tag: Movies - Page 2

Pawn Sacrifice - movie of the 1972 match

6/11/2015 – Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky are coming to a theater near you in a film based on the life of the recluse genius and his epic 1972 showdown for the world title. Whatever one may think of it, the all-star cast leaves nothing to be desired, with Edward Zwick, director of The Last Samurai, and Tobey Maguire who championed the project for ten years.

Movie stars playing chess

2/23/2015 – With the 2015 Academy Awards running its course, it is only fitting to take a look at the many movie stars who chose chess as their preferred pastime or hobby. When they had some time off whilst shooting a movie, they were caught in front of a board more often than not. Some names are well known such as Humphrey Bogart, but how about stars such as James Dean, Marlon Brando, and John Wayne?

"Le Tournoi", French movie on chess coming soon

2/21/2015 – Chess is clearly in fashion, and you had better put a note in your calendars, since on April 29, a new film based on chess will be released in France and then worldwide. The French film “Le Tournoi” or “The Tournament” will depict a young champion who enjoys playing games even off the board, until he meets a player untouched by them. Here are pictures, the synopsis, and teasers.

"Pushing Wood", an IndieGoGo project

1/6/2015 – The idea of turning chess into a grandiose spectacle, and players into household names with paychecks to match, is the Caissa version of the American Dream. A new documentary in the making, "Pushing Wood", is precisely on this topic. They are listed as the latest IndieGoGo project, and are seeking help to fund it. See what you can do, and don't miss the impressive trailer.

Magnus Carlsen: World Champion, Model, Actor?

11/3/2014 – Magnus Carlsen made a very successful career as a chessplayer, created headlines as a model, and now there are rumors that he might appear in Christopher Nolan's new movie "Interstellar", alongside Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine. For Enzo Catalano it is the "most awaited movie of the year" and he speculates about Carlsen's role in it.

Entertaining and informative: New in Chess

7/9/2014 – 106 pages in A4 format, that's the size of "New in Chess", enough material for a small book. The Dutch magazine, which is published in English, appears eight times per year, and the current issue has a lot to offer. For example, an interview with Magnus Carlsen and an extensive portrait of director and chess enthusiast Stanley Kubrick.

Film project in Tromsø: Chess Brains

7/1/2014 – There is something mythical and mysterious about the game of chess, and the world's top players. It feels like they know something the rest of us barely recognize. They have a mind capacity that far exceeds our own. Do they know something about life that we don't? These are the questions that will be posed to some of the world's top GMs in a film project that you can support.

Chess film project: Destruction of Time

3/17/2014 – A Berlin based group of professional filmmakers is planning a chess documentary as a crowdfunding film project. It is intended to "show how much the crazy chess world has to do with life itself," and the producers will travel to Iceland and to "City Chess" in Kalmykia. To complete the project they need €23,000 (of which 1,210 has been pledged). You can help with financing and ideas.

The Love for Wood - 1979 chess documentary

2/17/2014 – Recently a fascinating Dutch documentary on chess, dating from 1979, surfaced on YouTube, showing in intimate detail the state of chess at the time, and a glimpse into the players’ minds. The protagonists are Jan Timman, Jan Hein Donner, Hans Ree, Max Euwe and more. They answer questions on chess addiction, chess sadism, home preparation, often with exceptionally insightful comments.

Chess movie: Life of a King

2/14/2014 – Hollywood actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who won an Oscar for his performance in Jerry Maguire, is starring in a film about chess. It describes the true life of Eugene Brown who started playing chess during an 18-year incarceration for bank robbery founded a chess club aimed at getting kids off the streets and working towards lives they never believed they were capable of. Inspiring.

Chess Movies

12/27/2013 – In the recent article Chess in Movies, many readers clamored about the terrible omission of films actually about chess. This was deliberate, as it had been designed solely to be on films in which chess made a distinct appearance, but was not the star of the show. In this follow-up, the subject is precisely films where chess is central to the plot. Added to the list are reader recommendations.

Chess in the movies

12/21/2013 – Chess and Hollywood have long been close friends, and even when the silver screen was not showing movies that were outright about chess, they never hesitated to slip in some scenes with chess. Here is a look at the films where the royal game makes a cameo appearance, but is not the outright star. Each movie listed includes the key scene and a bit of commentary. Expanded list with reader feedback.

Documentary: Magnus Carlsen's Last Big Title

11/4/2013 – The Norwegian television network, VG TV, just posted a lovely documentary called Magnus Carlsen's Last Big Title. It is a very nice work, with many fascinating images, footage, and testimonies by Magnus Carlsen and those close to him, as he closes in on the World Championship title. We bring you choice excerpts and moments.

Magnus couldn't make it to Star Trek 2

4/11/2012 – We are not talking about watching the movie, but actually being in it. After seeing him in 60 Minutes star director JJ Abrams wanted Magnus Carlsen to play a chess master from a galaxy far, far away – but the Norwegian couldn't get a working permit for the US in time. He was also forced to turn down 100,000 Kroner offers from rich Russians for one-on-one games. This is not an April Fool's joke!
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