Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 20, 2023

Andrew Bujalski's "Computer Chess" (2013) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentaries; archival cast and crew interviews; real and fake promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Cool nerds

The film is set in the early ‘80s and follows closely a group of nerds at a tech convention who have gathered to show their latest chess programs. Some belong to sponsored teams, others are there alone. They are all staying in a cheap hotel infested with unusually bold cats.

A series of short interviews in the beginning of the film quickly make it clear that the nerds will be competing with each other until the winner with the best program faces a rather cocky chess master who also happens to be the convention’s host (played by Boston film critic Gerald Peary). There is a cash prize ($7,500), but the money is rarely mentioned. For the first time ever there is a female (Robin Schwartz) at the convention and this is a fact that is frequently mentioned.

By the time the elimination games begin, it is already clear that the audience is watching a mockumentary.

There are a number of very funny sequences. In one of the better ones, a swinging couple who happen to be in the hotel for a different convention invite one of the nerds to their room and attempt to seduce him, but he courageously resists the temptation. In another sequence, a few of the nerds gather in a big room and begin discussing the pros and cons of artificial intelligence while smoking pot. A brilliant nerd then boldly announces that in the future computers will make dating a lot easier. There is also a pretty good sequence with a tall programmer named Michael Papageorge, who is denied a room in the hotel and is constantly wandering around trying to find a place to sleep.

Director Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha, Mutual Appreciation) shot Computer Chess with old black-and-white video cameras to give it an appropriate period look – there is only one very short dream sequence that is in color – and for the most part the film really does look like an odd documentary from the early ‘80s. To be perfectly clear, the footage is notably soft, detail and contrast fluctuate, and there is quite a bit of interlacing.

Excluding the appropriate period look, however, the rest of the film is rather underwhelming. Some of the more serious conversations between the nerds produce good, though rather ironic, observations about the unlimited opportunities in a wired world, but the eccentric behavior quickly becomes annoying. It is possible that some viewers may find precisely this eccentricity rather fascinating, but while watching the film, this reviewer felt as if he was forced to observe a group of unusual mental patients who don’t fully realize that they exist in a bubble that has little in common with the world where normal people live.

The performances are excellent. There are a number of non-professional actors whose body language is unquestionably the real deal. The hairstyles and clothing are also very convincing.

Director Bujalski must have spent a great deal of time tracking down the equipment seen throughout the film because at this point some of these pieces can easily be placed in a museum. The giant computers the nerds are seen moving from room to room, in particular, look quite astonishing.

* In 2013, Computer Chess won Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize (for its offbeat and formalistically adventurous exploration of questions of artificial intelligence and human connections) at the Sundance Film Festival.

Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080i transfer, Computer Chess arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

This brand new release celebrates the 10th anniversary of Computer Chess, and exactly ten years ago we reviewed this Region-B release from British label Eureka Entertainment. I revisited the film last night and think that this release gives you an identical presentation of it, though there are a few tiny but meaningless discrepancies.

Because the film was shot with analog video cameras, it has a very low-budget, borderline amateurish appearance. Unsurprisingly, there are all kinds of different limitations -- delineation, clarity, and depth are of the type that you would expect to see from upscaled material; grayscale/colors are balanced but still mediocre at best; there is some light yet noticeable surface noise; trailing-like effects are easy to spot; etc. While combined all of these limitations make it impossible to have the type of quality that a proper high-definition master would produce, they are all inherited, and therefore they are not to be considered flaws. In other words, what you get from the Blu-ray is a faithful presentation of the content that director Andrew Bujalski shot. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The film's original sound design is very basic. For example, the dialog is easy to follow but in some areas of the film predictably uneven and thin because plenty of organic sounds and noises are retained. There is no music that creates proper dynamic contrasts, either.

Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Austin Film Society Q&A - presented here is a Q&A session with Andrew Bujalski and several of the stars of Computer Chess. It was filmed in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Commentary One - this audio commentary by Deep Blue programmer Murray Campbell, who attended many real computer chess conventions, is frequently a lot more entertaining than the actual film. The gentleman discusses the unique atmosphere at these events, though he mentions that many of the participants he knew were a little more socially adept (when compared to the characters in the film), the nature of the actual programs that were used, the various technical problems that had to be overcome, etc.

• Commentary Two - this faux commentary by the mysterious "Ken Osborne of the Ken Osborne Corporation" works for less than fifteen minutes. A certain noise revealing that there is a bong next to the gentleman can be heard multiple times.

• Interviews - the three interviews below initially appeared on Eureka Entertainment's release of Computer Chess in 2013. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Andrew Bujalski - The director of Computer Chess explains how the film came to exist, and discusses its visual style and characters. The American director also discusses his professional relationship with Chantal Akerman. The interview was conducted by Craig Keller. (29 min).
  
  2. Wiley Wiggins - Wiley Wiggins, who plays Beuscher in Computer Chess, talks about his friendship with Andrew Bujalski, and discusses his contribution to the film, his rather difficult acting career, etc. The interview was conducted by Craig Keller. (22 min).
  
  3. Alex Lipschultz - in this video interview, producer Alex Lipschultz discusses the production history of Computer Chess, the casting process, some of the technical difficulties that had to be overcome in order to give Computer Chess a proper period look, etc. The interview was conducted by Jon Robertson. (22 min).

• Hot Old Personal Computers - a collection of six promotional pieces made by Andrew Bujalski. The style of the promo pieces imitates that of Computer Chess. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Crowdfuding Plea Video - a very entertaining spoof in which Andrew Bujalski tries to sell his future film to a Hollywood executive who seems unimpressed by his description. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• 1969 Sony Camera Tutorial - a look at the Sony camera that cinematographer Matthias Grunsky and Andrew Bujalski used to shoot Computed Chess. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Computer Chess Reference Games - an in-depth piece on the history of computer chess with an abundance of factual information. The documentary, which references different real games, such as David Levy's clash with Chess 4.7 at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in 1978, was directed by Andrew Bujalski. In English, not subtitled. (46 min).

• Sundance Film Festival Promo - a very original promo piece in which Andrew Bujalski is asked to describe his film. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Theatrical Trailer (2 min).
  2. Alternate Trailer (3 min).
  3. Alternate Alternate Trailer (2 min).

• AI Sequel Promo - presented here is a trailer for a sequel to Computer Chess written and directed by AI. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Computer Chess Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ten years later, I still think that Computer Chess is one seriously disorganized film featuring some seriously nutty nerds. While I was revisiting it the other night, I laughed a bit more, but also thought that it could have turned out much better with more awkward content, like the episode with the 'open-minded' couple. Kino Lorber's release offers a predictably solid technical presentation of Computer Chess with a very large selection of archival bonus features.