Anybody read this book by Fred Waitzkin? Don't go by the movie, it's a hollywood version of what really happened. I had seen pieces of the movie and didn't like the overcute kid and the stern Hitler-like Pandolfini. As usual, in these movies everything seemed so pat even up to the final game when Josh's opponent (a morose brat) topples his king. The book has the best description of post-Fischer U.S. chess i've read, with all the Washington Park chess bum personalities included. There's even a section where Fred Waitzkin takes his son to Moscow (never covered in movie) and he describes all the politics and subtrefuges of the Kasparov-Karpov Match, being followed by the KGB and the plight of the Jewish chessmasters in Russia. Chilling stuff. And of course there's the father-son relationship and the paradox of all these brilliant minds, men and women who could be writers, mathematicians, musicians--all of them pushing little pieces of wood around a chessboard.
Originally posted by buddy2probably a very good book but I liked the movie very much.
Anybody read this book by Fred Waitzkin? Don't go by the movie, it's a hollywood version of what really happened. I had seen pieces of the movie and didn't like the overcute kid and the stern Hitler-like Pandolfini. As usual, in these movies everything seemed so pat even up to the final game when Josh's opponent (a morose brat) topples his king. The b ...[text shortened]... iters, mathematicians, musicians--all of them pushing little pieces of wood around a chessboard.
Movies that are based on books rarely measure up. Some exceptions: The Godfather, one of the best films of all time, may be better than the book, although it distorts the story; Apocalypse Now takes a book set in Africa in the nineteenth century and relocates it in Vietnam in the 1970s, revealing certain universal themes in the critique of Western imperialism that might be missed otherwise, improving the book through creative interpretation.
Searching for Bobby Fischer is a tremendous, heart-warming, and insightful film that takes indecent liberties with a well-written, but somewhat narcissistic book. Of course, the book tells a truer story about Josh Waitzkin, and presents a more accurate picture of Brice Pandolfini. The story in the movie, while slightly less accurate as history, may have more truth to offer in terms of the psychology of competition, coaching, fathers and sons.
Originally posted by buddy2Yes, I've read the book as well and wasn't the least bit suprised to learn of how inaccurate the movie was for the sake of dramatic license. But I don't begrudge the movie makers that license; they said right from the start that it wasn't a documentary they were making. The championship match as featured in the movie was absolutely over the top; I'd never seen such a contrived ending to a chess game in my life. In reality Josh won that match on an opening trap in the Sicilian. And he would become best friends with the boy that he beat.
Anybody read this book by Fred Waitzkin? Don't go by the movie, it's a hollywood version of what really happened. I had seen pieces of the movie and didn't like the overcute kid and the stern Hitler-like Pandolfini. As usual, in these movies everything seemed so pat even up to the final game when Josh's opponent (a morose brat) topples his king. The b ...[text shortened]... iters, mathematicians, musicians--all of them pushing little pieces of wood around a chessboard.
Interesting little piece of trivia: Bruce Pandolfini actually makes a small cameo in the film. When Josh's nemesis is being discovered in the park, Bruce is the guy with the glasses and curly hair who leans over to Ben Kingsley (playing Bruce) and whispers, "Young Fischer."
Yea, as was said, in the book Pandolfini was soft spoken and harried by his trying to scrape up a meager living as a chess teacher and writer. In the movie, i was half expecting him to give Josh a good thrashing for not keeping up with his lessons, but as someone said, that hollywood license. One of the most intriguing parts of the book was the chapter when Waitzkins goes to Russia to report on the Kasparov-Karpov Match. It seems the kgb were everywhere. Even the U.S. embassy was bugged. The struggle between the two k's wasn't just on a chess level, there was also a political/cultural struggle going on at the same time. After all, Kasparov, was never one to follow party line. In Russia, chess isn't a game.
Originally posted by Natural ScienceAfter-Edit: Sorry, I was mistaken. Mr. Pandolfini's cameo came while Josh was playing chess with Lawrence Fishburne's character.
Yes, I've read the book as well and wasn't the least bit suprised to learn of how inaccurate the movie was for the sake of dramatic license. But I don't begrudge the movie makers that license; they said right from the start that it wasn't a documentary they were making. The championship match as featured in the movie was absolutely over the top ...[text shortened]... s and curly hair who leans over to Ben Kingsley (playing Bruce) and whispers, "Young Fischer."
Originally posted by Natural ScienceI thought the book had them drawing the final game which gave josh the win due to tie breakers. He blundered at some point in the final game and was forcing back tears in a bathroom break during that game. Through good fortune and/or good play (don't recall exactly which) he managed the draw that secured the championship.
Yes, I've read the book as well and wasn't the least bit suprised to learn of how inaccurate the movie was for the sake of dramatic license. But I don't begrudge the movie makers that license; they said right from the start that it wasn't a documentary they were making. The championship match as featured in the movie was absolutely over the top ...[text shortened]... s and curly hair who leans over to Ben Kingsley (playing Bruce) and whispers, "Young Fischer."
Anybody back me on this or am I confusing this book w/ some other?