Uneven Drama

Rating: 6/10 (1 October 2015)

Pawn Sacrifice is a good enough drama to leave you well entertained but not good enough to leave a deep, lasting impression. It is terribly uneven for one thing and can't decide if it wants to be a biography of Bobby Fischer or a story of that moment, their game, and it's meaning for that time. Is it about the game of chess or a man's descent into paranoia and madness? It undecidedly wavers between the various points and can't make them come together to a satisfying whole.
That said there is nothing particularly bad about Pawn Sacrifice. Even though the story is mediocre the cast all give good performances. Tobey Maguire especially stands out by creating a character that is a brilliant yet arrogant genius slowly loosing his senses, more pitiable than likable. He is the most memorable thing about this film.
Paranoia is the one thing that the movie does really well. It creates an interesting atmosphere of fear and distrust. But in the end there is nothing that really shines about this film and that is always kind of sad about biographical films because it is after all someone else's life story that you are using.
Overall Pawn Sacrifice is a decent film, solid entertainment, but nothing to make you want to rush to the theatres.