Writer Zaillian's debut as director: I can't help feeling that this wonderfully cinematic film owes a lot to Conrad Hall's cinematography, in choice of shot sizes (lots in close up) and pointing the camera "at the story". It also of course features his distinctive lighting style, with naturally ocurring pools of light, not lighting the obvious subject, sometimes leaving the actors in more shadow than they would like. (Note the scene where the fathers are waiting for the contest results: a door opens at the end of a shadowy corridor, we're in long shot and almost lean forward to try and make out which of the boys has emerged / been knocked out). This influence is from Conrad's mentor Ted McCord, who would spend ages carefully lighting the background, leaving the front with a simple key light and fill.
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| Most cameramen would light the competitors... |
Great cast: the chess playing champ is Max Pomeranc; plus Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburne, David Paymer, Robert Stephens (Wilder's
Sherlock Holmes), William H. Macy, Dan Hedaya, Laura Linney and Austin Pendleton!
Music James Horner. Skilful editing by Wayne Wahrman
From a book by Fred Waitzkin about his real life chess champion son Josh.
Who would think a film about chess could be so exciting?
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