Computer Chess

Name: Computer Chess
Genre: Comedy
Released: July 17, 2013
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 74

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Computer Chess

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: July 17, 2013 | Not Rated

Summary: A 1980s-set story centered around a weekend chess tournament that pits man against machine.

Director: Andrew Bujalski

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Gabe Toro

Jul 19, 2013

The endlessly surprising, often riotously funny Computer Chess basks in the details of a group of men who, at a key point in history, are asking themselves not only if they can accomplish something, but why, and what it means to their current generation. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Apr 22, 2013

Computer Chess excels at conveying the frustrations of feeling trapped by forces beyond one's control, the complexities of humanity irresolvable by any neat code. Read full review

Aaron Hillis

Jul 16, 2013

So far the funniest, headiest, most playfully eccentric American indie of the year, Bujalski's perceptive avant-garde comedy...teases out unanswered existential and behavioral questions about mankind's curious obsession with artificial intelligence and automation. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Jul 16, 2013

What’s past is prescient, and what it all means is beside the point. Let’s just say Bujalski has made a prankishly out-of-time movie about that other AI: mankind. Read full review

Ty Burr

Jul 31, 2013

Computer Chess is deeply strange and occasionally impenetrable, yet it’s also surreally funny, with touches of science fiction that bedevil the proceedings with outré possibilities. Read full review

Bill Stamets

Sep 26, 2013

A naturalist comic of inarticulate manners, writer-director Andrew Bujalski attempts the ensemble styles of Robert Altman and Christopher Guest to peer into a micro-culture in Computer Chess. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Jul 18, 2013

Even for a mumblecore film, Computer Chess is weak stuff, a punitively dull chunk of quirk that is about, and feels like, being stuck in a motel with a gaggle of programming nerds for a weekend. Read full review

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User Reviews

athorist

Oct 14, 2013

It's a comedy there's actually a few big laughs, but not until near the end, so it's mainly more of a slow-burning thing. It's also at least partially a mumblecore film, which I didn't even realise. Wiley Wiggins looks a lot different when he's not animated and 10 years older. So if youIt's a comedy there's actually a few big laughs, but not until near the end, so it's mainly more of a slow-burning thing. It's also at least partially a mumblecore film, which I didn't even realise. Wiley Wiggins looks a lot different when he's not animated and 10 years older. So if you don't like that, you're probably not going to like this. And I think you'd have to know something about chess to get it, but probably not much. I'm not sure how much the director knows about chess, but he has one of the characters perform a knight tour, so I'm guessing at least something. (Actually the closest thing I'd probably compare it to is Look Around You, but slightly less surreal at least at the start)… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Zoid-a-Roid

Sep 29, 2013

Unfortunately the director appeared to have very little knowledge of his own subject matter. If you're looking forward to seeing a strange disjointed dream-like tale that just happens to feature computer chess programmers, then this is. If you want a movie about chess programmers in theUnfortunately the director appeared to have very little knowledge of his own subject matter. If you're looking forward to seeing a strange disjointed dream-like tale that just happens to feature computer chess programmers, then this is. If you want a movie about chess programmers in the late-1970's, look elsewhere.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

Birdsht

Jan 22, 2014

Just read all the Critics reviews and what a bunch of drivel. They just slop together mumbo jumbo to sound like they know something others don't. This movie is dreadful. Black and white with effects to make it look shot on an old camera, fuzzy and odd. The story and character interaction isJust read all the Critics reviews and what a bunch of drivel. They just slop together mumbo jumbo to sound like they know something others don't. This movie is dreadful. Black and white with effects to make it look shot on an old camera, fuzzy and odd. The story and character interaction is boring bland and unimaginative. No laughs despite this being called a comedy, whats funny is that this movie was made. This is some hard core drug addicts boring dream turned into 1.5 hours of cr*p!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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