This documentary follows the life of the chess player, Bobby Fischer. Bobby Fischer went through stress by the media, the fans, and the pressure to play Soviet World Champion Boris Spassky throughout his career. The political climate at the time was strongly looking into the game of chess to show the intelligent might in their nations. The Cold War feel to it put Bobby Fischer in a chilling stubborn mood. He has been known to forfeit when he refused to play the game in a dispute over playing condition, over paid or willing not to play. This match against Boris made him famous. The film gives much information about how the game was play and some history of the sport. There was a great insight into his training. He did a lot of strength training, flexibility and swimming for those events. The movie then shows his descent into monomaniacal. This win caused him to show erratic behavior and paranoia. The United States government made him into a weapon of their own propaganda for jingoism. He was fond to fear mongers messages against Soviets, Jewish and American capitalism. Before any more damaging his reputation; he retreated from public life. He didn't return to the public life until the end of the Cold War. The documentary notes his return to the world of chess might have been cause by a love affair; rather than him being a political activist. Bobby Fischer played chess in Yugoslavia at the time of an intended NATO invasion. Taking the prize money made him an enemy of the state in the United States. He continues to cause stirs with countries that safe harbor him like Iceland and the Philippines. He probably saw the world as a chess game where everybody out to get him. He grew more isolation and self-loathing. What I like about the documentary is to how it's shows both sides of the coin: his faults and highs. While some critics felt it was exploitative. I felt it not to be. One thing about the film is how much it borrows from another documentary film. In many ways, the film fells to give any more new information for the audience, if the viewer seen the other documentary first. Disagree in how Bobby Fischer wasn't able to cope in the spotlight. Fischer always wanted to be the center of media attention. Some of his views are out there. However at times when Fischer speaks, he talked as if he is a very tall man in a crowd. He can see over the others, far ahead into the distance where others only see the crowd. The film also explained that his mind can pretend movements and sets ahead of those of his opposites. There is some truth to his ranting. He did plenty to assassinate his own character by denouncing or disliking anyone who didn't agree with him. The Experts interviews gave the viewer's much information. None of the interviews seemed wasted. It has always great to see the noble game of chess and Bobby Fischer as a topic for a documentary. Very profound the doc is. Incredible use of documentary work and an incredible person Fischer was; who was buried by his own genius and madness.
Review of Bobby Fischer Against the World
