburne) who hangs out in in the park and is the master of the lightning fast match? Or should he study with the more conventional and more demanding teacher (Ben Kingsley)? And what should his folks do or not do to encourage him?
Writer/director Steve Zaillian based his script on Fred Waitzkin's nonfiction book and as long as he stays close to the family, the story is fresh and involving. As well-meaning as the parents are, they're facing something new and tend to make mistakes. The pressures of top-level competition - be the sport is chess, football or field hockey - are hard on young players.
Competition can be healthy, but at some point, the drive to win can become destructive. That's a fascinating, timely conflict and Zaillian handles it well. Toward the end, though, he falls back on Hollywood cliches. How will the 7-year-old champ handle it when he's challenged by the new kid in town?
If the conclusion is weak, and too sweet for some tastes, the body of the film redeems it. Viewers need to know nothing about chess to appreciate the story and it's particularly relevant for any family that's dealing with the problems that can result from organized sports. Max Pomeranc is the kind of hero that younger viewers will identify with immediately. He's believable and unaffected throughout.
Neither too complex for kids nor too simple for adults, "Searching For Bobby Fischer" is a "family film" in the best sense of the term.
\ Searching For Bobby Fischer: ***
A Paramount release playing at The Grandin Theatre. 107 min. Rated PG for a little rough language.
by CNB