An Exercise In Nonsense

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

An astounding performance by Emily Watson sets the screen ablaze in this interesting adaptation of the Nabokov novel. John Turturro is very good in his scenes with Watson but it appears his work in this film is energized by the fabulous talent of his co-star. This motion picture is a perfect showcase for Emily Watson as it highlights what mesmerizes audiences when she is on screen: An understated, haunting performance; Eyes that say more than all the dialog in the world ever could; Electric charisma; Quiet beauty with a smoldering sexuality just beneath the surface. These qualities are simply overwhelming in this movie and it is impossible to take one's eyes off the screen whenever this stunningly gifted actress in projected there.

This is a pretty mediocre treatment of Nabokov's book, a favorite of mine. It reminds me of "A Beautiful Mind" in the sense that it is more about the personal life of a genius than his doings, and it sometimes feels mundane for that reason.As Turati and Luzhin were portrayed, it recalls greatly Capablanca and Alekhine, respectively, and their encounters. Alekhine the unstable but brilliant, the only world champion to die with the title, and Capa the smooth talker in a trench coat, rock solid.For all the film's shortcomings, the puzzle of the adjourned position, which doesn't occur in the book, was a really nice composition.

Once again proving his amazing versatility, John Turturro plays the introspective Russian chess genius preparing for a comeback tournament, and forging an unlikely relationship with a gadabout fellow resident (Emily Watson) at a 1920's Italian hotel. They fall in love,to the horror of her social-mountaineering mother (Geraldine James).A wonderful love story, whose gloss of chess might make it appear cerebral.But in spite of its origins in a Nabakov story, it certainly is not .The romantic elements and the sense of time and place beat the psychological analysis hands down.John Turturro, having appeared in "Barton Fink" ,"O Brother,Where Art thou?" "The Big Lebowski" proves that he is not dependant on Coen Bros films to assert his stature.

This movie is frustrating because the director can't decide what type of movie to make. Should it be a love story? This approach won't work because there is little development of the relationship between hero and heroine; the hero's character is so shallow that it's hard to imagine any lady falling in love with him. Should it be a period piece? The director doesn't take advantage of the natural beauty of the northern Italian lake district. One would have hoped that at least one of the hotels would be recognizable, or that through the mist one would see some Cyrillic characters on the presumably Russian railway carriages. And where does one find a rail station without people except the principal actors? Should the movie appeal to chess enthusiasts? There is insufficient detail to appeal to them. Perhaps the movie is intended to showcase Emily Watson's beauty? Or perhaps to tell the story of the hero's obsession with chess? Rating: 4 out of 10.