Wordplay (2006) User Reviews

Low-Key But Surprisingly Enthralling Look at a Most Unlikely Subject

[EUyeshima · 7/10 · 24 January 2007]

I have half-heartedly tried the New York crossword puzzles on occasion but had no idea what a devout following they had until I watched this refreshing 2006 documentary. Structured a bit like 2002's "Spellbound", the entertaining film that builds toward the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee, first-time director Patrick Creadon uses the 2005 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament as his climactic event where a group of nimble-minded crossword solvers vie for the championship. However, Creadon wisely focuses much of the film's initial attention on Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor for The New York Times who has gained renown as NPR's Puzzle Master. At his post since 1993, he has dramatically transformed the puzzle from an often frustrating, intellectualized exercise full of obscure clues to a more broad-based challenge that embraced popular culture and word games.

The change has engendered a diverse number of celebrity fans, several interviewed here in entertaining snippets - a particularly caustic Jon Stewart, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina, the Indigo Girls, filmmaker Ken Burns in a somewhat zen-like state, a wry Bob Dole, and Creadon's biggest get, an ingratiating Bill Clinton who conquers his puzzle with surprising zeal. Once the film turns its attention toward the tournament, the personalities of the top contenders are highlighted with the makings of a classic showdown among three-time champion and professional puzzle-maker Trip Payne; Al Sanders, the middle-aged perennial also-ran who can never seem to rank above third; and prodigious twenty-year old Tyler Hinman, the potential usurper who could become the youngest champion ever. One of my favorites is Ellen Ripstein, an unassuming statistician who twirls a baton, but the true unsung hero of the piece has to be frequent Times puzzle creator Merl Reagle.

Delving into the crossword puzzles themselves, the most interesting extra with the 2006 DVD is a featurette called "Five Unforgettable Puzzles" about how the five of the most challenging Times puzzles were constructed as recounted by the creators themselves. Naturally, the puzzles are included in the accompanying booklet as well as the DVD-ROM for printing. The DVD also includes an amiable and insightful commentary track by Creadon, Shortz and Reagle, as well as a bevy of deleted scenes, including extended versions of the celebrity interviews. There is a twenty-minute short about the film's reception at the 2006 Sundance Festival, including a Q&A with the top contenders, as well as a music video. It's a robust package for a niche-oriented film but one that is more entertaining than it has any right to be.

Surprisingly Entertaining

[kevbo1 · 8/10 · 19 November 2006]

To me, a successful documentary teaches me about someone or something I didn't know. I am not a crossword enthusiast, but I thought I knew about crossword puzzles. It turns out there is a lot I didn't know, and what I learned in "Wordplay" was conveyed in an entertaining manner.

The film is rated PG, and the only mildly "offensive" language occurs when one of the puzzle constructors lists several clinical terms that he is not allowed to use in the puzzles. It's nothing you wouldn't hear at your annual physical.

Wordplay is one documentary with three interwoven parts. The first part introduces us to New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and a number of puzzle constructors, primarily Merl Reagle. It shows how crossword puzzles are created and edited. It explains the "rules" of puzzle-making, how the degree of a puzzle's difficulty is changed by altering the clues, and how creators use themes throughout the puzzle. It also shows how there are often puzzles within the puzzle.

The second part is a series of interviews with six or seven celebrity crossword enthusiasts, and with a number of competitors in the annual tournament. One of the most interesting parts of the film is watching each of the celebrities work on the same puzzle at the same time. The filmmakers use split screens and animation to show the answers being filled in.

The third part (and the bulk of the film) covers the 28th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament held in March, 2005 in Stamford, CT. It features more cool puzzle-filling animation, and it includes a blunder of Bill Buckneresque proportions. The tournament is a nerd-fest of the highest order (not that there's anything wrong with that). It's a combination competition, convention, and family reunion. The participants seem like nice people who genuinely enjoy each others' company. There is one scene with an element of sportsmanship that is rarely displayed in competition on any level.

You MUST watch ALL of the bonus scenes on the DVD. OK, you can skip the music video, but watch the rest of them. In their entirety they are about as long as the movie itself (94 minutes). They include deleted scenes, extended cuts from the celebrity interviews, additional insight into the puzzle creation process, and more clips from the tournament.

There is also a short film about a group of people in a small Wisconsin town who read The New York Times every Sunday. This segment is a little out-of-place if not off-putting. It is not about the puzzle at all, it's just about people who read The Times. I found these people to be elitist and condescending -- not at all what I expected from a rural town in Wisconsin. One of them even admits to "playing at" being a farmer while not at his "home" in Chicago. The point of the film seemed to be that erudite urbanites love spending time in the country as long as they can get a decent cup of coffee and the Sunday New York Times. If I lived in that town I would buy up all of the papers every Sunday so these people would go back from whence they came.

Wordplay is great fun

[lwo1977 · 7/10 · 18 June 2006]

I really enjoyed this film. There is wonderful insight into the "characters" who participate in the crossword competition - a whole world out there that I was not aware of. They employ many different techniques to present the information and in the end it is just a feel-good documentary. Not sappy and a fun, short film. I think that people who live in New York City will especially appreciate this film, and I guess those individuals who take their crosswords very seriously will find some sense of kindred spirit in the people they see on screen.

A must see.

a delight for linguists and fans of words, not bad for everyone else

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 9 July 2006]

Crossword puzzles, and the many people who make them popular, are the focus in Wordplay, including the editor of the NY Times puzzle (the most notorious of them in the USA), celebrities and politicians, and the general public obsessed with them. As a documentary Wordplay is good, not great, film-making about its subject with a couple of montages and interlocking scenes that are weak. But the subject matter, and usually how its presented, sparks a fine interest even in a non-crossword puzzle player like myself. As words are all that we have to work with in communication and just everyday discourse, it's also attached here to the idea of testing, of competition, and how different and varying crosswords can get. Like the documentary Spellbound from a few years back, the director is also after the kind of irony of making such an isolated experience of finishing a puzzle into an event with hundreds of players once a year with friendships and acquaintances- a social event as much as a match-up.

Many parts are amusing as well; we get interviews from Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, and the editor of NY Times Crossword himself, Will Shortz, and they all give some insightful, funny little bits of interest into making the puzzles and playing them. But for the most part we're into the mind-set of several key players, real people whom will all come together for the tournament in Jaunary. What makes all of this work, and what actually makes crossword puzzles become good enough for cinema, is watching smart people, un-cluttered for the most part with problems, who can focus all of their attentions on this one activity, to the point of obsessive compulsive behavior. It's really fun, in a nerdy way, trying to guess some of these words (or rather watching them guessing the words) along with the players. And the way the puzzles are created sparks a little interest too, as it's one of those parts of life I myself could never, ever accomplish. Worth a look, though probably more so for fans of the activity.

Playing with words

[jotix100 · 10/10 · 2 July 2006]

This delightful documentary, directed by Patrick Creadon, is a dream come true for people that enjoy to solve crossword puzzles. It centers around Will Shortz, the current New York Times editor, who has revolutionized the way we do the puzzles today. The film was co-written by Christine O'Malley, who with the director, takes us to meet some of the people behind the scenes.

We must make a confession from the start, we are one of those addicted to solving the daily crosswords in the paper. The New York Times puzzles are the best of all the ones published by any newspaper. Of course, we are not in the league of the likes of Tyler Hinman, Trip Payne, or Al Sanders, who were the three finalist in the 2005 competition, but we are happy with just the idea of solving them every morning.

There are many personalities that speak about their addiction to the crosswords of the New York Times. Among them, we hear from former President Bill Clinton, a man that has always been notorious for his quick mind. David Okrent, the former public editor of the Times, makes a surprise appearance. Jon Stewart is also funny in the way he deals with clues and how he blames Will Shortz when he doesn't get them. Mike Mussina, The Indigo Girls, Bob Dole, and other celebrities also are seen.

The great fun of "Wordplay" is watching a master constructor of the stature of Merl Reagle creating a daily crossword right in front of the camera, and explaining the logic behind it. There is a funny moment when Ellen Ripstein, a former winner, tells us that in spite of having won, she keeps going every year to participate in the tournament. Her performance in the entertainment part of the competition brings a light and goofy moment to the film.

The only thing we don't get too much of is the master himself. Will Shortz appears all too briefly as the emphasis of the documentary seems to be the annual competition at the Marriott in Stamford. Some of Mr. Shortz observations are funny, especially when he shares his typical weekly correspondence from frustrated people that are "puzzled" by his clues.

"Wordplay" is a film that will resonate more with crossword puzzle lovers, but it is a fun movie to sit through because the witty material and the pace it was given by its creators.

Decent--But Not A Feature

[gus-148 · 6/10 · 8 June 2006]

Saw a preview screening last week at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. Overall I thought it was decent but I didn't think it was compelling enough to warrant being distributed as a theatrically-released feature film. The subject matter is better suited for an hour-long doc on PBS or The Learning Channel. Being a something of a crossword puzzle fan myself, I'd prefer seeing a shorter, tighter version of this piece.

Movie is most interesting when it gives us glimpses of brilliant minds at work but even that wasn't enough to sustain my interest for a full ninety minutes. It lacks the momentum of similar docs like "Spellbound."

Fantastic!

[veenasriram1 · 10/10 · 14 July 2006]

You would never imagine that the evolution and story behind the New York Times crossword puzzle and the people who both create them and ferociously try to solve them, would be so darn interesting. This movie proves that a good theme, a sincere effort and some interesting, quirky characters can make even the most remote of subjects, a fascinating, moving documentary. Watching Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton and other famous people work at the crossword somehow humanizes them in a way that I have honestly never seen before. Everyone who attacks the puzzle is now on the same page, and the movie somehow made me feel a lot better about the human race. If there is anything that unites us all, it is the need to solve something - to go through the process of cracking it and to ultimately own it. By watching this movie, you almost have the same amount of respect for the people who are simply the best in the country at this particular thing, as you do for the Stewarts and the Clintons of this world.

I Feel the Need, The Need for Spaces

[ferguson-6 · 7/10 · 10 July 2006]

Greetings again from the darkness. Pretty interesting look behind the curtain of the world of crosswords ... in particular the New York Times crossword editor, Will Shortz.

What is not really surprising is the combination of ego and insecurity that plague the top contenders in the annual contest. These traits rear their head at any and every competition, regardless of topic or sport. What is surprising is the sportsmanship involved when there is an apparent major scoring error in the semi-finals. Watching the competitors band together against the committee is something not usually seen in the sporting and gaming world. These guys want the competition to be fair ... no cheap wins. I wonder if Pat Reilly or Bobby Knight would feel the same way? As you might expect the traditional nerd factor is at play here and the filmmakers do a nice job of mixing in some pretty faces to balance the picture. Mike Mussina, Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart are all thrown in to show that all walks of life are addicted and not everyone that is addicted looks like the reclusive nerd we all knew in high school. The most fascinating character in what story there is, is the twenty year old hot shot that most think is too young and inexperienced to really compete at the top. Just as interesting though is the way the more traditional powerhouses react to his presence and apparent skill.

There is a nice peak at the collaborative efforts that go into the creation of the puzzle, even though Mr. Shortz leaves little doubt that it is his responsibility ... hate mail and all. Very nice look into a world that most of us give little thought to.

Every thing that makes a great movie

[Dan-1736 · 10/10 · 24 June 2006]

This is the best movie I have seen this year. It has everything that makes a movie great, fun, memorable. It's funny, it's sad, there's angst, and tension, anticipation, there's "ohhhhhhh" and smiles, laughter and tears. It's interesting--and I learned something too (actually a lot). You'll cheer and applaud DURING the movie, you'll feel their pain and marvel at how SMART these people are.

The editing is the tightest I can remember. The movie flows like a roller coaster: never off track, always going somewhere, the highs fall into the lows, and it rises back to an even keel. It never leaves you bored wondering okay when will this over. It leads you to the edge, pulls back, and then climaxes. Superbly done.

Wordplay is a small independent that is more worthy of an Academy Award than many of the "big ticket" movies out there. Go see and tell your friends—you won't be disappointed, you'll leave the theater with a smile on your face.

All encompassing puzzle captures more then words

[oneloveall · 7/10 · 7 November 2006]

Bristling with intellectual playfulness, this worthy homage to one of America's favorite systematic stumpers, the daily New York Times' crossword puzzle, first starts out as a witty documentary on the history of this fixation but eventually evolves into so much more. Beginning with an analysis and introduction into the rarely discussed guilty pleasure, Wordplay evolves it's purpose as the film moves along, initiating the viewer into the lives of these often brilliant and eccentric people who revolve around the cerebral workout NY Times puzzle editor Will Shortz helped cultivate, which climaxes yearly with it's championship competition. Obviously this tiny niche of a documentary may fall flat with people who are television junkies, anti-intellectual or the opposite of inquisitive, as the introduction into this bizarre but honorable subculture does tend to alienate with the history and preparation of these puzzles which can be all too apathetic to your average viewer. Just let the film's character's set root however, and an entirely human element comes into the staunch equation, much like the words that render themselves visible only when filling in others around it for these dictionary junkies. With the chronicling of several potential crossword champs culminating in last year's competition, Wordplay has taken something intrinsically elitist and rendered it universal with the frenzied competition leaving viewers in suspense until the final pencil is dropped, much like the recent spelling bee fad, but to me even more impressive given the insane amount of knowledge needed to seriously compete. Celebreties from all walks of life also help diversify, demystify, and clarify why this underrated tradition will continue to be the true coffee for the soul.

I loved this documentary!

[helena-emerick · 10/10 · 7 June 2006]

I have such vivid memories of sitting in my kitchen every Sunday morning with my father doing the New York Times cross word puzzle together and this movie paid amazing tribute to everyone who has ever attempted such a feat. I loved the stories and the people that were filmed, and laughed at all the things these people did to get to the cross word championships. It was interesting the little nuggets of information that go into these puzzles as well as the commentary from the people who do them, celebrities and contestants alike.

I would suggest this lighthearted film to anyone who has ever enjoyed a good cross word puzzle. From beginning to end, I enjoyed every moment.

Merl Reagle trumps Will Shortz hands down!

[kyrat · 7/10 · 8 December 2006]

I watched this because I love crosswords (I'm an "INK-er" myself, pencils are for the weak! ;D ), but I worried it wouldn't be that interesting. The fact that Jon Stewart had a cameo sealed it for me - so I rented it.

I actually enjoyed it a lot. Personally, I thought there was too much focus on Will Shortz and "NEW YORK TIMES" (as if they're the only ones that do crosswords). I do the NY Times (at least M-TH) occasionally, but I think Mearle Reagle is the best crossword constructor. I like his clues and his humor. I was really glad the movie featured him! Will Shortz just edits other people's puzzles, so I wish they'd featured more of the creators talking about how they make the puzzles.

I learned a lot, I hadn't realized how they make the puzzles or that the patterns are mirror images. I think I enjoyed the earlier part of the film more than the second half that focused on the tournament. I enjoyed meeting the puzzlers (even that self-hating obnoxious whiny woman -was she really the only female in the top 20?) If I was still trapped in CT I would consider going to the next tournament.

I thought they had a good mix of people. Not just throwing in celebrities for no reason or not including 'regular' people. It's true that most of the people featured were Caucasian and probably middle-upper class - but if that is who is doing the puzzles and going to the tournament, you can hardly fault the film makers. Jon Stewart was of course darling - I was amused to see he too is an INK-er. (He's mentioned that he proposed to his wife using a crossword puzzle.)

Seeing Bill Clinton solving a weekend NYT & using it as an analogy for politics was interesting (& yet depressing as it pointed out the disparity in intelligence levels of him & Bushie JR.)

In all a movie I would recommend to anyone that likes puzzles. (Not sure if non-gamers would enjoy, but I would still encourage them to try it out.)

P.S. Did anyone else feel bad for Will Shortz & Merl Reagle - if they're designing all the puzzles and running the tournament, when do they get to play??

More down than Across

[juliankennedy23 · 5/10 · 16 December 2006]

Wordplay: 5 out of 10: In reviews of Robert Redford's delightful movie Quiz Show critics lamented on the disappearance of the middle class intellectual since those storied fifties. Turns out they are alive and well and doing the New York Times crossword, in ink no less.

Wordplay is a documentary about such people and the puzzles they love. Like the New York Times resident enigmatologist Will Shortz, Wordplay is genial to a fault.

The fact is for many people doing the daily crossword is the only intellectual exercise their brain gets all day and is the total sum usage of a four year liberal arts degree. Lets face it knowledge of Sophocles doesn't come up often at the daily grind. (Or as Sir Humphrey Appleby said in Yes Prime Minister what use is knowing Latin if I can't even use it when talking to the Prime Minister.) So doing the crossword is often the best intellectual stimulation an over-educated person can get in his or her daily life. (Alas some people simply write movie reviews instead.) Does Wordplay touch upon these larger issues? Not on your life.

Instead we get an assortment of celebrity moments some insightful (Bill Clinton) some humorous (Jon Stewart) and some downright creepy (documentarian Ken Burns).

There is a very perspicacious look inside the creation of the crossword with enigmatologist (I love that word) Merl Reagle but alas it is over just as it gets interesting.

There are also the painfully non-judgmental profiles of the fanatics. Those people who dedicate themselves to solving puzzles in record time and winning the crossword championship. So screen time is spent not just watching the crossword championship talent show but watching the baton twirling practice in the park for the same.

The film is very slick with excellent graphics but it certainly isn't at all deep for such an intellectual pursuit.

nice documentary

[wrlang · 6/10 · 19 November 2006]

Wordplay is a geeky docudrama about the wonderful world of crossword puzzles and the people who can't live without them. I personally love word games because of my dyslexia and play scrabble when I get the chance. Crosswords are fun, but not as much as other word games. The film was very well made and gave a superficial glimpse at the crossword world. No action, some humor, and lots of interesting facts about the New York Times crossword, the epitome of crosses. I liked the idea of getting into the lives of the top players to a small degree to find out what type of people they are. I was amazed that they had their own tournament that had been going on so long. Not a lot of action, just a homey film that leaves a good feeling.

Best doc in years.

[poc4774 · 10/10 · 23 June 2006]

Patrick Creadon's new film is easily the best documentary to come along in years. It simply amazes one that any person could make a film about puzzles that can be so suspenseful, intellectual, and heartwarming all at the same time. It makes you laugh, cry, and pull your hair out, and doesn't give you time to catch your breath before starting this cycle all over again. I haven't cheered out loud at a movie since I was a kid and allowed to do so in a theater. It's one of those movies which you cry to yourself, "God, I wish I could make a movie like this." This brilliant director undoubtedly has a huge future ahead of him and what a way to start.

loving depiction of subculture

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 31 May 2016]

It's the world of password puzzles. There is the 28th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. There are the various contestants. There is Will Shortz, the long time editor of the New York Times crossword. There are the everyday people who can't stop solving them and there are also the more famous fans like Jon Stewart, Indigo Girls, Bill Clinton, and Ken Burns.

There is fun and then there is the obsession. Some of them seem to walk that line while others are perfectly happy with both. The contest is a fascinating subculture. It's also fun to see that so many people enjoying this. This is not a world breaking documentary but it is a small slice of it.

Biased Documentary, But It Got Me Back Doing These Puzzles Again

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 22 March 2007]

Being someone who has enjoyed figuring out crossword puzzles here and there over the last 20 years, I was enthused about watching this documentary and wondered if it would renew the passion I used to have for doing these puzzles. Yes, it did, so kudos to the documentary to make it interesting enough.

Is it enough to hold the interest of a non-crossword player? I doubt it. If the puzzles aren't fun to you, I doubt this movie would be entertaining, either.

The film is in two parts: a look at "celebrities" who play, and some of their comments and to the man who puts together the daily New York Times puzzle. The second part - the largest segment - is devoted to USA Crossword Championships held in each in Stamford, Conn. We see the top players profiled and then are witness to the 200- tournament with it's dramatic 3-person playoff finals.

The first part is simply an unabashed Liberal love-fest with big plugs for the Times and NPR, and the celebs are all big Liberals, from Bill Clinton to Jon Stewart to Ken Burns, the Indigo Girls, etc. If one can ignore the obvious political bias, it's still interesting.

Then, we get profiles of the top players, from the young prodigy who first entered the tournament at 16 and is one of the favorites to win at 20; the veteran who always is in the finals but never can do better than third; to the gay guy who is seen at home playing pinball with his roommate. They kiss each other on the lips. What was the purpose of inserting that in the movie? What did that have to do with the story? Nothing, obviously, and it wasn't necessary but when have Liberal filmmakers ever exercised good judgment?

Also profiled is an interesting woman who won this tournament once but hasn't been close since. Then, we have others such as a guy who plays a guitar and sings and another who is extremely introverted, on and on. Many of them fun to watch. Many of them are amazing crossword talents who can zip off thee answers to a fairly tough one in just a few minutes.

Although not hard to predict given their "past performances," the finale was still dramatic and interesting to watch.

Overall: puzzle devotees - highly recommended; non-players: not recommended.

Arcane, maybe. Interesting, always.

[JohnDeSando · 1 July 2006]

Like foreplay, wordplay such as crossword puzzles can be enjoyed by everyone, but few are truly great at it. In the documentary Wordplay, the gifted geeks of almost acrostics are interviewed, both the wizards who create and the wackos who play. They are under the aegis of the editor of the New York Times crossword, Will Shortz, who oversees the annual competition. (Jon Stewart, an avid puzzler, calls him the "Errol Flynn" of crosswords.)

A discovery is that these puzzle heads are not altogether weird, in fact much less so than Star-trek or gaming conventional. Shortz, who appears regularly on National Public Radio, describes them as "intelligent" and "cultured," exactly the words I'd apply to the NPR audience for my "It's Movie Time" radio show on WCBE 90.5 FM in Columbus, Ohio. Most are honestly in love with words and willing to compete and lose in a competition that is more about a love than a battle: Top contenders approach the judges to rectify a miscalculation they see for a fellow contestant; the 2005 winner is 20-year old Tyler, a source of interest and almost pride for seasoned competitors who know that winning is partly what you know and are amazed that a 20 year old just shouldn't have the knowledge base or experience.

A strength of this doc is its insights into the inner workings of the puzzles. Director Patrick Creadon has a creator devise a puzzle based on the title of the film, and we end up learning about the rules of the black/white block ratio and line symmetry. Arcane, maybe. Interesting, always.

Wordplay is another in a recent line of docs about words, especially spelling bees. The crucial difference between crossworders and spellers is that more than memorization is essential, including the ability to decide what part of the puzzle to attack first and the meanings behind the words, an essential component different from the rote of the bees. While parents bring heavy investment in their children's success to the bees, in crosswords there is rarely a moment of regret or jealousy in a loss.

A puzzler upset with one of the week's crosswords accused editor Shortz of being "sick, sick, sick." Shortz appreciates the passion. Although the film sags with repetition and lack of anticipation for the competition, it is a delightful look at what in the end is a very specialized business. We can't help but feel ourselves the object of a scornful retort from one of the puzzlers to her boyfriend: "Well, what are you the best in the country at?"

racism in wordplay?

[lisabucher · 7/10 · 22 October 2006]

I just watched and enjoyed the movie 'wordplay' but was concerned about the lack of black people featured in the profiles of those who do puzzles.It seemed a bit all-clean-white (male) American to me, which spoiled the excellent story, great cinematography and music. Surely black people do the new York Times puzzle, although due to intrinsic economic and educational disadvantages they may not make the top 10 - this probably goes for women, too. (Its probably no coincidence that the top contenders were predominantly male). Yes, I did notice a few co loured people on the sidelines, but it would have been nice to have one as a feature. Better luck next time.

very entertaining movie

[jawlefelar-1 · 10/10 · 30 June 2006]

This movie is a delightful surprise. We were invited to a sneak preview by our local newspaper. We had no idea in was a documentary as the movie began, we were immediately caught up in the drama of the story line. The stories portrayed were fascinating and well developed. I think the movie is classified as a documentary only because everything in it is a true account of events happening to real people. This movie is about the real people of America - the stars could be our next door neighbors as well as the icons we admire. It is inspiring to imagine that former president Clinton is sitting in his kitchen working on the same Times crossword puzzle that we are. I would nominate this movie for an academy award in the best picture category as well as in the best director category.

I got some good words for this documentary! It's smart and it's pretty good!

[ironhorse_iv · 7/10 · 20 March 2015]

This movie is a love letter to crossword puzzle lovers! This movie is intelligent, cultured, suspenseful, and lot of fun to watch. I know that this movie will be appreciated by those gamers. Directed by Patrick Creadon, the documentary go into deep detail, what it takes to compete in one of the world's toughest words tournaments and on what makes a good crossword puzzle champion. Without spoiling it, the final championship round was incredibly intense, and watching it was just, edge of your seat, thrilling. Mad props to those crosswords contenders feature in this film. People like three-time champion and professional puzzle-maker Trip Payne. Other people like Al Sanders, the middle-aged man who never seem to rank above third or the prodigious twenty-year old Tyler Hinman. They're all very well-informed. Scrabble and spelling bees require knowledge of a lot of words, but crosswords require unlimited facts, encyclopedic knowledge, and an ability to figure out the author's unstated assumptions about the nature of the clues. The movie structured remind me of two similar documentaries, 2002's Spellbound & 2004's Word Wars, in which the movie shows us, an inside look at a few of the contenders, and then see them compete against each other in the finals. Just with that along, the movie seem very standard, and doesn't really shine; but a few differences, do make this movie stand out from the rest. One big different, is that this movie introduces interviews with a lot of celebrities fans, such as Senator Bob Dole, President Bill Clinton, comedian Jon Stewart, filmmaker Ken Burns, baseball player, Mike Mussina, writer, Daniel Okrent, and singers, the Indigo Girls. While, the celebs interviewers, don't really effect, the story of the competitors. They do, give a lot of insight on how popular, crosswords are. They serve as filler. Nothing more than that. I do have to say, that the film is a bit biased, when it comes to who makes the best crosswords puzzles; all the interviewers are praising how New York Times's editor Will Shortz is, and how the New York Times is the top dog and flag bearer for good Crosswords puzzles. I really doubt that. Some really good interesting puzzles have come from widely-distributed American newspapers such Washington Post, Boston Globe, & USA Today. In my opinion, the most challenging English ones have come from international venues, such as the Times, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian & Sunday Express from the U.K. Also a lot of those good puzzles have also been found in magazines, internet sites, and even dollar store puzzle books. Will Shortz does a good job as a crossword editor, but he's no better than any other crossword publisher. I love him, reading the hate mail. That was a highlight. Don't get me wrong, New Year Times have great puzzles. I love, the ones that they showcase, here. My favorite has to be the 1996 "Election Day" crossword made by math professor, Jeremiah Farrell. I love how both Dole and Clinton remember that on the day after their presidential campaign, one clue asked for the name of the winner. Diabolically, the correct seven-letter word could be either Clinton or Bob Dole. That one is pretty crafty. Sadly, the movie doesn't really focus, too many of these. Most of the good ones are in the bonus section on the DVD with the "Every Word" music video by Gary Louris & the "Waiting for the New York Times," a short film by Patricia Erens. I felt all that, should had been added to the film. I think, another highlight from the film, is seeing famous puzzle constructor Merl Reagle, creating a daily crossword right in front of the camera, and explaining the logic behind it. I also love the idea of seeing the contenders & celebrities try to do that crossword puzzle in 2 minutes or least in one especially ingenious montage, with interlocking shots. Director Patrick Creadon made it easier to understand what's happen on screen, with graphics that show us crossword grids with the problem areas highlighted, and then we see the letters being written in. During the final championship round, with three contenders working on giant crosswords on a stage, he makes their progress easy to follow, by showing each person's process. I love how the movie is edit, each sequence kinda connect with each other, with narrative word phrasing. I love how one guy mentioning Barry Bonds, and the film cuts to stock baseball footage of interviewer Mike Messina shutting down Bonds in a baseball game. Very clever. The movie has a lot of good information, but a few things are so dated like the Marriott in Stamford, Connecticut, being the event place. It's no longer, as increasing popularity, causes it to be moved in 2008, into the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, but beginning in 2015 the tournament will again be played in Stamford. I also love how Will Shortz says Pluto is a planet. It made me laugh, how incorrect some of these clues to the puzzles, are. Another is how computers can't do crosswords puzzles. In 2012, a robot call Dr. Fill compete in that tournament against Tyler Hinman. Another problem of the film is the lack of diversity, feature. I think a lot of minorities play crosswords puzzles, too, but the film doesn't showcase, many of them. I wish, they did. Another fault is some of what the celebrity talking heads are honestly saying. Ken Burns looks like a kook, & Jon Stewart really doesn't add much, besides yelling. It's somewhat disappointing. Other than that, the movie is pretty good. I love how the film influence, a 2008 episode of The Simpsons, "Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words". Overall: Words connect us, and you can see, all its glory, here with this documentary. It's a must-watch.

Hilarious look at the behind the scenes of Crossword Puzzles

[DJDiG · 9/10 · 1 July 2006]

I found this movie incredibly hilarious. I went to see it purely because I knew an acquaintance of mine had a cameo in it. (He interned for Will Shortz and was one of the competition judges.)

I ended up being completely surprised at how funny it was. The witty quips from participants and judges were priceless. I've never played a crossword puzzle in my life and I still enjoyed the film. You'll find yourself rooting for certain contestants to win the competition.

The celebrity cameos are done well and are actually a substantial part of the movie.

I've recommended this movie to the entire English department at my college. You won't regret the price of admission!

A Play On Words

[super16 · 6/10 · 24 August 2007]

Humans are unique in that while nearly all of us communicate with language (and our intellectual processes are fairly similar, even across nationalities, cultures and classes), we have formed a variety of different languages with which to communicate with out neighbors, some of those languages have and are dying out.

Crossword puzzles are fairly universal things; you see them in most languages and nationalities with the opportunity for leisure and with an established media and mass distribution points. While this documentary was very focused on crosswords in the U.S. and very specifically on crosswords in the New York Times, the puzzles themselves are not so selectively found. In that regard, while this documentary worked well to educate an audience about somethings they may not have known about crosswords generally or those who either design or attempt to solve them more specifically, the fact that the focuses was so narrowed made it interesting that an attempt was made to distribute this as a feature rather than to showcase it as a documentary on cable or otherwise.

The material on New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz was interesting, if brief. While there was not as much personal focus on "puzzle creator" Merl Reagle, his aspect of the film was perhaps the most interesting and informative.

The section on the competitors in the annual Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which was inter-cut (as was the entire film) with very brief interviews with more notable enthusiasts (such as Bill Clinton and Jon Stewart) was the most entertaining of the human interest narratives featured, but probably could have (and I believe was done previously) as a nice piece on 60 Minutes.

While worthy of a rental, it's hard to recommend this film as a real documentary.

As interesting as... well... watching people solve crossword puzzles

[rooprect · 5/10 · 17 January 2014]

A documentary about a crossword puzzle competition. Hm. You'd think it has all the potential of a hilarious Christopher Guest mockumentary ("Best in Show") but for real. And with the DVD cover boasting "NAIL BITING SUSPENSE!", "PALM-SWEATING SUSPENSE!" and "THRILLING!" I figured this documentary would have some nifty surprises.

The only surprise was the fact that I made it all the way through it without switching to Gilligan's Island. Don't get me wrong; this is not a bad documentary. But it certainly didn't live up to the sensational promises advertised on the box.

I've enjoyed many great documentaries about subjects that otherwise wouldn't interest me. That's the mark of a great documentary: something that can (a) make me care about something I previously didn't care about, or (b) entertain me by showing the bizarre characters who care about things that I don't care about.

Examples of great documentaries would be (a) "Ambassadors of Hollywood", which made me care about the misfits who dress up in costumes on Hollywood Boulevard, (b) "King of Kong" which entertained me by showing the bizarre obsession of people who play the video game Donkey Kong, and (c) "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" which made me care about, as well as be tremendously entertained by, the aging goofballs in the metal band "Anvil" even though I don't listen to heavy metal.

I was expecting another success with "Wordplay", a documentary about perhaps the most UNexciting pastime ever invented by the human race. But no, contrary to the DVD's promise, there was no "nail-biting", "palm-sweating" or "thrills" here. Instead what I found was a very low key, uneventful documentary that might be good to kill some time while you're sitting in a hotel room or a laundromat, but I can't recommend it as a worthy use of your time.

For the first 45 minutes it shows us clips of various famous and not-so-famous people talking about crossword puzzles. They don't really say anything that you & I wouldn't say; I guess we're just supposed to be dazzled by the fact that these people are famous. Comedian Jon Stewart is an exception, being very animated and dramatic. But after a while you get the feeling that all his clips were scripted, like a carefully rehearsed joke routine. These scenes are contrasted against the candid shots of the individual players in the crossword competition. Nothing special, they're just everyday human beings, not weird, not ridiculous, controversial or interesting in the least. There was one gratuitous shot of a gay man playing pinball with his partner and then kissing him. I felt like the filmmakers added that shot for a cheap attention grabber in an otherwise mundane & uneventful show.

After the 45 minute mark, the competition begins. How can I describe it... Like my title says, it's about as interesting as watching people solve crossword puzzles. I'm not joking when I say a bingo competition would be much more suspenseful. The crossword competition has the same sort of atmosphere as a bingo competition but without the excitement.

While this is not a bad documentary, it's definitely not an exceptional one. If you have 90 minutes to spare, I highly recommend the 3 docs I mentioned above ("Ambassadors of Hollywood", "King of Kong" and "Anvil! The Story of Anvil") as well as the excellent A&E TV series "Rollergirls" about the private lives of Texas derby queens who, at the end of each show, put on the skates and pummel each other in the arena--if you really want to see "nail-biting suspense".

WORDPLAY....A film for everyone to see and enjoy

[screenwriter-14 · 1 July 2006]

Who knew? that so many people did the crossword puzzle and that it creates a band of diverse, intelligent people that gather once a year in Stamford, CT. to select a new winner. Congrats to The New York Times for developing such an enterprise and for IFC Films and The Weinstein Company for bringing this story to the screen.

WORDPLAY's strength is in the development of the history of crossword puzzles from the New York Times, the brilliance of its "puzzle man", Will Shortz, and the staff of men and women that have made this puzzle a daily ritual for everyone from Bill Clinton to John Stewart.

What made this film so unique is the great variety, diversity and the creative interests of so many different people of many ages and background who make the pilgrimage to Stamford once a year to share in a WORDPLAY fraternity that has been going on for many years and which unites an audience of diverse individuals every year. Bravo, WORDPLAY!