Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	Deleted Scenes Theatrical Trailer
Rating
Year Of Production	2011
Running Time	91:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Liz Garbus
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Bobby Fischer David Edmonds Anthony Saidy Susan Polgar Henry Kissinger David Shenk Gudmundur Thorarinsson Boris Spassky Mikhail Tal Garry Kasparov Mikhail Botvinnik
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	?	Music	Philip Sheppard

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     There is a moment in this documentary, the story of controversial chess great Bobby Fischer, that really brings home how famous he was in the 1970's and the extraordinary influence he had on the popularity of the game of chess. A newsreader is presenting the evening news. He says "in a moment we look into the growing Watergate scandal. But first - chess". For the first time and perhaps the last the classic strategy game assumed World importance.

     The reason for the popularity at that time is easy to see. For years the Russians had dominated chess, producing the world’s Grandmasters and declaring the game their national sport. It was proof of the intellectual superiority of the Soviets over the decadent West. In Bobby Fischer the West finally had a man who could take on the Russians and beat them - or could he?

     The story of Bobby Fischer is one of equal parts admiration and sadness. A brilliant chess strategist who had been an American chess champion since he turned 15 he was also a man beset by inner demons, some stemming from his virtual abandonment by his mother at an early age. For young Bobby chess was the alpha and omega and he spent every hour he could studying the game. His mother once took him to a psychiatrist, worried about his obsession with the 64 squares. The psych pointed out that there were plenty worse things for a boy to be obsessed with!

     The bulk of the film is taken up with his 1972 title fight in Iceland for World Champion with the Russian Boris Spassky. It is a riveting tale of mental struggle. It was a miracle the notoriously contrary Fischer even got off the plane. So contrary was the master that Henry Kissinger had to ring him and remind him of his obligation to his nation! When he did arrive he brought his eccentricities with him. I won't spoil the result although if you are a chess fan you will know already.

     Leastways Fischer didn't play competitive chess for decades. When he did it was against international law in the war torn former Yugoslavia and Fischer was outlawed for it. When he did emerge his eccentricities had assumed a dark mantle with the Jewish born Fischer railing against Israel and the USA. His final years were those of a man unrecognizable from his glorious past.

     The film is not really a cautionary tale; Fischer may have had the cards stacked against him (can't think of a chess cliché) from the start. His nature and his upbringing conspired to make him a chess machine but a damaged person.

     History and chess experts regard Fischer as one of the greatest players to ever move a pawn, able to see infinite moves ahead. Fans of Fischer will appreciate the wonderful footage of the world chess championship from Iceland and the wealth of early family photos. As much as it leads to admiration however the film is also profoundly sad that the genius came at such a price.

Video

     The DVD of Bobby Fischer Against the World is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio consistent with its presentation at the cinema. It is 16 x 9 enhanced.

     The film consists of talking heads style interviews and archive footage. Little has been done to restore the old footage however I doubt that this will be an issue for documentary fans. It all looks raw and real.

     The archive footage is amazing with young Bobby on TV being interviewed about his successes, and the older Bobby walking around the Reykjavik chess hall complaining about the noise of the video cameras. The talking heads footage is clear and clean with no defects.

     All in all this is a good presentation and one that will make viewers happy.

    There are no subtitles.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

     The sound for Bobby Fischer Against the World is English Dolby Digital 5.1 running at 448 kb/s. There is also a 2.0 track running at 224kb/s.

     Either is perfectly satisfactory for this film which makes no sonic demands whatsoever . It is largely dialogue. The dialogue can be heard clearly. There is no voice-over narration. There is the barest of work in the surrounds and sub-woofer. That is not a criticism.

    Original music is by Phillip Shepherd.

Audio Ratings Summary

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Deleted Scenes

     The only extras included with the DVD are some deleted scenes. There are four in total:

• The Fight for Fischer’s Estate (7.04)
• Chess History (5.32)
• Taking on the Grandmaster (1.39)
• Kings in the Ring (8.08)

     However, they are all worth watching. The story of the fight over Fischer’s estate is a movie in itself with estranged family, a recent wife and an apparent illegitimate daughter all vying for the Fischer millions. The second tells the history of chess. The third is a short sequence of a nervous London Sunday Times journalist taking on, with predictable results, a Grandmaster. The final sequence is an oddity - a look at chessboxing where competitors step into the ring to pound each other both physically and mentally. These boys better hope Floyd Mayweather doesn't take up chess!

Theatrical Trailer

     The trailer.

   The Region 1 version appears to have the same specifications but only the first two deleted scenes. The second two don't really add anything to the show but buy local.

     Chess fans may complain that this film is too much about the man and his personal foibles and not enough about the chess but for the casual fan it is an insight into one of the greatest and most flawed thinkers of the last century.

    The DVD is of fine quality and the extras are brief but interesting.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall