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Bobby Fischer was 6'2'' not 5'9', Toby Maguire = Horrible Casting

posted 9 years ago by The_Real_Review
16 replies | jump to latest

I have never seen worse casting in my life. Douchebag Tobey Maguire looks nothing like Fischer and looks like a midget compared to the former World Champion. For all the offensive things Fischer said later in life he never once looked schizophrenic or crazy in any of the archival footage of him. He always looked cocky, arrogant or at worse slightly awkward. Nothing against Zwick who is Jewish and I am sure was offended by Fischer's anti-semitic rants but this film looks like a disgusting smear job trying to rewrite history. Fischer's story needs to be told authentically not like this.

[–] Splarne 9 years ago

don't hold back.

tell us how you really feel.

i think we can take it.

***

Go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

[–] Insomniatic102 9 years ago

5 inches, in a movie, isn't going to be noticeable. You'd be surprised how short a lot of stars are. Tom Cruise is only 5'7.

Tobey fits the tortured genius thing pretty well.

[–] The_Real_Review 9 years ago

It is not only very noticeable but completely destroys the imposing aura that Fischer brought to his chess matches. I am well aware of the midget Tom Cruise.

You are missing the point Bobby Fischer never looked tortured in any of the archival footage of him.

[–] Doc80 9 years ago

Who would have been a better choice then?

[–] The_Real_Review 9 years ago

Someone like Christopher Eccleston is certainly much closer.

http://images.amcnetworks.com/bbcamerica.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/55/files/2012/05/christopher_eccleston.jpg

[–] RepsakTK 9 years ago

I hope you can see what a tool you really seems to be.

'Drive' is pure cinema.

[–] essex9999 9 years ago

Someone like Christopher Eccleston is certainly much closer

Eccleston is a good actor and probably could have captured Fischer's personality well. However, at 51 he's much too old to play the role, since Fischer was only 29 in 1972.

Now, back in his Shallow Grave days (1994 - great movie, btw), CE would've been a perfect fit:

http://www.popoptiq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/thumb3hpo.jpg

That said, I think Tobey Maguire did a very good job in the role. For example, he managed to be both irritating and sympathetic, which matches the public perception of Fischer at the time. I was a teenager in 1972; I remember the match as a big news event and would have recognized a picture of Fischer, but it's not like it's graven on my brain or anything. And most people alive nowadays weren't even born at the time and thus have no memory of it at all.

Chess fans or others who have a particular knowledge about Bobby Fischer may not approve because Tobey Maguire really doesn't look anything like him, but for the rest of us I don't think that matters. It's not like Fischer's looks are famous now or that he was famous for his looks (although he was not a bad-looking guy when he was young).

[–] movieghoul 9 years ago

The issue to me is not just the casting but the chracterization of Fischer as a tantrumy screamer. Despite his huger eccentricities, he was not this, at least at the time of the match.

Maybe they should have made the John McEnroe story instead?

[–] freejazz38 9 years ago

You must be a Garfield fanboy

[–] Miinerva 9 years ago

Why would a Jew be "offended" by a mentally ill Jew's rants? Bobby was sick.

I can understand lots of reasons for concern with the casting: height isn't one of them.

She is a lot like you, the dangerous type...

[–] swiftojr 9 years ago

5'9" Tobey Mcguire was a very surprising choice to me too - but he did OK. Most all the rantings were done in private between him, the priest and lawyer or his family. - or simply in his head to himself. I wonder if he really slept on the beach so he could trash talk Spasky during his morning swim or if the virginity thing was real but I liked the movie.

...reifications are the shadows cast by the opacity of language

[–] FilmMuscle 9 years ago

Yes because height characterizes a person so much. Just because you giants feel discriminated in Hollywood, it doesn't mean this is a big deal.

[–] Screen_O_Genic 8 years ago

OP: Couldn't have said it better. I await the definitive, classic film on one of the greatest and the most popular Chess player in history.

After all... tomorrow is another day.

[–] Oskiros-Arg 8 years ago

Yes...!! I agree... Tobey is a good actor but completelly miscasting ..!

Oscar
Hablo mejor español :)