Rating: 
Summary: a wonderful movie
Review: it tells a touching story about the struggle for the heart and soul of a child - balancing what's in his best interest with just letting him enjoy being a child.the performances in the film are uniformly wonderful. the script is tight and very subtle in its insights into the dilemmas that most parents and teachers who aren't asleep at the wheel will inevitably face and wrestle with in regards to a gifted child (or any child for that matter). - and i should also note that this is not a film like *ransom* or *the emerald forest* - there's no kidnapping story at the heart of this movie and there are no car chases in the film - just a lot of chess and great acting. enjoy! :)
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Amazing
Review: It really is incredible how Hollywood can take such a boring and useless topic as chess and make it into an exciting piece of drama. The strange characters that inhabit the seedy sidestreets where New York's chess clubs come to meet is amazingly accurate, as are the fanatical parents that drive their kids into a state of psychotrauma. If this movie does nothing else, it warns would be chess champions to stay away from the bizarre world of competitive chess. A truly outstanding film!
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. Gives a chill each time watched.
Review: The first time I saw this movie (2 weeks ago on cinemax) I couldn't believe it. What an amazing film. I immediately went out and purchased the DVD. Now I can watch it as often as I want. I can't believe this masterpiece didn't garner more attention, especially when time came to give out awards. Oh well, I guess we're talking about an institution that gives awards on how grand special effects are compared to the acting and true beauty of a film. This one should have cleaned up at the oscars. Anyway, if anyone out there is just THINKING about getting this movie, do it. You won't regret it. I promise.
Rating:
Summary: Completely brilliant
Review: All the other reviews comment on the fine acting, directing and screenplay of this film. I agree with all of that. All the performances are outstanding and the story compelling. One more thing about this film that is amazing, is the art direction, sound and editing of the chess competition scenes. Most people I tell about this movie think chess is boring to play, let alone watch. The competition scenes are just as thrilling and nail biting as any other well directed sports action movie. The chess pieces seem bigger than life and the sound of the players moving and slamming down the pieces really project the tension and intensity of the game. The quick editing makes the chess games fly. SEE THIS MOVIE!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth a watch...
Review: I'd like to contradict reviews on IMDb by annmason1 and "spleen."
The movie is NOT about the "genius in us all" (Josh has a unique talent that any parent trying to teach their kid chess knows), and it is NOT a movie about chess.
It's a movie about Josh, and his incredible talent and his father trying to come to grips with that fact. It's not a move that everyone will identify with in terms of their own children. But they will identify with it's theme.
Personally, I find the characters played by Ben Kinglsey and Lawrence Fishburn to be almost ancillary to the movie. Even though they may have been real cahracters in Josh's life, his talent existed whether they did or not.
I loved the movie because I identified with Josh in other areas, and probably almost all of us will in one way or another.
It's well worth watching because of that alone.
Rating:
Summary: What a truly great movie
Review: One of the most enjoyable movies ever. As a parent of two young children, it touched my heart deeply. Everything about this movie is superior. The acting, music, themes, lighting, script, etc., is first rate.The subject is chess, but the theme is about parental love and wanting and giving to your children what you never had or could have.
Rating:
Summary: The most underrated movie ever.
Review: Too many people try to pass this film off as just a family picture, a story about a father and son, but it operates on so many other levels that such an evaluation hardly does it justice. I once spent an entire evening, with a then film student/now film maker friend of mine, just discussing the basic aspects of the movie (like character relations, cinematography, the flow of the script, etc.). We concluded that the father/son story is really one of the more insignificant (still important, just not /as/ important) themes of the movie. Combine that with superb acting from Kingsly, Fishburn, Mantegna, and the young Max Pomeranc, and this movie should be required viewing for everyone of any age. And let me restress the fine acting from Pomeranc (who plays the child chess prodigy). About the only other place you'll see a child act as well is in "6th Sense". Get this movie today, and make all your friends and family watch it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A rare transcendental experience
Review: Steven Zaillian is one of the great spiritual artists of our time, and this film shows it. Like all of Zaillian's directorial and writing work, SFBF is really about the inherent spirituality of human existence. In his extraordinary way, Zaillian shows that virtuous qualities like humility, generosity, patience, sacrifice, love, and honest struggle are the stuff from which a worthy life are forged. I am an evangelical Christian, and although nothing overtly Christian or Biblical appears in this film (nor is any credit given to God for Josh's talents nor his naturally generous spirit), it nevertheless portrays the most Christ-like demeanor in a "regular" person I have ever seen on film. SFBF is undoubtedly Zaillian's best work to date, although his handling of Schindler's List and A Civil Action also demonstrate a keen understanding of spiritual reality. His films are a rare transcendental experience in a Hollywood world which has strayed so very far from the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Difficult!
Review: Truly it is difficult to raise a very unique child. Worse, to be a very unique child. Here parents try their best to understand and help along a child who is a prodigy at playing chess. A difficult ride, but ultimately very rewarding. Great performances from some very A list actors.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film
Review: What a great movie... in an age where big budget movies rule it is always nice to see a movie that is filled with great acting instead of just great special effects. Its a coming of age story about a young boy, a handbook for parents on how to support and raise their children, and a film about values. All in all, a great story with a great cast.
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