Not a good film for a legend

Rating: 6/10 (21 July 2016)

I didn't like this film too much. Fischer, one of the greatest chess players of all time (if not the greatest) deserves much more credit.
There're many inaccuracies regarding chess history. First of all, there are only two soviet grandmasters in Santa Monica chess tournament , world champion Petrosian and Spassky. A player called Ivanovich simply didn't exist.
Spassky, always wearing sunglasses in the film , is shown as an arrogant person. Indeed, he is good natured, likable man. Also, Fischer and Spasky are not enemies but good friends, respecting each other and their friendship dates back to Mar Del Plata chess tournament in 1960. Spassky was in the Fischer's list of ten greatest grandmasters of all time.
There is not much physical resemblance between Tobey Maguire and Bobby Fischer. Fischer is handsome, tall. In the film, he is depicted as arrogant, inconsiderate, semi-insane person, somewhat paranoid. Actually, this is not true. For instance, in Curaçao candidates tournament, Tal, one of the contestants and former world champion, became ill (withdrew at the end) and only Bobby visited him in the hospital. Other four soviet grandmasters didn't even bother to visit their compatriots.
Fischer didn't like the media and organizers not without a reason. Many of his problems stemmed from his strict adherence to his principles. Many times, media misinterpreted his statements. In 1961, a match between Fischer and Reshevsky, two strongest grandmasters in U.S. , was organized in L.A.. While score was 4-4, game was scheduled to 11 A.M instead of 5.00 P.M. without informing Fischer. Fischer always sticking to his principles quit the match without considering the prize money.
True, Fischer hated Soviets though he had friends among soviet grandmasters like Tal, Stein. After realizing he was a real threat to the soviet chess hegemony, especially their strongest granmaster Botvinnik and Soviet press disdained him. Unintellectual, lopsidedly developed and uncommunicative. These were the words used by soviets. What can you expect from Fischer apart from hating? In the film, his great victories over Taimanov and Larsen both of whom were the super grandmasters at the time were not mentioned. Fischer won 6-0 against both grandmasters without a draw and it's unprecedented in the chess history.
Finally, I think Fischer is the greatest American athlete in the 20th century. His I.Q. is 180.
A great human being and a pure genius. Before him, many chess players died from hunger, did some irrelevant jobs to live like taxi driving etc. Chess players owe Fischer too much.
R.I.P. Robert James Fischer.