Chess is a war game. It was invented by an emperor to keep his generals sharp in tactics and strategy. It involves the ruthless manipulation of the pieces and their frequent sacrifice, especially the pawns. It's a metaphor for war which is still being used by warmongers today, and it most definitely was during the "Cold War" of 1945 to 1990.
This film was planned, down to the most minute detail, like a championship chess match and everything had layers of meanings. The music was chosen from the times being portrayed and the lyrics and tunes represented those times and the events of the film perfectly. The period clothing styles, hair styles, technology, etc. were all perfect, too. Although it had, by necessity, a lot of speculation, it rang true throughout and to a much greater extent than most films which are "based on" a true story.
Game 6 was Bobby's masterpiece; this film is Tobey Maquire's.
I was about 23 years old at the time of the Reijkavik (sp? ) classic between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, but I remember it like it was yesterday; the whole world held its collective breath and watched in awe. EVERYBODY was a chess fan for a while and people talked of "the Sicilian opening" and other such chess esoterica in bars and cafes as well as in chess clubs.
It's too bad that Bobby, an autistic savant, was manipulated like a pawn by the U. S. government (as Boris was by the Soviet government) and it's even worse how they hounded him in his final years for the "crime" of playing a chess game in Yugoslavia without the permission of the US government when the USA was busy engineering in that land's destruction. Bobby, while always eccentric and mercurial, never harmed a soul, which is certainly more than can be said of his tormentors.
"If somebody really is out to get you, you're not paranoid." ~ author unknown
This is easily THE best film of 2015 to date. It is a perfect masterpiece, just like Bobby's game 6.
If you like car chases and "actions" (sic) stay away, but if you've ever marvelled at genius of any kind then run, do not walk, to your local cinema and see this perfect film.
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Couldn't agree more! Loved this film.