Just finished the scene where she wins her first big tournament. The audience was applauding and I said, “I wish I could applaud with them.”
My wife said, “…you know you can!”
So I started (golf) clapping like an idiot LOL. But it’s a good scene!
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I’m somewhat sympathetic to the criticism, and gave it a B+/A-. It’s not a classic but certainly a cut above most things.
I actually disagree that the chess wasn’t portrayed well. I have a superficial knowledge of chess (maybe 20 games lifetime), but I got a good sense of passive/aggressive/ABC vs creative styles and their +/-. Now, I knew much of that stuff from general reading or whatever, but I think the show did a decent job conveying the depth of the game.
In terms of the broader arc, I read a review that described it as a superhero story, and you kind of need some suspension of disbelief to make everything work, which is fine. Also, I think it’s good that the show focused a lot on learning/study and not just on her innate talent. Hell, there are some semi-Rocky-like training montages.
who said the chess wasn’t portrayed well? Other than maybe the scene where she plays speed chess at Benny’s apartment.
Chris said, “The chess fell flat for me though, it ended up being the same dramatic sequence of shots for each game and became repetitive. I didn’t think they conveyed things like why people become obsessed with the game or what different playing styles are very effectively.”
I think they did pretty well given the superficially undramatic nature of chess.
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Will Anya Taylor-Joy be a big star?
- Yes
- No
0 voters
I’m grunching now that I’m watching, but I’ll tell you why the first two episodes grab me.
She’s an underdog embracing her darkest aspects in order to outsmart everyone around her. I love heroes taking decisive action to overcome overwhelming obstacles. With those two aspects grounding the story, it becomes clear in hindsight why chess, a female lead, and a historical setting are in fact a great cocktail of overwhelming obstacles.
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https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1331101389997662209?s=20
Humans are so strange. Donald Trump is elected and almost wins reelection, proving human beings are incredibly stupid. But the top drama on TV is about chess.
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When I visit my parents they are usually watching old black and white TV shows. Was sitting there one day and this chick with huge eyes comes on the screen. I’m yelling THAT’S BETTE DAVIS at the TV and they were dumbfounded like “how does he know that???” Kim Carnes is why.
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They’ve done some really awesome things even with their choice of games to replay.
Like Beth was playing as Rashid Nezmetdinov in her game in the Kentucky championship and they used the actual misplay in the real game to move the plot when Benny spots it and tells her. Extremely good example of her style at that point.
They took an extremely long game that ended in a tie and changed it after the adjournment in her game against the Georgian kid in Mexico.
Her final game she plays as Ivanchuk which also fits the character quite well. Playing style, substance abuse and his tendency to stare at the ceiling.
Like all of this wasn’t necessary but I enjoy the fact that they nerded the fuck out with the Chess here. I suck at Chess, but enjoyed reading and watching stuff about it.
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Apparently Kasparov helped out a lot with the games. He’s an interesting guy. Seems like the anti-Bobby Fisher. I follow his twitter and his politics and persona seem very grounded and sensible. He seems quite well rounded and has been a huge critic of Putin forever.
Bobby Fisher had more than a little of whatever mental defects beguile Trump, paranoia, aggression, and narcissism.
I guess the casting call was for anyone who couldn’t use Oculus Go because of non-adjustable IPD?
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We all love Rounders but the poker was obviously complete shit (don’t blame them or anything, poker was complete shit in 1997 anyway). My chess friends were also impressed with they way they portrayed Chess tournaments quite accurately in the Kentucky and Cincinnati scenes.
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The software IPD only adjusts the scale of images and most people report that it really doesn’t change anything noticeable no matter what it’s set too.
Surprised no one mentioned the biggest flaw of the story. 9 year old girl hangs out in basement with the janitor she’s never met? C’mon. Other than that, I thought it was pretty good.
The world used to be way different. Honestly this pretty much just predates before stuff like that was viewed as crazy.
To me it would have been believable if it was based on a true story. But it’s not so that goes out the window for me.
After all I said the thing that rankles the most is how at the end when she opens with 1. d4 for the first time the chess commentator announces it as the Queen’s Gambit.
ffs
They had GMs on set to advise, and also to train the actors in how to move pieces and hit the clock etc.
For fans of the show the book is pretty good and a short read. Compared to the show it gets way more in depth with the chess and you get a more personal view of her alcoholism and drug use
I liked that they kept the stakes fairly low and even the serious themes weren’t presented in a mega-depressing Aronofsky like manner. The sets are just fantastic, some of the European scenes are just so nice to look at. And while I don’t think the lead is an incredible actress she has a super magnetic look. Agree with the consensus A- / B+ rating, but not sure I even wanted it to be better. If it were an actual A+ it probably wouldn’t have been as enjoyable to watch (not sure if this makes sense).
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This makes perfect sense to me. I was arguing a similar point earlier - not everything has to be Poignant and Seering.