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BOBBY FISCHER AGAINST THE WORLDMovie Reviews
Biographical documentary about eccentric chess player Bobby Fischer, who became the U.S. champion at age 15 and world champion at age 29. Cast:Malcolm Gladwell, Henry Kissinger, Garry KasparovDirector:Liz GarbusRelease Date:May 27, 2011DVD Release:December 6, 2011From:Music Box FilmsLength:1 hr. 30 min.
DECEMBER 6, 2011
Bobby Fischer Against The World, Very Good Reviews (Doc) Limited
Bobby Fischer Against The World played in limited release to very good reviews. • MaryAnn Johanson wrote for Flick Filosopher, "...explores Fischer's enigma in ways that even those who do remember him at the height of his fame will find fascinating.... a uniquely American story..." • And Rick Groen wrote in the Toronto Globe & Mail, "...he was a doomed pawn in his own endgame." More Reviews Below...
Bobby Fischer Against The World Positive Reviews (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Bobby Fischer Against The World has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (7 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...tactfully but strongly posits a connection between the genius brought to an infinitely complex game and the madness that defined his relationship to just about everything..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 09/09/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...follows the curious and tragic life of the troubled chess icon as he went from child prodigy to global legend to paranoid recluse -- and Jewish-born anti-Semite..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 208 words, 09/23/11
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "How did Fischer rise so high and then tumble so far? Director Liz Garbus doesn't pretend to have all the answers, but she shines light into dark corners."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 600 words, 05/27/11
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "The sorry spectacle of the ranting codger never effaces the image of the boy concentrating his entire being over a chessboard. You have to love that kid and pity him."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 473 words, 09/07/11
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells the story of a Jewish kid raised in Brooklyn who spent his final years in exile as a fulminating anti-Semite.... he was a doomed pawn in his own endgame."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 713 words, 05/27/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...there are few things duller than watching people watch other people playing chess, and director Liz Garbus never finds a way to bring the sport to cinematic life."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 150 words, 05/26/11
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...largely but not wholly based on David Edmunds' fascinating book... a fascinating multi-faceted portrait filled with interviews with those who knew him when."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 217 words, 04/02/11
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "Documentarian Liz Garbus has tracked down remarkable footage of Fischer... a gripping film about a subject almost too good to be true."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 282 words, 09/16/11
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: MODERATE(cg) "Fischer's disintegration provides the movie with an unsettling undercurrent, lending strength to the belief that sometimes, too much genius can drive a person insane."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 335 words, 03/10/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "The sorry spectacle of the ranting codger never effaces the image of the boy concentrating his entire being over a chessboard. You have to love that kid and pity him."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 473 words, 09/07/11
Arthur Ryel-Lindsey, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...the true challenge of the film is, unsurprisingly, Fischer himself.... requires a slightly more caring hand than the one documentarian Liz Garbus provides."(See all of Arthur Ryel-Lindsey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 624 words, 09/04/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "...there are few things duller than watching people watch other people playing chess, and director Liz Garbus never finds a way to bring the sport to cinematic life."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 150 words, 05/26/11
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...explores Fischer's enigma in ways that even those who do remember him at the height of his fame will find fascinating.... a uniquely American story..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 298 words, 07/20/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...tactfully but strongly posits a connection between the genius brought to an infinitely complex game and the madness that defined his relationship to just about everything..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 09/09/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...follows the curious and tragic life of the troubled chess icon as he went from child prodigy to global legend to paranoid recluse -- and Jewish-born anti-Semite..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 208 words, 09/23/11
James Greenberg, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...aided by extensive archival footage expertly put together by editors Karen Schmeer and Michael Levine, manages to reassemble the pieces of Fischer's shattered life."(See all of James Greenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 617 words, 01/26/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...follows the curious and tragic life of the troubled chess icon as he went from child prodigy to global legend to paranoid recluse -- and Jewish-born anti-Semite..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 208 words, 09/23/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...tactfully but strongly posits a connection between the genius brought to an infinitely complex game and the madness that defined his relationship to just about everything..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 09/09/11
17.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Bobby Fischer Against The World's reviews are separated by an average 17.4 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Bobby Fischer Against The World (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Bobby Fischer Against The World's reviews cover 12.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 6,053 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 432 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Bobby Fischer Against The World Coverage, Volume & Length (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 55 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Bobby Fischer Against The World's reviews on average broke 55 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Bobby Fischer Against The World's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Bobby Fischer Against The World (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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