La Diagonale du Fou (Dangerous Moves)

Critics Consensus

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80%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 5

68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 330
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Movie Info

Michel Piccoli plays Akiva Liebskind, a Russian chess genius in the Swiss-filmed Dangerous Moves. He is pitted against Soviet exile Pavius Fromm (Alexandre Arbatt), who, since childhood, has dreamed of nothing but defeating Liebskind. Both men soon become obsessed with winning. Already suffering from a weak heart, Liebskind courts a coronary, while the increasingly paranoid Fromm is convinced that his opponent is spying on him from every corner. The KGB enters into the game by attempting to sabotage Fromm, hoping that by doing so they will discredit everyone who's ever publicly opposed the Soviet government. Dangerous Moves was the 1984 recipient of the Best Foreign-Language Picture Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast

Michel Piccoli
as Akiva Liebskind
Alexandre Arbatt
as Pavius Fromm
Leslie Caron
as Henia Liebskind
Liv Ullmann
as Marina
Daniel Olbrychski
as Tac-Tac
Michel Aumont
as Kerossian
Serge Avédikian
as Fadenko
Pierre Michael
as Yachvili
Pierre Vial
as Anton Heller
Wojciech Pszoniak
as Felton
Jean-Hugues Anglade
as Miller
Hubert Saint-Macary
as Foldes
Bernhard Wicki
as Puhl
Olivier Beer
as Journalist
Guy Braucourt
as Journalist
Jean-Paul Eydoux
as Carsen
Piotr Kaminski
as Journalist
Yaseen Khan
as The Magic Hindu
Constantin Melnik
as Colonel of the KGB
Willy Nicoidsky
as Prof. Polotin
Alain Rimoux
as Dr. Randelier
Mathieu Schiffman
as Journalist
Albert Simono
as Dalcroze
Marcel Tassimot
as Protazanov
Jacques Boudet
as Stuffli
Sylvie Granotier
as Judge Dombert
Benoit Regent
as Barrabal
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Critic Reviews for La Diagonale du Fou (Dangerous Moves)

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Audience Reviews for La Diagonale du Fou (Dangerous Moves)

  • Jul 22, 2014
    A Soviet exile and a Soviet citizen are pitted in a high-pressure chess match. While some of the events, like the witch doctor in the audience, are funny and interesting, as a whole, this film is about as exciting and entertaining as you'd think a film about chess would be. What the film fails to do is get into the heads of these players to the point that their machinations raise to the level of compelling drama. Overall, I balk at calling a film boring, but honesty compels me to say that Dangerous Moves is kinda boring.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • May 31, 2013
    Taut, well acted Cold War type political thriller in which the battlefield is the world championship chess match between a Soviet and a Soviet defector. Won the Best Foreign Language Oscar. Excellent movie.
    Morris N Super Reviewer
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