Bobby Fischer Against the World

The mercurial Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) was a New York prodigy who, at the age of 29, represented the USA in the World Chess Championship Match of 1972—a widely televised spectacle that, because it pitted an American against Russia's Grandmaster Boris Spassky, became a Cold War–proxy fight. Even before his victory, Fischer—a loner—exhibited eccentric, egomaniacal, and petulant behavior, often appearing late for matches and risking default victories by Spassky. Paparazzi treatment by the press didn't help, and subsequently Fischer dropped out of the spotlight, joined a doomsday cult (which he left angrily when their apocalypse failed to occur), denounced America and Zionist conspiracies and Jews in general (although he himself was of Jewish descent), and lived in cranky exile in a succession of countries. Documentarian Liz Garbus delivers a Freud-101 diagnosis of Fischer's pathologies (including an emotionally remote, career-driven single mother), but judging from comments by the few interviewees who really got to know him (photographer Harry Benson, for one), it sounds like Fischer was a born misfit. Others who offer their observations over the archival footage include his bodyguard, his trainer, authors including Malcolm Gladwell, and celebrities such as Henry Kissinger and Dick Cavett. DVD extras include a history of chess and a featurette titled “The Fight for Fischer's Estate.” A solid portrait of a nonconformist who displayed brilliant moves on the chessboard but regrettable ones off it, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)