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Bobby Fischer Against the World

Play trailer Poster for Bobby Fischer Against the World 2011 1h 32m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Liz Garbus examines the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master from his troubled childhood through his rise to fame and his life as a fugitive.

Critics Reviews

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Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times 09/22/2011
4/5
A once-in-a-lifetime character makes for a fascinating documentary subject in producer-director Liz Garbus' "Bobby Fischer Against the World." Go to Full Review
Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor 09/16/2011
B+
Liz Garbus's documentary about the great American chess champion Bobby Fischer does its level best to avoid the easy cliché equating madness and genius, except that, in the case of Fischer, the cliché apparently holds up. Go to Full Review
A.O. Scott New York Times 09/08/2011
4/5
Tactfully but strongly posits a connection between the genius he brought to an infinitely complex game and the madness that defined his relationship to just about everything else. Go to Full Review
Graeme Tuckett The Post NZ 11/24/2020
A great introduction to this once-in-a-generation player. Go to Full Review
Jordan M. Smith IONCINEMA.com 11/19/2020
Bobby Fischer Against The World dazzlingly puts the pieces of Fischer's drama infused life into motion with an objective, and intimate handle on the chess master's history. Go to Full Review
Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine 08/19/2019
Director Liz Garbus examines the fine line between the hyper-rationality of obsessive genius and barking insanity. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Nicola B Aug 6 A beautifully told documentary that filled in so many gaps in the story of Bobby Fischer for me. Rich with archival footage, the film takes you on a journey that reaches the highest highs and then helps you understand how everything came crashing down. See more William L 02/23/2020 It takes a different perspective to be called a true genius in your craft. Bobby Fischer's version of different was divergent to such an extreme that it led to a quiet, then reclusive, and ultimately an ostracized way of life. Drawing on the impacts from family, the demands from the game itself, and the maneuverings of the political machine that he was unwillingly thrust into, Bobby Fischer Against the World provides an interesting look into the tortured existence of one of the most enigmatic masters of the great game. (3.5/5) See more 03/20/2017 The chess aspects of the documentary I found interesting, everything else not so much. See more 01/28/2017 Crazy, messed-up genius. See more 08/03/2016 Compulsive doco. Still leaves you wishing they had delved more into his obvious mental condition instead of explaining it as part of his chess genius. And also, where exactly was he before he was tracked down and enticed to play again in '92? There may not be much to explain besides the fact he was part of the Church and then became converted to whacky hateful ideologies and then the Hungarian girl Zita appeared. It's all still a bit sketchy, but fascinating. And that neurologist in Iceland, how did he get into the picture, and why? Maybe, as the film more or less concludes, these questions are all distractions and Bobby's legacy is his games - and what he achieved, mostly alone. Will he inspire others? We are certainly left with the understanding that his childhood (or lack of one) caused his troubled life. See more 03/21/2016 An unbiased biography of the chess genius Bobby Fischer. A tragic tale that is very interesting even for non-chess folks. It's always fascinating to see what makes champions tick... whether they're champions in sports, politics, the arts, etc. Very good documentary. See more Read all reviews
Bobby Fischer Against the World

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Movie Info

Synopsis Liz Garbus examines the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master from his troubled childhood through his rise to fame and his life as a fugitive.
Director
Liz Garbus
Producer
Stanley F. Buchthal, Liz Garbus, Matthew Justus, Rory Kennedy
Production Co
Moxie Firecracker Films, HBO Documentary Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 6, 2011, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 32m