Films like SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER are what Hollywood and the 1990s did really well. Sort of bio pics come good feeling stories about people. Sometimes they were about ‘real people’ and sometimes about reel people. You know the ones surely. But as film historian Scott Harrison states, in his sometimes a little to coldly delivered commentary, Josh Waitzkin life story of being a chess prodigy is a complex tale. Played by Max Pomeranc, he is a typical seven-year-old who happens to also be a budding chess prodigy. His father Fred, played by Joe Mantegna, is a sportswriter and determined to make him champion. Will the son become a man in his fathers eyes or will his brilliance see him shine no matter what is thrown in his way?

This is a world wide exclusive which Imprint are keen to acknowledge puts them in an interesting position. Now I will not dispense with a review of the film itself. I would call classic, functional and a little too award eager. There are great performances from Laurence Fishburne, Joan Allen and Ben Kingsley but they labour under the average returns of some of the other cast. Steven Zaillian direction is firm but it is given impressive depth by Conrad Hall stunning cinematography (which the transfer captures and caresses). 2K scans of 35mm have a habit of making newer films shine and this does. It actually grants the film an ethereal quality that works for it well. Those smoky room look dreamy for example. The extras here are average. Maybe It’s Better Not To Win charts the musical journey but leaves a lot of questions. The commentary, as mentioned is to rehearsed and though there are some really detailed conversations on the work of Josh Waitzkin as chess player, his life and losses, but it cold.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• 1080P High-definition presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K scan
• NEW Audio Commentary by film historian Scott Harrison (2023)
• NEW Maybe It’s Better Not To Win: Scoring ‘Searching For Bobby Fischer’ – featurette (2023)
• Archival Interview with Director Steven Zaillian & chess author Bruce Pandolfini
• Archival Interviews with actors Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne
• Archival Interview with actor & prodigy chess player Max Pomeranc & Josh Waitzkin
• Theatrical Trailer
• Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
• Audio English DTS HD 5.1 Surround + LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Limited Edition slipcase on the first 1500 copies with unique artwork

https://viavision.com.au/shop/searching-for-bobby-fischer-1993-imprint-collection-249/