Pawn Sacrifice Analysis

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The debate about whether or not Chess is an actual sport is ongoing, but one thing is for sure – it doesn’t receive the credit it deserves. Sure, you can easily make the case that it’s nothing more than a glorified board game, but it’s impossible to deny the skill and intelligence required to dominate such a self-involved activity. While names like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Babe Ruth are synonymous with their respective sports, Bobby Fischer was just that to the game of Chess. His ascent to the top of the world during the late 1960s and early 70s was masterful – and it brought two nations to their feet at a time of great unrest. And said unrest is captured impressively in the new bio-drama, Pawn Sacrifice. In Pawn Sacrifice, directed…show more content…
As a result, Tobey Maguire is able to step into this man’s shoes and have an anger-riddled field day, projecting Fischer to be more crazy than intellectual. Honestly, Maguire has never appeared so compelling and emotionally engaged in a role – even exuding shades of brilliance in several scenes. In terms of the supporting cast, an array of talented actors, including Liev Schreiber, Peter Sarsgaard and Michael Stuhlbarg are pushed into the background – and never fully utilized as they could have been. More specially, Schreiber is never established to be a combative threat to Fischer – looking more like a frightened turtle than a man that’s allegedly the best player in the world. And, if you – like me – are waiting for a showdown for the ages between Maguire and Schreiber, you’ll be left in limbo. Both Peter Sarsgaard and Michael Stuhlbarg inject momentary shades a interest into a plot full of tirades, yet they never quite leave their proverbial marks on two roles that essentially serve to be babysitters for Fischer’s childish outbursts. To that end, they – similar to Schreiber, could have contributed greatly to delving into Fischer’s deeper, darker psyche. Instead, these two talented individuals equate to little more than a disappointing

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